• Norway international ends speculation over summer move
• Winger says: ‘Blackburn always was my first choice’

Blackburn winger Morten Gamst Pedersen has ended speculation about his future by signing a new four-year deal with the club.

The Norway international was out of contract this summer and there was some doubt as to whether he would re-commit to Rovers.

But despite reportedly attracting interest from clubs around Europe, Pedersen has opted to stay at Ewood Park.

“Blackburn always was my first choice. We have a united team, great management and brilliant supporters,” he said.

“Also, there aren’t many footballers who get the opportunity to stay with one Premier League club for 10 years. I did and I want to honour that.”

Manager Sam Allardyce admitted at the end of the season he did not know whether Pedersen, originally signed by Graeme Souness in August 2004 from Tromso for £1.5million, would agree a new contract or not.

“Pedersen is one of our most dedicated and professional players,” he said. “We’re glad to finally have a contract in place and look forward to the new season.”

Chairman John Williams said: “What appeared to be a lengthy negotiation was always carried out in a positive constructive manner with Morten making it clear that he wanted to stay. Sam made this, together with finding a striker, our summer priority.”

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• Blackburn manager says Capello has made ‘biggest mistake’
• Says ‘13 clean sheets speak for themselves’

The Blackburn Rovers manager, Sam Allardyce, believes the England coach, Fabio Capello, has made “completely the wrong decision” in leaving the goalkeeper Paul Robinson out of his preliminary World Cup squad.

Capello picked the Portsmouth veteran David James, Joe Hart – who has excelled while on loan from Manchester City to Birmingham – and West Ham’s Robert Green in the 30-man party from which he will choose his 23 for this summer’s tournament in South Africa.

Allardyce said Robinson’s form and experience warranted a place in the squad.

“I am staggered, totally. It is completely the wrong decision,” Allardyce told the Lancashire Telegraph. “If you look at [Robinson's] form for Rovers, there has not been a better goalkeeper who has been so consistent.

“Fabio has always said the people in form would get selected. There is nobody better than Paul Robinson at the moment, so there must be something before that has happened to put him off him, as a person and not as a goalkeeper.

“He has made the biggest mistake of his selection process, has Fabio. As much as I respect him for what he has done that is one big, big mistake.

“Thirteen clean sheets speak for themselves. There have to be other reasons why he hasn’t selected him because there is nobody in better form than Paul Robinson.

“Perhaps ‘Harty’ can run him close but he hasn’t got 40-odd England caps of experience and hasn’t played in any major championships so it would be much more valuable having Paul Robinson there than it would be to have Joe Hart – never mind the David James scenario, who is spasmodically in and out because it seems he has a bit of an injury problem.”

World Cup 2010World Cup 2010 Group CEnglandSam AllardyceBlackburn Roversguardian.co.uk

A season that started with a dismal home defeat ended in exactly the same fashion for Aston Villa as Richard Dunne’s own goal six minutes from time gave Blackburn Rovers a rare away victory. Liverpool’s failure to win at Hull City meant that Villa held on to sixth place but this felt like a highly unsatisfactory way to finish a campaign that had promised so much but ended up being a story of ifs, buts and maybes.

In truth, this never had the makings of a classic and for long periods in the first half it was easy to forget that a football match was actually taking place. Paul Robinson made a fine save to thwart James Collins in the seventh minute but it was just before the interval when Villa threatened again, the same player skidding a raking shot which the Blackburn goalkeeper pawed into the path of Gabriel Agbonlahor before smothering at the striker’s feet.

Blackburn had offered little before the break but there was renewed belief to their play after the restart and Steve Bennett should have pointed to the penalty spot when Collins clearly brought down David Dunn. Instead the referee waved away the appeals and, with the incident no doubt playing on his mind, sought to even things up at the other end when Christopher Samba fouled John Carew in the penalty area.

The game was edging towards a goalless draw at that point but one more Blackburn flurry down the Villa right brought late reward. Martin Olsson found the space to deliver an inviting cross and as Dunne sought to get in front of Junior Hoilett, the central defender, who picked up the players’ player of the year award on Wednesday night, sent a diving header beyond Brad Friedel.

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