2013–14 Blackburn Rovers F.C. season
# 2013–14 Blackburn Rovers F.C. season

The 2013–14 season was Blackburn Rovers' 126th season as a professional football club and its second playing in the Football League Championship since the club's relegation during the 2011–12 Barclays Premier League season.

Caretaker manager for the final few games of the previous season, Gary Bowyer, was given the job permanently.

Grzegorz Sandomierski, Cameron Stewart, David Bentley, David Jones, Todd Kane and Colin Kazim-Richards, all of which were on loan at Rovers during the 12–13 season did not secure permanent contracts, though Todd Kane returned to Rovers for a third loan spell. Mauro Formica and Diogo Rosado, who were both loaned out for the final half of the 12–13 season left the club during the summer transfer window, the former being sold and the latter having his contract terminated. Rubén Rochina and Bruno Ribeiro who were also loaned out towards the end of the 12–13 season returned to the club.

David Dunn's talks over a new contract resulted in a one-year contract extension. Grant Hanley and Lee Williamson also gained contract extensions.

The club tried to move on higher earning players to lighten the wage-bill in preparation for the new rules which were to be introduced in the 2014–15 season.

## Pre season

On 24 May 2013, Rovers owners Venkys rewarded Gary Bowyer's performance as 'Caretaker manager' with a 12-month contract as the club's manager.

Bowyer wasted no time in adding to his team making a triple Free transfer signing of midfielder Chris Taylor (Millwall), midfielder Alan Judge (Notts County) and goalkeeper Simon Eastwood (Portsmouth), all of whom are joining the club after their contracts ran out with their clubs. He further indictated that funds had been made available to him by the club's owners, and he would be making changes both incoming and outgoing before the start of the new season.

On 4 June 2013, it was announced that the club had decided to release Micah Evans, Osayamen Osawe, Christopher Dilo, Jamie Maclaren, Reece Hands, Peter Wylie, Ryan Humphreys and Danny Laverty at the ends of their contracts (30 June 2013).

The club also confirmed that young players John O'Sullivan, Raheem Hanley, Hugo Fernandez, Will Beesley, Curtis Haley, Kellen Daly and Darragh Lenihan had all been offered new deals. All were due to be out of contract on 30 June 2013. Young goalkeeper Matthew Urwin and 1st team defender Grant Hanley also signed new contracts at the club.

On 7 June 2013 Operations Director Paul Agnew was fired by the club owners Venkys.

On 10 June 2013, Blackburn Rovers installed Terry McPhillips as assistant manager and Tony Grant as first-team coach, while Carlisle United youth team coach Eric Kinder re-joins Rovers as head of the youth team.

On 21 June 2013, Blackburn Rovers welcome back former player Craig Short who joins Gary Bowyer's backroom staff as first team coach.

On 3 July, Blackburn Rovers announced their new shirt sponsor as RFS (Regulatory Finance Solutions Ltd), a management consultancy business.

## Pre-season friendlies

* Blackburn Rovers XI matches consisted of the U21s, 1st team players recovering match fitness post injury, U18s and trial players.
   * the Blackburn Rovers XI matches against Fleetwood Town and Bury were played behind closed doors (without a crowd).

## Championship

Blackburn's game against Derby County was a fixture released early to mark the special 125th anniversary of the Football League. Gary Bowyer's first game as manager would ironically be against a club he coached at previously before joining Rovers in 2005.

BBC Football

## Team statistics

### League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 6 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 46 | 19 | 15 | 12 | 55 | 40 | +15 | 72 | Qualification for Championship play-offs |
| 7 | Reading | 46 | 19 | 14 | 13 | 70 | 56 | +14 | 71 | |
| 8 | Blackburn Rovers | 46 | 18 | 16 | 12 | 70 | 62 | +8 | 70 | |
| 9 | Ipswich Town | 46 | 18 | 14 | 14 | 60 | 54 | +6 | 68 | |
| 10 | Bournemouth | 46 | 18 | 12 | 16 | 67 | 66 | +1 | 66 | |

### Result by round

| Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Ground | A | H | A | H | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | A | H | H | A | H | A | A | H | H | H | A | H | A | A | H |
| Result | D | L | L | W | W | D | L | D | W | W | L | L | D | W | L | D | W | L | D | W | W | D | L | W | W | L | D | D | W | D | W | L | L | L | W | D | D | D | D | W | W | D | D | W | W | W |
| Position | 11 | 17 | 22 | 15 | 11 | 10 | 14 | 15 | 11 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 9 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 8 |

## Cup Competitions

### League Cup

Rovers started their League Cup campaign earlier than usual against League One outfit Carlisle United, it was the first time Rovers appeared in the first round since 2000.

