1994–95 Blackburn Rovers F.C. season explained

Club:Blackburn Rovers
Season:1994–95
Manager:Kenny Dalglish
Owner:Jack Walker
Chairman:Robert Coar
Stadium:Ewood Park
League:Premiership
League Result:1st (champions)
Cup1:FA Cup
Cup1 Result:Third round
Cup2:League Cup
Cup2 Result:Fourth round
Cup3:Charity Shield
Cup3 Result:Runners-up
Cup4:UEFA Cup
Cup4 Result:First round
League Topscorer:
Alan Shearer (34)
Season Topscorer:
Alan Shearer (37)
Highest Attendance:30,545 (vs. Newcastle United, 7 May 1995)
Lowest Attendance:14,517 (vs. Birmingham City, 20 September 1994)
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Prevseason:1993–94
Nextseason:1995–96

The 1994–95 season was Blackburn Rovers F.C.'s third season in the Premier League, and their third consecutive season in the top division of English football.

The season was marked by the club winning the Premier League title, ending their 81-year run without an English league title. They ended up winning the title by a one-point margin over Manchester United. Rovers led the way for most of the season, but a 2–1 defeat at Kenny Dalglish's old club Liverpool at Anfield on the final day of the season briefly appeared to threaten their title hopes. Manchester United however could only draw 1–1 at West Ham so the league title was back at Blackburn for the first time since 1914.[1] Jack Walker's dream had come true: within five years of buying the club, he had taken them from strugglers in the old Second Division to champions of England.[2]

Early exits from the League Cup, FA Cup and UEFA Cup to Liverpool, Newcastle and Trelleborg respectively were frustrating for Rovers in 1994–95 but turned out for the best as they could concentrate on the league challenge.

Kenny Dalglish won the Premier League Manager of the Year award for leading Blackburn to success, Alan Shearer won both the Golden Boot for contributing 34 of Blackburn's 80 league goals and also the PFA Players' Player of the Year award as nominated by his fellow professionals. Tim Flowers, Graeme Le Saux, Colin Hendry, Tim Sherwood, Chris Sutton and Shearer, all made it into the PFA Team of the Year.[3]

Review

August

Blackburn started the campaign with a 1–1 draw away to Southampton; in his debut, Chris Sutton could have been on the score sheet as early as the second minute but fired wide. It was the home side who took the lead, however, when, in the fifteenth minute, Nicky Banger controlled a box-to-box pass from Matt Le Tissier before firing home. A minute later Sutton had the chance to equalise, but this time headed wide from a Graeme Le Saux cross. Blackburn equalised in the second half when, in the 60th minute, Sutton headed the ball down to Alan Shearer who side-footed the ball past Bruce Grobbelaar.[4]

Blackburn recorded their first victory of the season just three days later at Ewood Park, running out 3–0 winners against Leicester City. Chris Sutton got the first goal and his first for his new club in the 19th minute when he headed in Shearer's delicately flighted chip. Henning Berg doubled the advantage in the 59th minute when he knocked in Sutton's flick on from close range. The points were wrapped up in the 74th minute when Robbie Slater's shot hit the post and fell straight to Shearer, who swept the ball home.[5]

Coventry City were the next visitors, and suffered a similar fate to Leicester, going down 4–0. Chris Sutton netted a hat-trick: the first a header in the 67h minute, the second a right-footed effort in the 74th and finally tapping home from close range after good work by Shearer in the 88th. Jason Wilcox got the other goal with a 20-yard effort that went in off the post.[6]

Blackburn again dropped points, this time in a 0–0 draw away to Arsenal. In a match that was dominated by Arsenal, who were let down by poor finishing, the main talking point was the sending off of Jason Wilcox in the 53rd minute for a second yellow. After defender Colin Hendry was forced off with a head wound, Chris Sutton was called on to play at centre-back, a job he proved to be more than comfortable with.[7]

