Full time!! Rovers 2 Wigan Athletic 0 - Jubilant scenes as the final whilstle goes, both on and off the pitch!
90+4 MINS: Rovers have a corner kick to defender.N'Zogbia takes it quickly, Andrews stops Bramble's header on the line, and then repeats the feat on the follow up. He gets a huge hug from Paul Robinson.
90+2 MINS: Paul Robinson gets the Peter Jackson man of the match award, but in truth there were a lot of candidates today. Samba was immense up front, Nelsen equally so at the back.
90+2 MINS: De Ridder with the corner kick, Boyce rises but heads well wide.
90+1 MINS: But Rovers have everyone back in their own half and can't get the ball away. De Ridder cuts in from the right and shoots, Robinson beats the ball behind.
90 MINS: Four additional minutes to be played, come on Rovers see this one home.
89 MINS: Samba has been immense today. What might have been a routine back header for Bramble turns into a pressure situation because of the big man's persistance, Bramble just dives to find Kirkland.
88 MINS: N'Zogbia into the area, Dunn heads away and Diouf completes the clearance.
88 MINS: Rovers have possession but the referee sees a foul somewhere. Scharner to hit this into the box methinks. He does, Samba heads away to touch.
85 MINS: VIllanueva with a shot but whilst it is well struck it is off target.
84 MINS: Cheers from the home fans as Wigan waste a promising position as Valencia shoots wildly into the Blackburn End.
82 MINS: The South African takes it, but it flies over the bar. Its his last involvement as he's replaced by Carlos Villanueva. Cue more standing ovations.
80 MINS: Pedersen is fouled by Boyce. Rovers have a free-kick five yards from the edge of the area, to the left of goal. I think Benni fancies this.
80 MINS: Givet is down on the edge of the area, he's holding his right foot, but as he puts his boot back on he looks to be okay.
78 MINS: De Ridder on for Figueroa and Kapo on for Watson. It is Andrews who is coming on, he replaces Vince Grella who gets a standing ovation as he leaves.
77 MINS: Valencia threatens from the right, his cross is headed away by Ooijer. The ball comes back in but Rodallega shoots well wide.
76 MINS: Carlos will be coming on shortly. Whilst Wigan will be making a double change.
75 MINS: Rodallega with a shot across the bows, Robinson stops it and then holds onto the ball at the second attempt.
73 MINS: Kirkland just claims ahead of David Dunn.
73 MINS: He does, he finds the head of Chris Samba but Kirkland saves low to his right.
72 MINS: Pedersen with a clip to the near post, Watson heads to touch. Lets see if Pedersen can do better with the throw.
72 MINS: Pedersen drills the ball across the area, Figueroa heads behind with Diouf menacing.
69 MINS: A break in play whilst Scharner receives treatment.
66 MINS: Brilliance from Paul Robinson as he pulls off two outstanding saves. First he denies Boyce from close-range, then a piledriver from Valencia.
65 MINS: Valencia with a cross from the right, N'Zogbia with a header, Robinson tips it over.
64 MINS: Zaki with a shot on the turn, well wide.
64 MINS: First change for Rovers. David Dunn on for Tugay. The Turkish maestro gets a standing ovation.
62 MINS: Watson with the corner kick, Robinson comes and claims much to the delight of the bouncing home fans.
62 MINS: Rovers have some defending to do, Figueroa with a throw into the area, Rodallega sticks out a boot and it deflects over the bar.
60 MINS GOAL!!: Scoring his first goal for Blackburn Rovers! Ryan Nelsen! McCarthy wiuth a free-kick from the left, Nelsen gets a vital touch and its in the back of the net! Rovers 2 Wigan Athletic 0
59 MINS: Figueroa cuts into the area, his shot deflects off Nelsen, Robinson takes just a little too long to claim as the home fans shout "man on!", he claims just ahead of Zaki.
59 MINS: Watson in from the right, no-one gets a meaningful touch on the ball and it goes out of play on the left for a Wigan throw.
58 MINS: Zaki with a ball into the area, the crowd shout 'duck' to Tugay but he doesn't hear and heads behind for a Wigan corner.
57 MINS: Figueroa with a ball into the box, Zaki with a shot on the turn that goes wide.
56 MINS: Watson latches onto Valencia's pass, he shoots near post, Robinson saves with his legs.
55 MINS: Tugay and Ooijer deceive N'Zogbia on the right, the Dutchman snds over a looping ball, Samba beats Kirkland to it, but it comes off his shoulder and behind for a goal kick.
