Morten wants to taste that final

Morten Gamst Pedersen is hoping that the cold weather inspires Rovers as he looks to finally make a final with Rovers after wuite a few near misses.

Arsenal in the FA Cup, Man United in the League Cup twice, Chelsea again in the FA Cup – all rank as semi final disappointments for Morten as well as teamates Ryan Nelsen and Brett Emerton.

So surely the time has come for the tide to turn?

Morten speaking to Rovers official website said – ‘The weather is no problem for me, though I do think it is strange that games are called off just because there is a little bit of snow around the stadiums.

‘In Norway you can hardly see the stadium because of the snow when you are making your way there.

‘But that is the way it is, as long as the pitch is green and playable I just want to play football.

‘I’ve had an up and down season, there was a spell when I wasn’t playing which you are never happy about.

‘If you are happy sitting on the bench then you are doing the wrong job, you might as well start shuffling snow or something.

‘I think my form in the last few weeks has been good and I want to continue that and hopefully get some more goals as well.’

Rovers are (somewhat amazingly) facing their sixth semi-final since 2001 and Pedersen is desperate to pick up a winners’ medal, something he wasn’t here for in 2002 and has lost many a semi since! Morten said – ‘Wembley is one of the most famous stadiums in the world, I’ve been there once before to watch a game – Arsenal v Barcelona in the Champions League.

‘So it it would be nice to go there and play. We are so close, the next stage is the final, so of course you want do everything you can to get there.

‘Yes it is going to be a tough game but we are confident as we have lost only twice at Ewood all season.’

Pedersen is hoping for a repeat performance of the home league victory against Aston Villa where they played the last half an hour with ten men.

Morten continued – ‘Villa have loads of pace, they have extremely good qualities, they’ve got (Gabriel) Agbonlahor and (John) Carew is strong while (Ashley) Young and (Stuart) Downing deliver the ball well.

‘They have good players, there is no doubt, but it is not impossible to beat them as we have shown before.

‘We have to try to exploit their weakness and play to our strengths and punish them when we get the chance.’

I’m feeling it now!!!