September

Due to an international break, Rovers' next game was in the second week of September. The match was played at Ewood Park; the opposition, Everton, received the same treatment as previous visitors, leaving home on the back of a 3–0 defeat. Shearer got the first after 17 minutes, latching onto Tim Flowers' clearance before running at the Everton defence and shooting in the bottom left corner. Shearer was the provider for the second just before half time, crossing to the back post for an unmarked Jason Wilcox to blast home, and it was Shearer again who made sure of the points in the 60th minute, converting a penalty after Sutton had been brought down.[8] The match is notable for being the first game to feature Everton's new signing Daniel Amokachi of Nigeria, the first black player at the club in over 20 years. As the score reflected, Amokachi proved no match for the Blackburn defence who seemed to tackle him very easily and he did not threaten goal in the entire match.

Trelleborg (home)

Blackburn bounced back from their European disappointment, winning 2–1 away at Chelsea. Blackburn took the lead through an own goal in the 26th minute and looked likely to score more, but Chelsea equalised in the 56th minute through John Spencer, the first league goal that Blackburn had conceded in seven hours. Just eleven minutes later Chris Sutton headed in Robbie Slater's cross to restore the lead, and from there on in there was only one victor.[9]

Aston Villa were the next visitors to Ewood, and bettered previous opposition by at least scoring, although still going down 3–1. In the 17th minute Sutton was fouled by Ugo Ehiogu and Shearer confidently struck the penalty beyond Mark Bosnich to give Blackburn the lead. The second, in the 55th minute, saw Shearer return the favour when his shot from Stuart Ripley's cross thumped off Ehiogu's chest and Sutton got his toe to it, poking it beyond Bosnich. The duo combined again for the 71st-minute third goal: Sutton gathered a long clearance from Tim Flowers and laid the pass precisely into Shearer's path, who easily went past Ehiogu to thump a 15-yard shot into the net. The Villa defender did manage to get a consolation goal in injury time.[10]

Trelleborg (away)

October

Following on from their midweek European failure, Blackburn lost their first game away to Norwich City 2–1. Blackburn took the lead and, following his £5m move, inevitably it was Chris Sutton who got the first goal, rolling the ball gently past Bryan Gunn in the fourth minute. Norwich fought back, however, and goals from Mark Bowen and Jon Newsome either side of halftime handed them the win and Blackburn their first league defeat.[11]

Blackburn's title challenge continued to stutter in the next match with a 1–1 away to leaders Newcastle United. Rovers took the lead through a 57th-minute penalty from Shearer after Wilcox had been brought down by Newcastle goalkeeper Pavel Srnicek. Blackburn looked to be leaving with all three points, but Newcastle scrambled an equaliser just two minutes from time: Colin Hendry unintentionally flicked on Scott Sellars' corner and the ball fell to Steve Howey. His shot was cleared off the line by Jason Wilcox, only to rebound into the net off the back of Tim Flowers.[12]

Blackburn returned to winning ways against Liverpool, coming out 3–2 winners in a match between the teams placed third and fourth in the Premiership pre-match. Liverpool took the lead through Robbie Fowler's deflected 30th-minute shot, a lead they kept until halftime. The match was turned on its head soon after halftime when Shearer made two goals with crosses from the right of the area that were touched home by Mark Atkins in the 52nd minute and Sutton in the 57th. The lead did not last long as John Barnes scored an overhead kick from Stig Inge Bjørnebye's cross just two minutes later, but Sutton scored what proved to be the winner in the 73rd minute by blasting in from a tight angle after his first effort was blocked by Neil Ruddock.[13]

