A LOOK at the games that saw Rovers through to their first major Cup final in 42 years.
Round Two
ROVERS 2 OLDHAM ATHLETIC 0
Ewood Park, Wednesday 12 September, 2001
Scorers: Jansen 14, Dunning 77
Attendance: 9,559
Team: Friedel, Greer, Berg, Taylor, Dunning, Johnson, Tugay, Mahon, Hignett, Jansen, Grabbi. Subs: Bent (for Grabbi, 70), Hughes (for Taylor, 85)
THE road to Cardiff began with a home tie against Second Division Oldham back in September.
Manager Graeme Souness made six changes from the side which had lost to Sunderland five days earlier as Craig Hignett, Darren Dunning, Gordon Greer and Damien Johnson all made their first starts of the season.
And the rotation policy paid handsome dividends as Rovers roared to a comfortable 2-0 victory over the Latics.
The tie was memorable for two things.
Matt Jansen scored his first goal of the season courtesy of a smart finish in the 14th minute.
But it was a second half brawl in which Marcus Bent and Darren Sheridan were both red-carded which made the headlines on the night.
Round three ROVERS 2 MIDDLESBROUGH 1 (AET)
Ewood Park, Wednesday October 10, 2001
Scorers: Hignett 31, Short 111 (Nemeth 39)
Attendance: 9,536
Team: Filan, Curtis, Short, Johansson, Bjornebye, Johnson, Flitcroft, Dunn, Mahon, Hignett, Hughes. Subs: Grabbi (for Hughes, 59), Jansen (for Dunn, 66), Tugay (for Mahon, 66)
CENTRAL defender Craig Short saved Rovers from the prospect of penalties with an extra-time winner against battling Boro.
Rovers had stormed into a 1-0 lead after Craig Hignett struck against his former club with a cracking first half header for his first goal of the season.
But Szilard Nemeth cancelled that out within eight minutes as the visitors launched a rousing fightback.
So to extra-time and that man Short popped up with a timely winner in the 111th minute to ensure Rovers' safe passage into round four.
Round four ROVERS 2 MANCHESTER CITY 0
Ewood Park, Wednesday November 28, 2001
Scorers: Johansson 43, Johnson 90
Attendance: 17,907
Team: Friedel, Curtis, Johansson, Taylor, Johnson, Gillespie, Dunn, Tugay, Duff, Hignett, Hughes. Subs: Ostenstad (for Hignett, 63), Mahon (for Dunn, 77)
REVENGE was the word on everyone's lips when the draw for round four paired Rovers with Manchester City.
The last time City had played at Ewood they secured promotion back to the Premiership thanks to a 4-1 win amid chaotic scenes on the final day of the 1999-2000 season.
So Rovers were intent on settling a score and they did exactly that with a 2-0 win.
But Belgium bad-boy Christian Negouai then saw red for his second booking and Rovers capitalised on their numerical advantage.
Nils-Eric Johansson bagged his first goal for the club with a sumptuous left-foot strike two minutes before the break.
And Damien Johnson put the finishing touch to a satisfying night with an equally impressive finish in the dying seconds.
Quarter final ROVERS 4 ARSENAL 0
Ewood Park, Tuesday December 11, 2001
Scorers: Jansen 12, 15, 68 Hughes 21
Attendance: 13,278
Team: Friedel, Kenna, Johansson, Taylor, Curtis, Gillespie, Dunn, Tugay, Duff, Jansen, Hughes. Subs: Grabbi (for Hughes, 67), Mahon (for Duff, 72), Ostenstad (for Jansen, 72)
ENGLAND wannabe Matt Jansen put Arsenal to the sword with his first ever professional hat-trick on a memorable night for all Rovers fans at Ewood.
Graeme Souness's men roared into a 3-0 lead inside the opening 21 minutes thanks to a brace from Jansen and a first goal of the season for veteran striker Mark Hughes.
Jansen then completed the rout with a super-cool finish in the 68th minute before disappearing down the tunnel clutching the match-ball.
"It was a brilliant feeling to score a hat-trick," said Jansen. "I've scored twice in plenty of games before but I've never, ever bagged three -- apart from in training!"
The night was also memorable for Jeff Kenna who was handed a shock first team recall after a 12 month absence.
Semi-Final FIRST LEG
Sheffield Wednesday 1 Rovers 2
Hillsborough, Tuesday January 8, 2002
Scorers: Hignett 28, Cole 40 (Ekoku 52)
Attendance: 30,883
Team: Friedel, Curtis, Bjornebye, Short, Taylor, Dunn, Tugay, Mahon, Hignett, Cole, Duff. Subs: Hughes (for Mahon, 37), Gillespie (for Hignett, 72)
NEW club-record signing Andy Cole scored his first goal in a Blackburn shirt as Rovers returned from Hillsborough clutching a crucial first-leg advantage.
Cole opened his Ewood goal-account with a typically predatory finish in the 40th minute to put Rovers in command after Craig Hignett had earlier scored a carbon-copy goal.
But Efan Ekoku, the man known as The Chief, then gave Wednesday hope when he pounced on hesitant defending to pull one back for the Owls in the 52nd minute which set-up an intriguing second leg.
"I've been in the game long enough to know we're in a good position," said Graeme Souness.
"We've gone to Hillsborough and done a job but the hard work is still in front of us."
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