Fowler inspires Rovers to victory

ROBBIE FOWLER ended 10 months of frustration by helping Blackburn reach the fourth round of the Carling Cup last night.

The former Liverpool striker marked his debut for the club by setting up the winner for Martin Olsson.

Fowler, 33, arrived on trial in the summer after failing to agree terms to extend his stay with Cardiff.

His enthusiasm for playing again in the Premier League was rewarded when manager Paul Ince handed him a three-month performance-related deal.

It already looks money well spent as Fowler played his first 90 minutes since last November following a hip operation.

The only downside for Ince was that goalkeeper Paul Robinson came off with a knock after 13 minutes and to be replaced by Jason Brown.

Blackburn made the breakthrough in the 10th minute with Olsson’s first goal for the club.

The left-back played a neat one-two with Fowler before rifling a shot beyond Tim Howard. It was a sweet move that was started by veteran Turkish midfielder Tugay.

Matt Derbyshire then came close to adding a second with Everton looking vulnerable at the back.

Everton manager David Moyes decided to shake things up and brought on Tim Cahill and Ayegbeni Yakubu at the start of the second half for Fellaini and Castillo, who had both been ineffective.

They nearly drew level in the 69th minute but Australian star Cahill headed over the crossbar following a cross from Lescott.

Everton eventually found the net in the 75th minute but Vaughan’s effort was disallowed for an infringement.

BLACKBURN: Robinson (Brown 12), Simpson, Ooijer, Khizanishvili, Olsson, Villanueva (Roque Santa Cruz 72), Kerimoglu, Warnock, Treacy (Pedersen 75), Derbyshire, Fowler.

EVERTON: Howard, Neville, Yobo, Jagielka, Lescott, Rodwell, Castillo (Cahill 46), Fellaini (Yakubu 46), Vaughan (Baxter 83), Saha, Osman.

Ref: Martin Atkinson.