The Electronic Telegraph
Thursday 28 September 1995
Rosenborg BK (1) 2 Blackburn (0) 1
Loken 29, Stensaas 86; Newell 63.
BLACKBURN ROVERS experienced another night-time nadir in Scandinavia when they were defeated by Rosenborg.
Blackburn, drawing deep on their reserves of spirit and speed, looked to have secured a Group B point when Mike Newell cancelled Karl-Petter Loken's opener but, minutes from time, Stale Stensaas condemned Rovers to the bottom of their Champions' League section.
The Lerkendal Stadium, an antiquated arena containing shades of the Shay, Halifax, has proved a fortress in recent years. Blackburn arrived knowing that free-scoring Rosenborg had prevailed in their previous six European home ties, scoring 16 times for the miserly concession of one. The challenge was as steep as the grassy bank that masqueraded as one end.
So it proved as Neils Arne Eggen's industrious hosts moved clear of Rovers within the half hour. Having said Chris Sutton would continue as sweeper, Ray Harford deployed him up front with Mike Newell in the hole.
Blackburn's flat back-four was soon exposed. Although the early honours had been even, the feeling grew that quick-breaking Rosenborg were just gauging the game's flow. The phoney-war formalities were soon concluded as space began to open up around Rovers' naive rearguard.
Bent Skammelsrud swerved a lovely shot inches wide, Harald Brattbakk demanded a splendid close-range save from Tim Flowers, but then came the ignominy. Jan Ivar Jakobsen, a persistently creative attacking force on the left, crossed high to Brattbakk, who simply nodded play on to Loken, left scandalously unmarked 10 yards from the far post. Flowers had certainly been left stranded but no goalkeeper, particularly not an England international, will enjoy recalling being beaten by a bouncing ball at the near post.
Alan Shearer tried to restore parity with a low shot that was pushed away, but it was the Norwegians who should have finished the first half with another goal.
Trond Soltvedt's through-ball sent Brattbakk running into the box shoulder to shoulder with Ian Pearce. The England under-21 defender's tackle was excellent but, as the pair rose to chase the ball, Pearce tugged Brattbakk. The referee, an Austrian nurse, dispensed the only prescription available but, fortunately for Blackburn, Jakobsen crashed his penalty against the bar.
Harford introduced Stuart Ripley but the pressure refused to subside immediately. Blackburn's midfield was being shown up as technically and tactically deficient by Scandinavian part-timers, a dispiriting sight for any Englishman.
Soltvedt went close, forcing Flowers into a marvellously athletic stop. Then came Jakobsen, whose alert run and forceful drive was scooped away by the busy goalkeeper. Flowers, though, had little answer to the brilliance of Roar Strand, whose first-time 20-yarder beat the keeper but not the post.
Blackburn, to their immense credit, fought back to equalise through Newell. Tim Sherwood's right-wing free kick was headed down by Shearer and there was Newell, poaching instinctively to drive the ball past Ola Rise.
Rosenborg's goalkeeper came under increasing pressure and Blackburn raised their tempo. A great run by Ripley, recapturing his brio of old, climaxed with another powerful header by Shearer; he was desperately unlucky to see Rise save instinctively from whites-of-the-eyes range. At last Blackburn appeared to understand the demands of European football.
However, they have clearly not learned enough, a fact Stensaas confirmed two minutes from time.