Uploaded June 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago

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Rovers signed midfielder, Keith Andrews, from League One MK Dons in September 2008 for a fee nearing the £1m mark. It was a move that reunited Andrews with his former manager at MK Dons, Paul Ince, who was installed as the new Blackburn Rovers manager ahead of the 2008/09 season.

The signing of Andrews was initially met with some scepticism within the Rovers fan base as it appeared to be a big ask to expect a midfielder who had been playing in League Two to step into the midfield of a top 10 Premier League side. Blackburn had finished 7th in the Premier League, narrowly missing out on European qualification, in May 2008, months before the signing of Andrews.

The 2008/09 season proved to be a season of struggle for Rovers under Paul Ince and for Keith Andrews as the rigours of the Premier League began to show themselves on the new arrivals. Paul Ince was sacked halfway through the season and the introduction of Sam Allardyce as his replacement saw Rovers battle their way to survival during the second half of the campaign.

Persistent injury issues for Rovers' midfielders, David Dunn and Vince Grella, that season saw Andrews thrown into the thick of the action and feature more regularly than might have been expected. The Irish International was heavily involved throughout the campaign, starting many games alongside Tugay in the Rovers midfield. Despite struggling at times, he did score a vital goal for Rovers to secure a much needed win against Hull as the season drew to a close. Andrews made 35 appearances in his first season as a Rovers player, with 33 of those coming in the Premier League.

He scored four goals in the 2008/09 season, with his first goal being the most memorable. A late, long range equaliser at The Hawthorns in November 2008 against West Brom.

The 2009/10 campaign was a better one for Andrews and Rovers, as the club achieved a top 10 finish and reached the semi finals of the League Cup in Big Sam's first full season in charge as Rovers manager. Andrews made 35 appearances that season, with 32 of those coming in the Premier League. The fact that he had the trust of Sam Allardyce shows that he was a valued squad member and a player who could compete in the top flight. Andrews scored just the one goal that season, a penalty at Anfield in a Rovers defeat.

The 2010/11 season saw Andrews suffer from an ongoing groin injury which saw him miss the majority of the season, only making six appearances in all. In August 2011, Andrews was allowed to join Ipswich on a six month loan deal. By the time January 2012 arrived, Andrews decided he wanted a fresh start elsewhere and handed in a transfer request at Rovers which was accepted by the club. He then signed for West Brom on a permanent deal in January 2012.

Keith Andrews made 76 appearances for Rovers in total over three seasons, scoring five goals. Here are those goals.