54 MINS: Pedersen with a ball for Samba to chase, again Scharner takes no chances and puts it out of play.
53 MINS: Ooijer down the line for Samba to chase, Bramble takes no chances and puts the ball out of play. Pedersen comes across to the right, throws to the near post but Scharner heads away and Wigan win a free-kick.
53 MINS: Great atmosphere here, the attendance is 25,019
51 MINS: N'Zogbia brings the ball forward with purpose but his pass to Rodallega is misplaced and goes out for a Rovers goal kick. The home side just have to guard against committing too many men forward as Wigan do have pace on the break through their widemen.
50 MINS: Diouf hits the ball forward towards McCarthy but Boyce is there first to nod back to Kirkland.
49 MINS: Warnock onto Pedersen on the left but he just over-runs it allowing Kirkland to slide in and claim.
48 MINS: Figueroa with a forward ball, Zaki flicks on but Givet ushers it back to Robinson.
46 MINS: Rovers have some defending to do as McCarthy fouls Bramble. Watson takes a short free-kick to N'Zogbia down the line, but Warnock and Ooijer get the Frenchmen's clearance away.
46 MINS: Change for Wigan at the start of the second half, Zaki on for Mido. Wigan get the second half underway. Rovers kicking towards a packed Darwen End lower in the second half.
Half time: Rovers 1 Wigan Athletic 0 - A fantastic atmosphere at Ewood and thankfully the game has lived up to it.
45+2 MINS: The home fans are lapping up Samba's performance, he tries to flick the ball into the path of McCarthy but it doesn't come off. But his hard work in closing down Kirkland gets him further applause as the Wigan man slices the ball out of play.
45 MINS: As the ball was hitting the back of the net, the fourth official showed that there'll be an additional two minutes to be played.
45 MINS GOAL! Pedersen swings over the ball and Benni McCarthy is there to head Rovers in front! Rovers 1 Wigan Athletic 0
45 MINS: Pedersen's throw from the far side is cleared only as far as Tugay, he strikes first time, the ball deflecting for a corner
43 MINS: Wigan with a corner from the right, Watson finds Rodallega, he heads back across goal, Mido puts it over but Diouf clears.
41 MINS: Valencia breaks past Warnock at speed down the right, he looks to find Rodallega in the middle but Ryan Nelsen makes a fantastic block.
39 MINS: Watson into the area, Rovers clear the ball away.
39 MINS: N'Zogbia ot the back post, Rodallega gets to the ball but it deflects over the bar for a corner.
38 MINS: Warnock stops Mido from advancing into the area from the right. Free-kick to the visitors/
37 MINS: Pedersen whips the free-kick in from the right, but it curls over everyone and behind for a goal kick.
36 MINS: More excellent play by Samba, he closes down Bramble wins the ball and then draws a foul from the Wigan defender. He gets a round of applause from the Blackburn End.
36 MINS: Samba looks to play in McCarthy down the left but he's flagged offside. A marginal call.
35 MINS: Good pressure from Rovers and Pedersen, he closes down Scharner forcing him to play it back to Kirkland who then has to clear to touch.
34 MINS: Good work by Samba as he brings the ball forward, his near post cross deflects off Boyce, he wants handball but it was a half hearted shout at best.
32 MINS: Robinson picks out Samba with his free-kick, he heads goalwards but Kirkland pounces low.
31 MINS: Mido again fouls Pedersen, the Egyptian is getting a little annoyed.
31 MINS: The earth shudders as Samba is sent crashing to the ground, but a Wigan goalkick is the decision. Samba looks ruefully at the referee.
30 MINS: Pedersen into the area, Samba heads it back, but McCarthy is offside as he shoots over the bar from a tight angle.
29 MINS: McCarthy curls it in but Valencia heads away to touch. As Pedersen prepares to launch the ball into the area, Mr Walton just has a word with Samba and Boyce.
28 MINS: Mido pushes over Pedersen on the left touchline. Benni McCarthy to take the free-kick.
28 MINS: Rodallega goes down in the area under pressure from Nelsen, the referee isn't interested.
27 MINS: Another warning from Wigan, Valencia with a cross from the right, Rodallega knocks it down for Watson, but he skies his effort.