Blackburn's unbeaten home League record went the next game when they lost 4–2 to Manchester United. Blackburn took the lead after 13 minutes: Eric Cantona handled on the right touchline and, when Graeme Le Saux's cross entered the area, Peter Schmeichel punched the ball out straight to Paul Warhurst, who returned it with a deft chip off 30 yards into the top of the goal. As Blackburn appeared on the brink of an unbreakable hold, the tone of the match was irretrievably altered when Henning Berg brought down Lee Sharpe in the area. The penalty decision, later shown to be incorrect as Berg had played the ball, was compounded by Berg's sending off. Cantona scored the penalty into the left-hand corner. Blackburn regained the lead after 50 minutes when Colin Hendry scored with a powerful header from Le Saux's cross, but the lead lastly barely a minute as Andrei Kanchelskis broke in from the right and, after his attempt at a cross was blocked by Hendry, the winger pounced on the loose ball and hit a left-foot half-volley past Tim Flowers. After 66 minutes it was 3–2 when Le Saux committed an error playing a ball to the unmarked Mark Hughes, who saw Flowers off his line and delicately chipped over the stranded goalkeeper. Rovers pushed for an equaliser, but Kanchelskis broke away in the 82nd minute to secure the points.[14]

Things didn't get any easier for Blackburn as they then faced an away trip to Nottingham Forest, who were unbeaten and had a 24-game unbeaten record in all competitions. In a hard fought, entertaining competitive match, Blackburn came out 2–0 victors. Sutton gave Blackburn the lead in the eighth minute, capitalising on Forest's failure to clear the ball on the edge of their area by thumping a right-foot shot on the turn. The second goal came from a corner, swung over by Ripley to Shearer, whose apparent mishit on the turn fell neatly for Sutton to smash the ball past Mark Crossley in the 68th minute. Jason Wilcox was sent for two bookable offences — the second, in the 87th minute, for time wasting.[15]

FA Charity Shield

See main article: 1994 FA Charity Shield. Due to Manchester United completing the Double of Premier League and FA Cup in 1993–94, Blackburn Rovers faced them in the season's annual curtain raiser – the FA Charity Shield, as they finished as runners-up in the 1993–94 Premier League. United won the match 2–0 with goals from Eric Cantona and Paul Ince.

Awards

Despite leading his team to Premier league glory, Kenny Dalglish only won the Premier League Manager of the Month award once. This came in November when he guided Blackburn to four successive wins.[16] The same month also saw Shearer and Sutton jointly win the Premier League Player of the Month award for "|[17] scoring eight goals between them.

Kenny Dalglish won the Premier League Manager of the Year award for leading Blackburn to title success,[18] Alan Shearer won both the Golden Boot and the PFA Players' Player of the Year award as nominated by his fellow professionals.[19]

Tim Flowers, Graeme Le Saux, Colin Hendry, Tim Sherwood, Sutton and Shearer, all made it into the PFA Team of the Year.

Blackburn also provided the opposition when Matt Le Tissier scored the eventual Goal of the Season on 10 December 1994, for his famous lob over old teammate Tim Flowers.

First-team squad

[20]

