Mark Hughes had the last laugh as his Rovers side knocked Arsenal out of the FA Cup. He had clashed with Gunners midfielder Cesc Fabregas in the game in London when he was taunted by the Spaniard for Blackburn’s negative style of play.

Arsenal suffered their third defeat in three different competitions having been beaten by PSV in the Champions league and by Chelsea in the Carling Cup final. Defeat in the league against Reading at the weekend would set a record of four defeats in four competitions.

It took a late wonder goal from South African striker Benni McCarthy to give Rovers the lead, in a game that Arsenal should have won had they taken their chances. After being given a torrid time by Drogba at the weekend Philippe Senderos’ week got worse when McCarthy turned him inside out and then whipped the ball into the top corner of Almunia’s goal.