* Gary Bowyer rested 8 players from the previous game.
* Carlisle opened the scoring in the first quarter-hour.
* Rovers levelled the score with Tom Cairney's deflected shot in the second half.
* David Dunn's low penalty was saved before taking the lead with Chris Taylor's header.
* A lapse of concentration by Josh King in defence gifted Carlisle an equaliser which forced the game into extra time.
* Alan Judge retook the lead with a fine volley from inside the box, this was later cancelled out again by Carlisle.
* Rovers then went down to 10 men with Tom Cairney's second yellow.
* After extra-time the game ended level at 3–3.
* In the penalty shoot-out Rovers lost out 4-3
* Chris Taylor and Josh Morris missed fourth and fifth penalties while Carlisle missed only their first penalty.

## Squad statistics

### Appearances and goals

    As of 3 May 2014

| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Total | Championship | Championship | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| 1 | GK | ENG | Paul Robinson | 23 | 0 | 21 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | DF | ENG | Todd Kane (on loan from Chelsea) | 28 | 2 | 23+4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | ENG | Tommy Spurr | 45 | 3 | 43 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | DF | ENG | Matthew Kilgallon | 26 | 1 | 23+2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | SCO | Grant Hanley | 41 | 1 | 39 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | MF | ENG | Jason Lowe | 42 | 1 | 38+1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 7 | FW | NOR | Joshua King | 35 | 2 | 20+12 | 2 | 0+2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | ENG | David Dunn | 24 | 4 | 14+9 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 11 | FW | SCO | Jordan Rhodes | 48 | 25 | 45+1 | 25 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 12 | MF | ENG | Ben Marshall | 20 | 2 | 13+5 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 13 | GK | ENG | Simon Eastwood | 9 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 14 | MF | SWE | Marcus Olsson | 9 | 0 | 4+4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 15 | FW | ENG | Luke Varney (on loan from Leeds United) | 12 | 0 | 3+9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 17 | MF | ENG | Lee Williamson | 33 | 0 | 21+10 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | MF | ENG | Chris Taylor | 37 | 1 | 14+20 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 20 | MF | NGA | Dickson Etuhu | 3 | 0 | 0+3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | MF | ENG | Liam Feeney (on loan from Millwall) | 6 | 0 | 1+5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 27 | DF | WAL | Adam Henley | 16 | 0 | 13+1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 29 | MF | NIR | Corry Evans | 21 | 1 | 17+4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 31 | MF | ENG | Connor Mahoney | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 32 | MF | SCO | Craig Conway | 18 | 4 | 16+2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 34 | GK | ENG | Jake Kean | 18 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 39 | FW | BEN | Rudy Gestede | 28 | 13 | 21+6 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 45 | MF | SCO | Tom Cairney | 40 | 6 | 36+1 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Players out on loan: ||||||||||||
| 9 | FW | IRL | Leon Best (on loan to Sheffield Wednesday) | 8 | 2 | 5+3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | FW | ENG | DJ Campbell (on loan to Millwall) | 10 | 0 | 2+6 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | DF | CMR | Yann Songo'o (on loan to Ross County) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 18 | MF | IRL | John O'Sullivan (on loan to Southport) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 21 | MF | ENG | Alex Marrow (on loan to Fleetwood Town) | 4 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 22 | DF | ENG | Bradley Orr (on loan to Toronto) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 23 | FW | ESP | Rubén Rochina (on loan to Rayo Vallecano) | 5 | 0 | 2+3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | DF | ENG | Josh Morris (on loan to Fleetwood Town) | 5 | 0 | 0+4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 25 | MF | IRL | Alan Judge (on loan to Brentford) | 12 | 1 | 7+4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 1 |
| 28 | DF | IRL | Anthony O'Connor (on loan to Torquay United) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 38 | FW | SCO | David Goodwillie (on loan to Blackpool) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Players who have not played: ||||||||||||
| 23 | MF | FRA | Bryan Dabo (on loan from Montpellier) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 26 | MF | IRL | Darragh Lenihan | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 30 | FW | ENG | Dean Rittenberg | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 33 | GK | ESP | David Raya | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Players that played for Blackburn Rovers this season that have left the club: ||||||||||||
| 16 | DF | ENG | Scott Dann | 26 | 1 | 25 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 16 | DF | ENG | Michael Keane (on loan from Manchester United) | 13 | 3 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 30 | MF | POR | Fábio Nunes | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 31 | DF | FRA | Gaël Givet | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |

### Assists

    As of 16 August 2014

| Rank | No. | Pos. | Name | Championship | FA Cup | League Cup | Total |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 32 | MF | Craig Conway | 11 | 0 | 0 | 11 |
| 2 | 45 | MF | Tom Cairney | 7 | 0 | 1 | 8 |
| 3 | 7 | MF | Joshua King | 4 | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| 3 | 8 | MF | David Dunn | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 5 | 11 | FW | Jordan Rhodes | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 6 | 6 | MF | Jason Lowe | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 6 | 5 | DF | Grant Hanley | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 6 | 39 | FW | Rudy Gestede | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 6 | 16 | DF | Scott Dann | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 10 | 2 | DF | Todd Kane | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 10 | 12 | MF | Ben Marshall | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 10 | 3 | DF | Tommy Spurr | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 13 | 19 | MF | Chris Taylor | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 13 | 4 | DF | Matthew Kilgallon | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 13 | 9 | FW | Leon Best | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | 52 | 0 | 2 | 54 |

## Transfers

### Summer

**In**

| Date | Pos. | Name | From | Fee |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 July 2013 | MF | Chris Taylor | Millwall | Free transfer |
| 1 July 2013 | MF | Alan Judge | Notts County | Free transfer |
| 1 July 2013 | GK | Simon Eastwood | Portsmouth | Free transfer |
| 2 July 2013 | FW | Devarn Green | Burton Albion | Undisclosed |
| 4 July 2013 | FW | DJ Campbell | Q.P.R. | Free transfer |
| 8 July 2013 | DF | Matthew Kilgallon | Sunderland | Free transfer |
| 9 July 2013 | MF | Alex Marrow | Crystal Palace | Undisclosed |
| 1 August 2013 | DF | Tommy Spurr | Doncaster Rovers | Free transfer |
| 2 August 2013 | MF | Corry Evans | Hull City | Undisclosed (est ~ £600,000) |
| 5 August 2013 | DF | Yann Songo'o | Sporting Kansas City | Free transfer |
| 18 August 2013 | DF | Aaron Tumwa | Watford | Free transfer |
| 28 August 2013 | MF | Ben Marshall | Leicester City | Undisclosed (est ~ £1,000,000) |
| 13 December 2013 | MF | Connor Mahoney | Accrington Stanley | Undisclosed |

* Total spent ~ Undisclosed (~ £1,600,000+)

**Out**

| Date | Pos. | Name | To | Fee |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 4 June 2013 | FW | Micah Evans | Burnley | Released |
| 4 June 2013 | FW | Osayamen Osawe | Southport | Released |
| 4 June 2013 | GK | Christopher Dilo | St Mirren | Released |
| 4 June 2013 | DF | Peter Wylie | Free agent | Released |
| 4 June 2013 | FW | Jamie Maclaren | Perth Glory | Released |
| 4 June 2013 | MF | Reece Hands | Morton | Released |
| 4 June 2013 | FW | Ryan Humphreys | Free agent | Released |
| 4 June 2013 | MF | Danny Laverty | Free agent | Released |
| 28 June 2013 | FW | Nuno Gomes | Free agent | Mutual Consent |
| 1 July 2013 | MF | Danny Murphy | Retired | Mutual Consent |
| 10 July 2013 | DF | Martin Olsson | Norwich City | Undisclosed (est ~ £3,000,000) |
| 8 August 2013 | GK | Sebastian Usai | AFC United | Mutual Consent |
| 16 August 2013 | MF | Mauro Formica | Cruz Azul | Undisclosed (est ~ £600,000). |
| 23 August 2013 | FW | Diogo Rosado | Vitória | Mutual Consent |
| 29 August 2013 | MF | Morten Gamst Pedersen | Karabükspor | Free Transfer |
| 30 August 2013 | DF | Gaël Givet | Arles-Avignon | Free Transfer |

* Total sold ~ Undisclosed (~ £3,600,000)

**Loan in**

| Date | Pos. | Name | From | Loan length |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 25 June 2013 | DF | Todd Kane | Chelsea | Season-long loan |
| 1 August 2013 | MF | Tom Cairney | Hull City | 6 Month loan |
| 26 November 2013 | FW | Rudy Gestede | Cardiff City | 1 Month loan |

