Blackburn progress into UEFA Cup

Blackburn 2 MyPa 0 (Blackburn win 3-0 on aggregate)

David Bentley improved his chances of an England call-up with a superb volley that put Blackburn on the road to the first round of the UEFA Cup.

Bentley enjoyed the moment as it was his first goal of the season and came on the eve of Steve McClaren’s England squad announcement.

With David Beckham and Kieron Dyer both injured, he might now be considered an option by the national team manager for the crucial Euro 2008 qualifiers against Israel and Russia.

Bentley’s goal in this second qualifying round second leg tie eased Blackburn’s nerves and with Jason Roberts adding a second in stoppage time it extended their unbeaten run to 13 matches stretching back to last season.

However, MyPa made a decent fist of it after losing narrowly in Finland.

Blackburn should have extended their lead in the 11th minute after a sweeping move.

Tugay slipped a clever ball through to Brett Emerton and he played it across the area.

Roberts was perfectly positioned at the far post but from close range sent his effort wide of the target.

Blackburn kept up the pressure and two minutes later Aaron Mokoena rattled in a shot from the edge of the area.

It was spilled by goalkeeper Janne Korhonen but he recovered in time to prevent Maceo Rigters, making his first start, taking advantage.

Korhonen then parried a shot from Roberts in the 15th minute as the visitors found themselves on the back foot.

Bentley almost made the breakthrough in the 31st minute when Tugay played a short free-kick to him.

The former England Under-21 star immediately whipped in a 25-yard drive that went marginally past the post.

MyPa managed to force a couple of corners in quick succession before being forced to resume defensive duties.

Rigters dragged a shot wide in the 35th minute following a neat one-two with Roberts.

Then a minute later Roberts watched in astonishment as MyPa goalkeeper Korhonen blocked his close-range effort.

Korhonen was proving to be formidable barrier and diverted Mokoena’s header to safety a minute later.

Blackburn eventually made the breakthrough in the 48th minute through Bentley.

It was a stunning strike as well, a left-foot volley from Morten Gamst Pedersen’s cross that thundered into the net.

There was nothing Korhonen could do about it and Bentley’s goal gave Blackburn a 2-0 advantage in the tie.

MyPa looked deflated and Mokoena tried an ambitious effort after 54 minutes that finished closer to the corner flag than the goal.

Pedersen then floated in a free-kick after 57 minutes and Andre Ooijer peeled away from his marker only to head over the crossbar.

Bentley came close to getting a second in the 60th minute when his superbly weighted free kick drifted just over.

Blackburn looked comfortable in front of a crowd of 13,490 although Friedel did well to parry a shot from Tuomas Kuparinen in the 67th minute.

Pedersen then a saw his free-kick parried by Korhonen before the goalkeeper got his body behind a shot from Tugay.

Blackburn went looking for a second goal on the night and Roberts nearly extended their lead in the 73rd minute but his effort just cleared the crossbar.

Roberts got his reward for his hard work by extending their lead in stoppage time with a clever backheel after substitute Matt Derbyshire had headed the ball on.