Tugay leads the way as Rovers bash Basle
It was his first goal of the season and one to savour for the 36-year-old former Turkey international.
But more importantly for Blackburn it ignited Mark Hughes’ side, who went on to secure their second successive European victory.
“It was a fantastic goal from Tugay, he’s playing exceptionally well this year, and from that point we were never going to lose it,” boss Mark Hughes said afterwards.
Francis Jeffers (penalty) and Benni McCarthy added late, late goals as the Swiss side began to flag. Hughes was particularly happy for Jeffers. “We are all pleased for Franny. He has had a difficult time over the last couple of seasons,” Hughes said.
Blackburn made a bright start but lost their way for much of the game.
Morten Gamst Pedersen tried his luck on goal with a free-kick 30 yards out in the eighth minute but his effort did not carry enough power to trouble Basle goalkeeper Franco Costanzo.
Blackburn kept up the pressure and Costanzo was alert in the 15th minute to take the ball off Pedersen’s toes as the Norwegian burst into the box.
Brad Friedel, making his 100th consecutive appearance for Blackburn, was tested for the first time two minutes later and reacted superbly. He cleared a goalbound header from Mladen Petric with his feet.
Basle should have taken the lead in the 26th minute but Petric squandered a glorious chance, sending Eduardo’s cross wide of the post.
Pedersen came close a minute into the second half with a free-kick as Blackburn looked to raise the tempo.
Nonda was then left with a free header in front of goal two minutes later but directed a header straight at Costanzo.
Blackburn were being allowed plenty of room to manoeuvre and Mokoena got into a good position in the 64th minute but headed over the bar following a cross from Bentley.
Basle, however, looked dangerous on the counter-attack and in the 68th minute Friedel parried Petric’s free-kick and Delron Buckley headed the rebound wide when it seemed easier to score.
Blackburn made the breakthrough in front of a crowd of 13,789 with a thunderbolt from Tugay.
There seemed little on in the 75th minute when he rounded Petric but he then rifled a 30-yard shot into the top corner.
The goal opened the floodgates and in the 89th minute Jeffers doubled the lead from the penalty spot after Pedersen had been brought down.
McCarthy completed the scoring in stoppage-time, reacting sharply to tuck away the rebound after Paul Gallagher’s shot was blocked.
“We really deserved the win, it was a really professional European performance,” said Hughes.
BLACKBURN: Friedel, Neill, Ooijer, Khizanishvili, Gray, Bentley, Savage (Mokoena 38), Tugay (Gallagher 84), Pedersen, Nonda (Jeffers 83), McCarthy.
BASLE: Costanzo, Zanni, Majstorovic, Ba, Chipperfield, Rakitic (Cristiano 55), Kuzmanovic, Sterjovski, Eduardo (Buckley 64), Ergic, Petric.
REFEREE: Oleh Oriekhov (Ukraine).
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