Lambert hails new signing Watt as Blackburn ease into round five of the FA Cup
9th January 2016 - FA Cup 3rd Round - Newport County v Blackburn Rovers - Blackburn manager Paul Lambert and Newport County manager John Sheridan are given the news by referee Charles Breakspear that the match is off - Photo: Paul Roberts / Offside.
Manager Paul Lambert was full of praise for new additions Tony Watt and Simeon Jackson as Blackburn Rovers made light work of Oxford United to breeze into the fifth-round of the FA Cup.
A brace from winger Ben Marshall; who converted a first-half penalty and an exquisite free-kick in the second period, came either side of loan signing Watt’s driven low effort on his first appearance for the club to seal a comfortable 3-0 for the visitors at the Kassam Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Lambert’s Blackburn are ball number 12 in Sunday evening’s FA Cup fifth-round draw from 18:20pm.
The centre forward only arrived at Ewood Park just 24 hours before this fourth-round encounter, with the Scottish forward originally joining on loan from Charlton Athletic, with the view to a permanent transfer this summer.
“With Tony Watt, you have got a hell of a talented footballer,” said Lambert.
“Tony came in and gave everybody a lift. I think he has got to get a lot fitter; which he knows, but he is one hell of a talent, that is for sure.
“The two goals, his pass for the penalty and his own goal was excellent.
“Tony is obviously on loan at the minute, but I can see first-hand just how talented of a footballer he is.”
As well as Watt’s instant impact; Rovers boss Lambert was also keen to applaud fellow new signing Jackson’s performance after penning a short-term deal with the club until the end of the season following his release from Barnsley.
“I thought Jackson was unplayable today,” added Lambert.
“I thought his running and general movement was first class.
“Simeon was a shot in the dark really. He trained for a couple of weeks with us and I just thought I am going to give him an opportunity until the end of the season.”
The Canadian international spearheaded the Blackburn attack in the absence of talisman Jordan Rhodes, who left the team’s hotel late on Friday night to discuss a potential transfer to Championship leaders Middlesbrough.
After Rovers agreed a fee in the region of £9m for the sale of the Scotland striker to Boro; boss Lambert allowed the club’s top goalscorer to travel north to discuss personal terms with Aitor Karanka’s side, only for the deal to eventually collapse on Sunday, despite Rhodes passing a medical.
Blackburn issued a club statement insisting Rhodes could not agree personal terms with Middlesbrough.