26 MINS: Rovers back off N'Zogbia which allows him to run at goal, from the left corner of the area he shoots, but it flies wide of Robinson's near post.
25 MINS: Figueroa is down in the area and in need of treatment. It gives Sam a chance to hold an impromptu meeting.
24 MINS: Well, Pedersen's centre goes to the back post and it is Diouf that has a header that Cattermole stops on the line, inexplicably there was no-one following in for Rovers, everyone seemed frozen allowing Wigan to clear.
23 MINS: Robinson fires it forward, Kirkland has to come and punch under pressure from Samba. McCarthy just can't get onto the loose bouncing ball.
22 MINS: Tugay gets a whack to the back of the head by Cattermole, free-kick to Rovers which Robinson will send long
21 MINS: Excellent approach play again from Rovers, Pedersen down the line to Warnock, his cross is met by Samba but Kirkland claims ahead of Diouf.
20 MINS: Watson with the corner kick, Warnock gets to it but it comes back to the Wigan man, he pings the ball back in but Pedersen is able to usher the ball behind for a goal kick.
19 MINS: N'Zogbia crosses from the left, the ball skims off the head of Warnock and behind for a Wigan corner.
18 MINS: McCarthy hits the ball forward from the edge of the area, Handball is the cry, referee Peter Walton isn't interested.
17 MINS: Wigan have a free-kick on the right touchline as Grella trips Valencia. Watson tries to play it down the line for Valencia but he's flagged offside.
16 MINS: Pedersen threads the ball forward for Samba to chase, Bramble isn't interested in the ball and holds off the Rovers big man to allowed Kirkland to claim, home fans aren't happy at that.
15 MINS: Twists and turns from McCarthy in the left corner, he takes on Boyce and beats him, his near post cross almost finds Diouf but Kirkland is there.
14 MINS: Good hustle from Samba, chasing Bramble back before the Wigan defender puts the ball out for a throw. Pedersen can't beat the first man with his throw, but his cross is better, Samba goes down in the area as Kirkland claims but nothing doing.
12 MINS: Diouf in from the right, to comes to Warnock but he cant control, Pedersen drills it goalwards but it curls past the outstretched boots of Grella and Samba.
12 MINS: Pedersen takes from the right, McCarthy heads at the back post, Kirkland pushes it behind.
11 MINS: Pedersen with a peach a cross, Samba stretches, it comes off Figueroa and behind for a corner.
10 MINS: Grella lifts the ball over the back line, Samba tries to control with a high boot, it falls to Diouf who tries to head it back to Samba but Kirkland is there to claim.
9 MINS: Excellent tackle from Cattermole on McCarthy just as the South African was about to shoot on the edge of the area.
8 MINS: Chris Kirkland is wearing a cap, thats a little optimistic!
8 MINS: Pedersen with a throw into the area, Samba can't win the ball, Grella tries to control the knockdown but the ball runs behind for a Wigan goal kick.
6 MINS: Mido stops the ball going behind for a Rovers goal kick, Robinson gets a palm to his cut back and then claims ahead of Rodallega.
6 MINS: Just seen a replay of the effort by Valencia, the ball takes a deflection off Warnock, that is why Robinson was beaten.
5 MINS: Warnock looks to play a one-two with Pedersen, Scharner stretches to put the ball out of play. Pedersen long throw into the area, Cattermole gets the ball away.
3 MINS: In a frantic start Wigan attack down the right with Valencia, he shoots from the corner of the area, his effort beats Robinson but crashes off the underside of the crossbar and thankfully away to safety.
2 MINS: Play is quickly switched upfield Pedersen to McCarthy then onto Diouf on the right, his centre just can't reach McCarthy and Bramble heads away.
1 MINS: Wigan pressing Rovers in their own penalty area, a misplaced pass by Tugay adds to the danger but Grella clears.
0 MINS: Rovers get the game underway kicking towards the Blackburn End in the first half
ROVERS: Robinson, Ooijer, Nelsen (c), Givet, Warnock, Diouf, Tugay, Grella, Pedersen, McCarthy, Samba.
Subs: Bunn (GK), Dunn, Khizanishvili, Andrews, Villanueva, Olsson, Doran
WIGAN: Kirkland, Cattermole (c), Scharner, Watson, Mido, N'Zogbia, Valencia, Boyce, Bramble, Rodallega, Figueroa.
Subs: Pollitt (GK), Edman, Koumas, Brown, Zaki, De Ridder, Kapo.