Left club during season

Results

FA Premier League

FA Premier League match results[21]
DateOpponentVenueResult
F–A
ScorersAttendance
20 August 1994SouthamptonA1–1Shearer14,209
23 August 1994Leicester CityH3–0Sutton, Berg, Shearer21,050
27 August 1994Coventry CityH4–0Sutton (3), Wilcox21,657
31 August 1994ArsenalA0–037,629
10 September 1994EvertonH3–0Shearer (2, 1 pen.), Wilcox26,538
18 September 1994ChelseaA2–1Johnsen (o.g.), Sutton17,513
24 September 1994Aston VillaH3–1Shearer (2, 1 pen.), Sutton22,694
1 October 1994Norwich CityA1–2Sutton18,145
9 October 1994Newcastle UnitedA1–1Shearer (pen.)33,441
15 October 1994LiverpoolH3–2Atkins, Sutton (2)30,263
23 October 1994Manchester UnitedH2–4Warhurst, Hendry30,260
29 October 1994Nottingham ForestA2–0Sutton (2)22,131
2 November 1994Sheffield WednesdayA1–0Shearer24,207
5 November 1994Tottenham HotspurH2–0Wilcox, Shearer (pen.)26,933
19 November 1994Ipswich TownA3–1Sutton, Shearer, Sherwood17,329
26 November 1994Queens Park RangersH4–0Sutton, Shearer (3, 1 pen.)21,302
3 December 1994WimbledonA3–0Atkins, Wilcox, Shearer12,341
10 December 1994SouthamptonH3–2Atkins, Shearer (2)23,372
17 December 1994Leicester CityA0–020,559
26 December 1994Manchester CityA3–1Shearer, Atkins, Le Saux23,387
31 December 1994Crystal PalaceA1–0Sherwood14,232
2 January 1995West Ham UnitedH4–2Shearer (3, 2 pens.), Le Saux25,503
14 January 1995Nottingham ForestH3–0Warhurst, Wilcox, Chettle (o.g.)22,131
22 January 1995Manchester UnitedA0–143,742
28 January 1995Ipswich TownH4–1Shearer (3, 1 pen.), Sherwood21,325
1 February 1995Leeds UnitedH1–1Shearer (pen.)28,561
5 February 1995Tottenham HotspurA1–3Sherwood28,124
12 February 1995Sheffield WednesdayH3–1Sherwood, Atkins, Shearer22,223
22 February 1995WimbledonH2–1Shearer, Atkins20,586
25 February 1995Norwich CityH0–025,579
4 March 1995Aston VillaA1–0Hendry40,011
8 March 1995ArsenalH3–1Shearer (2, 1 pen.), Le Saux23,452
11 March 1995Coventry CityA1–1Shearer18,547
18 March 1995ChelseaH2–1Shearer, Sherwood25,490
1 April 1995EvertonA2–1Sutton, Shearer37,905
4 April 1995Queens Park RangersA1–0Sutton16,508
15 April 1995Leeds UnitedA1–1Hendry39,426
17 April 1995Manchester CityH2–3Shearer, Hendry27,851
20 April 1995Crystal PalaceH2–1Kenna, Gallacher28,005
30 April 1995West Ham UnitedA0–224,202
8 May 1995Newcastle UnitedH1–0Shearer30,545
14 May 1995LiverpoolA1–2Shearer40,014

FA Cup

FA Cup match results[22]
DateRoundOpponentVenueResult
F–A
ScorersAttendance
8 January 1995Third roundNewcastle UnitedA1–1Sutton31,721
18 January 1995Third round replayNewcastle UnitedH1–2Sutton22,658

League Cup

Football League Cup match results[23]
DateRoundOpponentVenueResult
F–A
ScorersAttendance
20 September 1994Second round
First leg
Birmingham CityH2–0Wilcox, Sutton14,517
4 October 1994Second round
Second leg
Birmingham CityA1–1Sutton16,275
26 October 1994Third roundCoventry CityH2–0Shearer (2)14,538
30 November 1994Fourth roundLiverpoolH1–3Sutton30,115

UEFA Cup

UEFA Cup match results
DateRoundOpponentVenueResult
F–A
ScorersAttendance
13 September 1994First round
First Leg
TrelleborgsH0–113,775[24]
27 September 1994First round
Second Leg
TrelleborgsA2–2Sutton, Shearer6,370[25]

Squad stats

Appearances and goals

No.Pos.NameLeagueFA CupLeague CupUEFA CupTotal
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
1GK Tim Flowers390000000390
2DF Tony Gale150000000150
3DF Alan Wright4+100000004+10
3DF Jeff Kenna9100000091
4MF Tim Sherwood385000000385
5DF Colin Hendry384000000384
6DF Graeme Le Saux393000000393
7MF Stuart Ripley36+1000000036+10
8FW Kevin Gallacher1100000011
9FW Alan Shearer42340002014237
10FW Mike Newell2+1000000002+100
11MF Jason Wilcox275000000275
12DF Nicky Marker0000000000
13GK Bobby Mimms3000000030
14MF Lee Makel0000000000
15DF Richard Brown0000000000
15DF Richard Witschge1000000010
16FW Chris Sutton40150000004015
17MF Robbie Slater12+6000000012+60
18DF Andy Morrison0000000000
19FW Peter Thorne0000000000
20DF Henning Berg401000000401
22MF Mark Atkins30+4600000030+46
23MF David Batty4+100000004+10
24MF Paul Warhurst20+7200000020+72
25DF Ian Pearce22+6000000022+60
31GK Shay Given0000000000

