Layer Road
Colchester United
Saturday 3rd August 1996, Four days on from the World Record Transfer of Alan Shearer to Newcastle United for £15m, Blackburn started their pre-season with a trip to Layer Road to take on Colchester United, How would they cope with the loss, The game was played in glorious conditions with the sun beating down, Colchester matching Rovers with their play took the lead through a headed goal from Adcock, Rovers pushed hard for an equaliser, but on the hour mark Sutton went down injured, Sutton left the ground almost immediately going into hospital for treatment, Suttons replacement Warhurst made an impact straight away setting up Donis who unleashed an unstoppable drive into the net, The flow of the game was then disrupted with numerous substitions from both sides, Colchester managed to grab a late winner with Reinelt scoring it.
COLCHESTER: Caldwell, Dunne (sub Gibbs), Barnes, McCarthy, Greene, Cawley (sub Betts), Locke, Wilkins (sub Gregory), Whitton (sub Reinelt), Adcock, Fry (sub Lewis)
BLACKBURN: Given, Berg, Kenna, McKinlay (sub Bohinen), Hendry, Coleman, Ripley (sub Donis), Fenton (sub Croft), Sutton (sub Warhurst), Flitcroft, Gudmundsson (sub Gallacher)
ATTENDANCE: 2,342
COLCHESTER: Caldwell, Dunne (sub Gibbs), Barnes, McCarthy, Greene, Cawley (sub Betts), Locke, Wilkins (sub Gregory), Whitton (sub Reinelt), Adcock, Fry (sub Lewis)
BLACKBURN: Given, Berg, Kenna, McKinlay (sub Bohinen), Hendry, Coleman, Ripley (sub Donis), Fenton (sub Croft), Sutton (sub Warhurst), Flitcroft, Gudmundsson (sub Gallacher)
ATTENDANCE: 2,342