We'll fight to the end, says Aidy

14 April 2012

Watford lost the battle of the beaten FA Cup semi finalists last night and could be relegated from the Premiership at home to Manchester City on Saturday.

They recovered from leaking two goals in the first 10 minutes to hit back through on loan striker Douglas Rinaldi's 21st-minute header, but Benni McCarthy dived in for Rovers' third, all created by David Bentley, for his 20th goal of the season.

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Rovers and rout: Jason Roberts of Blackburn (centre) puts the ball past Watford keeper Ben Foster

Manager Aidy Boothroyd said: "It was always going to be about which losing semi-finalist didn't feel sorry for themselves and got a grip. We were beaten by a better team, but we gave them daft goals.

"We're not going to run up the white flag until we're down mathematically, but it may be one or two more will get their chance. I won't become a negative sort of guy."

Watford, beaten by Manchester United at Villa Park on Saturday, fell victim to McCarthy, who took the rallying cry of Blackburn manager Mark Hughes for a late charge towards Europe to heart.

The South Africa striker, who put his international career on hold to establish his Rovers career, reached his milestone figure with a 31st-minute header.

The goal, McCarthy's 14th of the league campaign, made him the first Blackburn forward to hit 20 goals in the top flight since Chris Sutton, a club record £5million signing from Norwich, in 1997-98.

His feat is all the more remarkable as a foreign player stepping into the Premiership and puts him up alongside such quality company as Jurgen Klinsmann, Fabrizio Ravanelli and Ruud van Nistelrooy.

No wonder Hughes, who snapped up McCarthy for a bargain £2.5m from Porto, believes he landed one of the signings of the season to replace Craig Bellamy.

Hughes was even able to start putting the disappointment of Sunday's FA Cup semifinal exit against Chelsea behind him thanks to McCarthy and strike partner Jason Roberts.

Roberts scored Rovers' second after Chris Samba's early header put the skids under Watford.

Hughes said: "Benni has had a great season, he's been fantastic — 20 goals is excellent for an established Premiership player, but he's done it in his first season. He's a quality player who will always score."

BLACKBURN (4-4-2): Friedel; Emerton, Samba, Nelsen, Warnock; Bentley, Mokoena, Dunn (Kerimoglu 77min), Pedersen (Gallagher 75); Roberts, McCarthy (Derbyshire 80).

Scorers: Samba 7, Roberts 10, McCarthy 32.

WATFORD (4-4-2): Foster; Mariappa, DeMerit, Carlisle, Stewart; Smith (Chambers 28, King 49), Francis, Mahon, Rinaldi (Kabba 46); Bouazza, Priskin.

Scorer: Rinaldi 21.

Man of the match: David Bentley.

Referee: Chris Foy.

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