Bakayoko’s back to wreck Rovers

His spectacular opener in this first-round UEFA Cup tie took a crucial deflection off Rovers skipper Ryan Nelsen, but it was enough to put the skids under out-of-sorts Blackburn.

Scroll down to read more:

Rovers were still reeling when Bakayoko's Brazilian sidekick Cleyton fired a second goal 90 seconds later for the Greek Cup winners and the Ivory Coast striker will certainly relish the second leg.

Bakayoko's time with Everton was hardly a success and he was on his way to Marseille after less than a season at Goodison Park. He scored just four goals in 23 appearances following his move from Montpellier in October 1998.

Ironically, two of those goals came in a 2-1 win at Blackburn in March 1999, a result that helped relegate Rovers from the Premier League.

Manager Mark Hughes emerged late from a subdued dressing-room last night to say: "We had too many players who didn't hit their levels but as to why is a mystery.

"It wasn't the performance we expected. We've made it very difficult for ourselves, but at 2-0 we're still in it."

There was a further blow for Blackburn when centre back Nelsen limped off after less than a hour with a recurrence of a hamstring injury.

Hughes said: "It's the same hamstring he had the operation on. It's a little bit of scar tissue that has released itself which in the long term he will be better for but in the short term he is likely to miss three or four games."

Blackburn, now far from certain of clinching a group stage place, were still trying to take a grip on the game in Panthessaliko Stadium when Bakayoko struck after 33 minutes.

He robbed David Dunn and launched a 30-yard shot that beat goalkeeper Brad Friedel with the help of a nick off the luckless Nelsen.

Worse followed for Blackburn as Brett Emerton's poor backpass led to some desperate defending before Cleyton swept in the second on the pitch where Larissa won the Greek Cup.

The 8,126 crowd, forced to travel 40 miles for their "home" leg, because their Alkazar Stadium does not meet UEFA standards, should have been able to celebrate a decisive third goal but Cleyton gave Friedel the chance to save after Bakayoko set him up.

Larissa coach Giorgos Donis, who played for Rovers in the 1990s, praised Bakayoko, saying: "Even I didn't prove a lot in English football but then you don't often have the chance to do it.

"But in the past few years a lot has changed and as far as I am concerned he is now a very good player who is doing well in his career.

"We've a 50-50 chance of going through. I'm happy with the result but not the score. We had many chances. We'll be under pressure at Ewood."

MATCH FACTS

Larissa (4-4-2): Kotsolis 6; Galitsios 6, Dabizas 7, Foerster 6, Katsiaros 6; Sarmiento 6, Kyriakidis 6, Fotakis 7, Alexandrou 6 (Gikas, 77mins); Bakayoko 8 (Venetis, 90), Cleyton 7 (Kalantzis, 85). Booked: Katsiaros.

Blackburn (4-4-2): Friedel 6; Emerton 5, Ooijer 6, Nelsen 6 (Khizanishvili, 57mins, 5), Warnock 6; Bentley 5, Savage 5, Dunn 5, Pedersen 5 (Derbyshire, 62, 5); McCarthy 5 (Tugay 78), Santa Cruz 5. Booked: Warnock, Bentley. Man of the match: Ibrahima Bakayoko. Referee: Peter Sippel (Germany).