Hibernian F.C. Match Reports
Blackburn Rovers 0 Hibernian 0
Pre-season Challenge Match
Wednesday 5th August 2009

John Hughes made two changes from the side that had faced Preston North End on Saturday, Derek Riordan and David Van Zanten dropping out to be replaced by Lewis Stevenson and Kevin McCann. Barely 60 seconds had been played when Ma-Kalambay was first called into action; the Hibernian goalkeeper had to be at his very best to keep out a fantastic free kick from Pedersen.

Blackburn put Hibernian under a lot of pressure in the opening minutes and forced a series of corner kicks. From one of these Di Santo was inches away from scoring at the back post after Pedersen's corner kick fizzed across the face of goal without taking a touch from anyone. It had been a busy start for the Hibernian defence and Ma-Kalambay had to produce another great save to keep his side level on 5 minutes. A cross from the right by Jacobsen found Di Santo unmarked at the back post and his header from close range looked a certain goal - before Ma-Kalambay threw himself at the ball and pushed it away.

After surviving the early onslaught Hibernian gradually got their own game going, moving the ball quickly and accurately. Merouane Zemmama showed exceptional footwork to get beyond three Blackburn players on the right but his cross was unfortunately over-hit to leave Rankin and Nish, who had found space in the middle, frustrated onlookers.

Having came close to scoring with a free kick from distance in the opening minute, Morten Pedersen once more tried his luck from long range on 12 minutes, however this time his shot lacked accuracy and ended well off target. Blackburn were still creating the better of the opportunities although they were finding it increasingly difficult to get hold of the ball. The home side passed up two more great chances within seconds of each other. First Nzonzi found himself with clear sight of goal inside the penalty area but sliced his shot from 12 yards well wide of goal, then Di Santo put Roberts into the clear and he also failed to get his shot on target from close range.

The 600 or so Hibernian supporters who made the journey south of the border were in fine voice and provided their heroes with plenty of vocal encouragement. The Edinburgh team were giving an excellent account of themselves against quality opposition. John Rankin was caught from behind 25 yards from the Blackburn goal as Hibernian were awarded a free kick on the half hour mark. Zemmama's effort stuck the defensive wall as Hibernian won their first corner kick of the evening - from which they should have scored.

Zemmama's took the corner and the ball was flicked on superbly by Nish at the front post - and with the goal gaping in front of him at the back post Ian Murray somehow managed to head wide from only a couple of yards out. Blackburn's only Scottish player, Paul Gallagher, was next to have an effort on goal, but his shot from 25 yards was never going to trouble goalkeeper Ma-Kalambay. At the other end Rankin pounced on a slack clearance from Nzonzi, with options to his side he went for an early shot at goal which ended well wide.

The first half then ending goalless and despite Blackburn starting impressively, once Hibernian settled down into their game they were a match for the English Premiership side.

Half Time: Blackburn Rovers 0 Hibernian 0

During the half time break there was the unusual sight of the Hibernian players being brought back out early for a warm up - John Hughes perhaps attempting to stop a run of early goals being conceded in this season's pre-season encounters.

There were no changes to the teams as Blackburn got the action underway again and within a minute Ma-Kalambay was scrambling across his goal as Di Santo fired just wide from the edge of the penalty area. There was cause for concern on 48 minutes when Kevin McBride looked to be in a bad way after a collision in the midfield with Pedersen. The Hibernian midfielder looked to have been accidentally caught in the ribs but after a couple of minutes he was back into the thick of the action.

On 56 minutes a cross from the Jacobson found Pedersen climbing above McCann to power a header towards goal that was saved low to his left by Ma-Kalambay. Not long after a decoy run from Di Santo cleared the way for Roberts to go through on goal but the striker shot straight at Ma-Kalambay who saved. It may have been a pre-season friendly but that did not stop Andrews from picking up a yellow card from referee Attwell for a two footed lunge on Zemmama.

Blackburn made the first changes of the evening when Nelsen, Doran and Hoilett replaced Khizanishvili, Andrews and Di Santo. Hibernian's first effort on goal in the second half came on 68 minutes when Zemmama aimed a free kick at goal which finished well off target. Robinson had to race from his goal to slide clear a through ball from Rankin before Nish could do any damage to the home side. Kevin McCann joined Keith Andrews in the referee's book for a late challenge on Ollson after the Blackburn full back had knocked the ball beyond him.

A poor clearance by foot from Ma-Kalambay put Hibernian under pressure when the goalkeeper's kick out went straight to Holilett on the edge of the penalty area. The substitute's shot was bravely blocked by Bamba before it could find its way into the empty net. The home side were again putting the Hibernian defence under pressure when they did manage to prise the ball from the visitors. A shot from Jacobsen was not too far away, the ball fizzing across the face of goal taking a deflection from a green shirt on the way before going behind.

From the resulting corner kick Ma-Kalambay almost produced a bizarre own goal when he attempted to punch the ball away only to knock the ball back towards his own net. The ball thankfully finished just wide of goal to spare the goalkeeper's blushes. With 11 minutes remaining Hibernian made five changes with Van Zanten, Thicot, Wotherspoon, Galbraith and Currie all introduced at the expense of McCann, Cregg, McBride, Stevenson and Rankin. Blackburn also made a change with Gallagher replaced by Van Heerden.

It perhaps underlined the system being used by John Hughes and Brian Rice that the changes made little difference to the pattern of play, Hibernian continued to pass the ball quickly and accurately, and when they did lose possession they quickly closed down their opponents. Zemmama fired a shot over the top of Robinson's bar before Samba headed just over at the other end.

That proved to be the last action of an engrossing encounter where Hibernian more than held their own against Blackburn's Premiership stars.

Blackburn Rovers: Robinson, Jacobsen, Olsson, Nzonzi, Samba, Khizanishvili, Gallagher, Andrews, Roberts, Di Santo, Pedersen. Subs: Brown, Warnock, Nelsen, Diouf, Doran, Van Heerden, Hoilett.

Hibernian: Ma-Kalambay, Murray, Bamba, Hogg, McCann, Stevenson, McBride, Rankin, Cregg, Nish, Zemmama. Subs: Flynn, Van Zanten, Thicot, Wotherspoon, Galbraith, Currie.

Referee: Stuart Attwell