**Loan out**

| Date | Pos. | Name | To | Loan length |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 July 2013 | DF | Nuno Henrique | Arouca | Season-long loan |
| 2 July 2013 | FW | David Goodwillie | Dundee United | 6 Month loan |
| 18 July 2013 | FW | Anton Forrester | Bury | 6 Month loan (extended) |
| 22 July 2013 | DF | Jack O'Connell | Rochdale | 6 Month loan (extended) |
| 23 July 2013 | DF | Ryan Edwards | Chesterfield | 1 Month loan (extended) |
| 17 August 2013 | FW | Edinho Junior | Whitehawk | 1 Month loan |
| 2 September 2013 | DF | Bradley Orr | Blackpool | 5 Month loan |
| 1 October 2013 | DF | Anthony O'Connor | Torquay United | 1 Month loan (extended) |
| 28 November 2013 | DF | Josh Morris | Carlisle United | 1 Month loan |
| 28 November 2013 | DF | Ryan Edwards | Tranmere Rovers | 1 Month loan |

**Youth Loan out**

| Date | Pos. | Name | To | Loan length | Source |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 13 August 2013 | GK | Matthew Urwin | Stalybridge Celtic | 3 Month loan | |
| 23 August 2013 | FW | Curtis Haley | Bamber Bridge | 1 Month loan | |

### Winter

**In**

| Date | Pos. | Name | From | Fee |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 2 January 2014 | MF | Tom Cairney | Hull City | undisclosed (est ~ £600,000) |
| 2 January 2014 | FW | Rudy Gestede | Cardiff City | undisclosed (est ~ £200,000) |
| 31 January 2014 | MF | Craig Conway | Cardiff City | undisclosed (est ~ £100,000) |

* Total spent ~ undisclosed (est ~ £900,000)

**Out**

| Date | Pos. | Name | To | Fee |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 2 January 2014 | DF | Bruno Ribeiro | Linense | Free Transfer |
| 24 January 2014 | MF | Fábio Nunes | Latina | Free Transfer |
| 24 January 2014 | FW | Edinho Júnior | Harrisburg City | Free Transfer |
| 24 January 2014 | FW | Curtis Haley | Free agent | Mutual Consent |
| 28 January 2014 | MF | Raheem Hanley | Swansea City | Mutual Consent |
| 31 January 2014 | DF | Scott Dann | Crystal Palace | Undisclosed (est ~ £1,500,000+) |
| 28 February 2014 | DF | Nuno Henrique | Jagiellonia Białystok | Free Transfer |
| 15 April 2014 | MF | Hugo Fernández | Free agent | Mutual Consent |

* Total sold ~ undisclosed (est ~ £1,500,000+)

**Loan in**

| Date | Pos. | Name | From | Loan length |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 28 January 2014 | MF | Bryan Dabo | Montpellier | Season-Long loan |
| 8 February 2014 | FW | Luke Varney | Leeds United | 3-month loan |
| 7 March 2014 | DF | Michael Keane | Manchester United | Season-Long loan |
| 8 March 2014 | MF | Liam Feeney | Millwall | Season-Long loan |

**Loan out**

| Date | Pos. | Name | To | Loan length |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 January 2014 | FW | Jordan Slew | Ross County | Season-Long loan |
| 8 January 2014 | MF | Alan Judge | Brentford | Season-Long loan |
| 9 January 2014 | MF | John O'Sullivan | Southport | 1 Month loan (extended) |
| 9 January 2014 | DF | Kellen Daly | Southport | 1 Month loan (extended) |
| 13 January 2014 | MF | Alex Marrow | Fleetwood Town | Season-Long loan |
| 18 January 2014 | DF | Yann Songo'o | Ross County | Season-Long loan |
| 20 January 2014 | FW | Rubén Rochina | Rayo Vallecano | Season-Long loan |
| 20 January 2014 | FW | DJ Campbell | Millwall | Season-Long loan (cut short) |
| 24 January 2014 | FW | David Goodwillie | Blackpool | Season-Long loan |
| 24 January 2014 | DF | Bradley Orr | Toronto | Season-Long loan |
| 14 February 2014 | FW | Leon Best | Sheffield Wednesday | 1 Month loan (extended) |
| 25 February 2014 | DF | Josh Morris | Fleetwood Town | 1 Month loan (extended) |
| 7 March 2014 | FW | Jordan Preston | Clitheroe | 1 Month loan |
| 21 March 2014 | DF | Ryan Edwards | Morecambe | 1 Month loan (extended) |
