BLACKBURN // Own goals have become sadly synonymous with Blackburn Rovers recently, whether with the sacking of a successful manager or the series of PR gaffes that rendered a proud club a laughing stock.
Yesterday, however, another took Rovers to new heights. They awake this morning in their highest position of the season, seventh, aided by an unintentional but unstoppable finish by West Bromwich Albion's Gabriel Tamas.
In fairness, a stunning strike from Junior Hoilett was equally significant. Blackburn's lofty standing is not merely the result of others' failings. It reflects well upon the recently appointed manager Steve Kean, who signed an extended contract this week and who, in turbulent times behind the scenes, has won four of his last six matches.
The Scot's remit includes making Rovers' easier on the eye and Hoilett's first league goal certainly had aesthetic appeal.
Whether a transformation into elegant entertainers is being effected is a moot point - Kean selects more attack-minded personnel than the dismissed Sam Allardyce, though a significant proportion of the chances still result from Morten Gamst Pedersen's corners and long throws - but he is earning results.
West Brom are not. Their seventh defeat in eight games occurred despite some pleasing football, with the sharp Jerome Thomas repeatedly beating his immediate opponent, Michel Salgado, until Kean ended the experienced Spaniard's suffering by withdrawing him.
Thomas had already tested the in-form Paul Robinson thrice while Peter Odemwingie forced a save after 30 seconds and, after the break was fouled in the box by Jermaine Jones.
"Apart from the referee, everybody else thought we should have had a penalty," Roberto di Matteo, the Albion manager, said. "It's happening on almost a weekly basis. It's incredible."
Nevertheless, a generosity at the back has been another constant for a club without a clean sheet since August. It is no coincidence that Albion have a share of the Premier League's worst defensive record.
Indeed, Blackburn's initial experience was that defence was the best form of attack. Boaz Myhill parried smartly from two members of the Rovers rearguard, Martin Olsson and Christopher Samba, within the space of a minute before the giant Congolese drilled a second shot wide. However, it was one of the Albion centre-backs who provided the breakthrough.
Tamas was challenged by Nikola Kalinic for David Dunn's high-quality cross, but that does not fully explain his powerful header into his own net. "It's a bizarre own goal," Di Matteo added. "The defender mistimed his jump and got it all wrong." The excellent Myhill was given no chance.
Indeed, he was equally helpless when Blackburn doubled their lead. Cutting in from the left flank at pace to accept Kalinic's chested pass, Hoilett hammered a swerving shot in from 20 yards.
"He's a quality player and a match-winner on that form," said Kean, who expects Samba to follow club Ryan Nelsen, the captain, in signing a new contract.
"I think that would be massive," he added. Both were critics of the decision to dismiss Allardyce but have undergone a change of heart.
Instead of losing the pair, Rovers welcomed two new arrivals to Ewood Park. The returning Roque Santa Cruz was granted a generous ovation on his second full debut, while the American Jones slotted in neatly in the midfield.
In the parallel universe the owners, Venky's, inhabit, it could have been David Beckham, Juan Roman Riquelme or Ronaldinho who were making their Blackburn bows.
But while Ewood Park remains far more Ronnie Clayton, the long-serving wing-half of the 1950s, than Ronaldinho, the meeting of two of the Football League's founder members nonetheless contained a record of 22 different nationalities. The global game's reach has never been greater.
sports@thenational.ae
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
Anghami
Started: December 2011
Co-founders: Elie Habib, Eddy Maroun
Based: Beirut and Dubai
Sector: Entertainment
Size: 85 employees
Stage: Series C
Investors: MEVP, du, Mobily, MBC, Samena Capital
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
Sri Lanka Test squad:
Dimuth Karunaratne (stand-in captain), Niroshan Dickwella (vice captain), Lahiru Thirimanne, Kaushal Silva, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Janith Perera, Milinda Siriwardana, Dhananjaya de Silva, Oshada Fernando, Angelo Perera, Suranga Lakmal, Kasun Rajitha, Vishwa Fernando, Chamika Karunaratne, Mohamed Shiraz, Lakshan Sandakan and Lasith Embuldeniya.
Ipaf in numbers
Established: 2008
Prize money: $50,000 (Dh183,650) for winners and $10,000 for those on the shortlist.
Winning novels: 13
Shortlisted novels: 66
Longlisted novels: 111
Total number of novels submitted: 1,780
Novels translated internationally: 66
Directed by Sam Mendes
Starring Dean-Charles Chapman, George MacKay, Daniel Mays
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Name: Brendalle Belaza
From: Crossing Rubber, Philippines
Arrived in the UAE: 2007
Favourite place in Abu Dhabi: NYUAD campus
Favourite photography style: Street photography
Favourite book: Harry Potter
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Lamsa
Founder: Badr Ward
Launched: 2014
Employees: 60
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: EdTech
Funding to date: $15 million
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
The biog
Family: He is the youngest of five brothers, of whom two are dentists.
Celebrities he worked on: Fabio Canavaro, Lojain Omran, RedOne, Saber Al Rabai.
Where he works: Liberty Dental Clinic
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
Company profile
Company name: Dharma
Date started: 2018
Founders: Charaf El Mansouri, Nisma Benani, Leah Howe
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: TravelTech
Funding stage: Pre-series A
Investors: Convivialite Ventures, BY Partners, Shorooq Partners, L& Ventures, Flat6Labs
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Padmaavat
Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Starring: Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor, Jim Sarbh
3.5/5
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Water waste
In the UAE’s arid climate, small shrubs, bushes and flower beds usually require about six litres of water per square metre, daily. That increases to 12 litres per square metre a day for small trees, and 300 litres for palm trees.
Horticulturists suggest the best time for watering is before 8am or after 6pm, when water won't be dried up by the sun.
A global report published by the Water Resources Institute in August, ranked the UAE 10th out of 164 nations where water supplies are most stretched.
The Emirates is the world’s third largest per capita water consumer after the US and Canada.
Fighter profiles
Gabrieli Pessanha (Brazil)
Reigning Abu Dhabi World Pro champion in the 95kg division, virtually unbeatable in her weight class. Known for her pressure game but also dangerous with her back on the mat.
Nathiely de Jesus, 23, (Brazil)
Two-time World Pro champion renowned for her aggressive game. She is tall and most feared by her opponents for both her triangles and arm-bar attacks.
Thamara Ferreira, 24, (Brazil)
Since her brown belt days, Ferreira has been dominating the 70kg, in both the World Pro and the Grand Slams. With a very aggressive game.
Samantha Cook, 32, (Britain)
One of the biggest talents coming out of Europe in recent times. She is known for a highly technical game and bringing her A game to the table as always.
Kendall Reusing, 22, (USA)
Another young gun ready to explode in the big leagues. The Californian resident is a powerhouse in the -95kg division. Her duels with Pessanha have been highlights in the Grand Slams.
Martina Gramenius, 32, (Sweden)
Already a two-time Grand Slam champion in the current season. Gramenius won golds in the 70kg, in both in Moscow and Tokyo, to earn a spot in the inaugural Queen of Mats.
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