Starts + substitution appearances

Discipline

No.Pos.NameLeagueFA CupLeague CupTotal
1GK Tim Flowers11000011
2DF Tony Gale10000010
3DF Alan Wright10000010
4MF Tim Sherwood1000000100
5DF Colin Hendry40000040
6DF Graeme Le Saux80000080
7MF Stuart Ripley10000010
9FW Alan Shearer40000040
10FW Mike Newell10000010
11MF Jason Wilcox52000052
16FW Chris Sutton70000070
17MF Robbie Slater30000030
20DF Henning Berg21000021
21DF Jeff Kenna10000010
22MF Mark Atkins10000010
23MF David Batty10101010
24MF Paul Warhurst50000050
25DF Ian Pearce20000020
TOTALS5840000584

Transfers

In

width=20% Datewidth=25% Playerwidth=30% Previous Clubwidth=20% Cost
13 July 1994 Chris Sutton Norwich City£5 000 000[28]
4 August 1994 Robbie Slater RC Lens£300 000
8 August 1994 Shay Given CelticFree
11 August 1994 Tony Gale West HamFree
28 August 1994 Tony Carss Bradford CityFree
15 March 1995 Jeff Kenna Southampton£1 500 000

Out

width=20% Datewidth=25% Playerwidth=30% New Clubwidth=20% Cost
9 August 1994 Andy Scott Cardiff CityFree
12 August 1994 Simon Ireland Mansfield Town£60 000
9 December 1994 Andy Morrison BlackpoolFree
18 January 1995 Peter Thorne Swindon Town£225 000
13 February 1995 Matt Dickins Stockport CountyFree
3 March 1995 Richard Brown Stockport CountyFree
10 March 1995 Alan Wright Aston Villa£1 000 000

Loaned in

width=20% Datewidth=25% Playerwidth=20% Clubwidth=30% Return date
1 April 1995 Richard Witschge Bordeaux31 May 1995

Loaned out

width=20% Datewidth=25% Playerwidth=20% Clubwidth=30% Return date
2 September 1994 Paul Harford Wigan Athletic?
9 September 1994 Matt Dickens Grimsby Town?
14 October 1994 Matt Dickens Rochdale?
15 December 1994 Paul Harford Shrewsbury Town?

