Blackburn hold nerve after brave CSKA rally

CSKA Sofia 3

However, this second leg match ended in high drama with CSKA pegging back a 3-0 lead, leaving Blackburn’s nerves cut to shreds before they secured their passage into the next stage.

Blackburn took the lead on the night and on aggregate as well with a stunning goal from Thompson after 30 minutes.

Ostenstad headed the ball into his path 30 yards out and he took one touch before delivering a thunderous shot which went in off the post.

Thompson has been on fire since his £1.5m move from Coventry just before transfer deadline day. This was his third goal for the club. Blackburn suddenly turned up the heat and scored twice in two minutes to stun the hosts.

Ostenstad, such a fringe player, made it 2-0 following a flick on from Cole after Tugay had split the defence in the 56th minute.

Then Duff got in on the act after a pass from David Dunn to put Blackburn 3-0 ahead on the night and 4-1 up on aggregate.

CSKA, however, pulled a goal back in the 66th minute when sub Emil Gargarov scored with a header. Then another sub, Agnaldo, ghosted in behind the defence to head home in the 69th minute for the home side’s second goal.

Then the hosts levelled the scores in the 88th minute when Gargarov scored from the spot after Neill had upended Dimitrov.

The Bulgarians’ quest for a sensational win were not helped by the 90th-minute dismissal of Dimitrov for a lunge on Thompson.

Blackburn managed to hang on - but Souness will no doubt be furious at the way his team almost let their European adventure slip through their fingers.

Blackburn assistant manager Tony Parkes said afterwards: ‘‘I don’t think I’ve been involved in such an emotional game for many years. It was a very tough game and we were glad to hear the final whistle.

“Now we hope we can go on and have a good campaign in Europe,” he said.

CSKA SOFIA: Kolev, Antonov, Gueye, Galin Ivanov, Carlos, Charras, Yanchev, Petrov, Brito, Mukasi, Dimitrov.

BLACKBURN: Friedel, Taylor, Berg, Johansson, Neill, Thompson, Tugay, Dunn, Duff, Cole, Ostenstad.