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Blackburn Rovers: The inside story of a remarkable Premier League triumph. 14 May 2020. BBC Sport. 14 May 2020.
  2. Web site: Blackburn Rovers winning the Premier League might never be surpassed. The Telegraph. 30 November 2017.
  3. Web site: Premier League 1995 (1994-95). www.11v11.com.
  4. News: Shearer draws an even hand . The Independent. 21 August 1994. 29 January 2010 . London . Owen . Slot.
  5. News: Football: The Premiership / Sutton quick to show net profit: Blackburn's pounds 8m strike force find the target . The Independent. 24 August 1994. 29 January 2010 . London . Derick . Allsop.
  6. News: Football: Sutton punishes sorry Coventry: Rovers leave it late . The Independent. 29 August 1994. 29 January 2010 . London . Mark . Burton.
  7. News: Football: Sutton keeps Arsenal at bay . The Independent. 1 September 1994. 29 January 2010 . London . Trevor . Haylett.
  8. News: Football: Shearer a class apart . The Independent. 11 September 1994. 29 January 2010 . London . Stephen . Brenkley.
  9. News: Football: Sutton ends Chelsea's fightback. The Independent. 19 September 1994. 29 January 2010 . London . Mark . Burton.
  10. News: Football: Shearer braced for action. The Independent. 25 September 1994. 29 January 2010 . London . Bob . Houston.
  11. News: Football: Rovers out of pocket . The Independent. 10 October 1994. 29 January 2010 . London . Bob . Houston.
  12. News: Football: Howey earns Newcastle late reward . The Independent. 10 October 1994. 29 January 2010 . London . Glenn . Moore.
  13. News: Football: Liverpool suffering the half-time effect: Evans' interval worry. The Independent. 17 October 1994. 29 January 2010 . London . Guy . Hodgson.
  14. News: Football: United exploit Berg's misfortune. The Independent. 24 October 1994. 29 January 2010 . London . Guy . Hodgson.
  15. News: Football: Clinical Sutton takes his chances. The Independent. 30 October 1994. 29 January 2010 . London . Richard . Williams.
  16. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20061211025922/http://www.premierleague.com/fapl.rac?command=setSelectedId&nextPage=enNewsLatest&id=466955&type=com.fapl.website.news.NewsItem&categoryCode=NewsSpecialFeatures&breadcrumb=sfsub_breadcrumb . Carling Premiership Manager of the Month 1994/95 . 11 December 2006 . 22 January 2010 . . dead .
  17. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20061211025922/http://www.premierleague.com/fapl.rac?command=setSelectedId&nextPage=enNewsLatest&id=466955&type=com.fapl.website.news.NewsItem&categoryCode=NewsSpecialFeatures&breadcrumb=sfsub_breadcrumb . Carling Premiership Player of the Month 1994/95 . 11 December 2006 . 3 October 2009 . premierleague.com . . dead .
  18. News: Kenny Dalglish at Blackburn . https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/kenny-dalglish-at-blackburn-1311105.html . 1 May 2022 . subscription . live . . 23 August 1996 . 22 January 2009 . London.
  19. News: Only here for the peers. BBC. 22 January 2010. 20 April 2001.
  20. Web site: Premier League 94/95 / Blackburn Rovers/Most frequent starting line-up. Stat Bunker. 21 January 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20110716132609/http://www.statbunker.com/football/btb/index.php?PL=team&TeamID=34&CompID=11. 16 July 2011. dead.
  21. Book: Rothmans Football Yearbook: 1995–96 . 1995 . Headline . 0-7472-7823-7 . Rollin . Jack . London . 56 . 60284604.
  22. Book: Rothmans Football Yearbook: 1995–96 . 1995 . Headline . 0-7472-7823-7 . Rollin . Jack . London . 614–615 . 60284604.
  23. Book: Rothmans Football Yearbook: 1995–96 . 1995 . Headline . 0-7472-7823-7 . Rollin . Jack . London . 582–588 . 60284604.
  24. Web site: Blackburn Rovers - Trelleborgs FF 0:1 (Europa League 1994/1995, 1. Round).
  25. Web site: Trelleborgs FF - Blackburn Rovers 2:2 (Europa League 1994/1995, 1. Round).
  26. Web site: Premier League 94/95 / Blackburn Rovers / Seasons Appearances . Stat Bunker . 22 January 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110716132648/http://www.statbunker.com/football/btb/index.php?PL=team&TeamID=34&statType=apps&CompID=11 . 16 July 2011 . dead .
  27. Web site: Premier League 94/95 / Blackburn Rovers / Club Discipline . 22 January 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110716132659/http://www.statbunker.com/football/btb/index.php?PL=team&TeamID=34&statType=discipline&CompID=11&x=19&y=6 . 16 July 2011 . dead .
  28. Web site: Blackburn's transfers in 1994/1995 . 22 January 2010 . Racing Post soccerbase . 29 July 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20081209093827/http://www.soccerbase.com/transfers_by_team.sd?teamid=308 . 9 December 2008 . dead .