Today we face Liverpool at Ewood Park, and both teams need the points awarded in this game. But if we are struggling, it seems like Liverpool are struggling even more. We have got more points than them after Christmas, and they have an important cup game against Everton in mind. This season we haven’t gotten a single thing for free, everything we do feels like it hits on the wrong side of the post. We know that very well, and we are working harder than ever to get what we need to survive. And just when it seemed that we would be able to get a gap down to our rivals in the relegation battle Liverpool managed to lose to two of our biggest rivals and let them right back in the game again. So we have absolutely something to avenge Liverpool for today. COYB

Morten Gamst Pedersen

We held out for about 80 minutes yesterday, but unfortunately it didn’t go all the way. Manchester United had the ball a lot but we created several good chances and could have scored a few goals and won this game. But it is not easy to stop Manchester United when they get the smell of the league title. It’s a good reason why they are on top of the table, and we experienced that the last ten minutes yesterday. I thought for a moment that I had scored, but the ref blew his whistle for situation that happend just before. It is a bit bitter, but it is like that sometimes. Now we just have to look ahead to the West Brom game and get ready for that.

Morten Gamst Pedersen

I was out walking in the city earlier today, and stood on red light waiting to cross the street. While I stood there this lady came on her bike, and she went flat out on her face just in front of me. It was a pretty scary situation, and fortunately she felled onto the sidewalk and not into the street. It could have gone really bad. I helped her up and checked that she was alright, and just next to the street there where some 18 year old boys playing street football, they also came to and helped save her bike, and put together the parts that went into pieces. There was lots of traffic on the site, so she was quite upset and was a bit shaken by the situation, so we all stood there with her until she was calm and able to continue on his journey. Fortunately it went well with her, and fortunately she had a helmet on, because she fell properly. It was also great to see that there were several people who came to help her.

Morten Gamst Pedersen

It was a fantastic win yesterday, and it was fully deserved. We played very good at times, and the key to that was that we defended very well. Attack-wise, we have played quite well in many games this season, but in the last two games we have defended very well as well. One good example is the match-winning tackle Martin Olsson made on the goal line to deny them 1-1. It gave us the opportunity to keep a clean sheet which was incredibly important, and it gave us the opportunity to kill the game with The Yaks 2-0 scoring. Now we have kept a clean sheet in two games in a row, and it finally feels like it has loosened a bit for us. Nevertheless, it is important that we keep working on these results and ensure that we win more games. Because I love to win and the feeling we have now and we damn sure have to get that feeling in the next few games as well.

COYB!!!!!!!!!!!!

Morten Gamst Pedersen

Last week was a sad week. First, we lost five of our countrymen in a tragic and incomprehensible plane crash, then Fabrice Muamba had heart attack during a football game against Tottenham.  It’s difficult to set words on these things, but my thoughts first and foremost goes to the families and those who are directly affected by the accidents. But such accidents hits wide amongst people. Everyone in Norway feel sorrow over the plane crash, and the whole football family from players to staff to supporters to feel sorrow for Muambas situation. Luckily it seems that it’s going to go well with Muamba, but both situations puts football in perspective. Some things are just more important. The incident with Muamba shows that the football family stays together regardless what team you support when something like this happens, and I really appreciate that. This week starts no better. First, a maniac in France starts shooting children, then there is an avalanche of Northern Norway killing four Swiss and a Frenchman. I don’t even know where to begin…

Morten Gamst Pedersen

I’m Sorry I’m a little late with an update after the Wolves game, but it’s better late than never. We played a great game away and we kept a clean sheet for the first time this season, and it was great. The feeling after the game was incredible, and we just have to build on this result so that we can get that feeling more this season. COYB!

Morten Gamst Pedersen

This week I have had some very nice visit from Norway, Fredrik and Stig came over to me and we’ve had a great week. It is important to have good friends over to visit sometimes, and my friends takes the trip very often. The week we have doen a lot of training, had a lot of good food, some walks into town and seen some movies, though it always ends with a big argument about what movie to watch. It has, in other words, been a perfect charge up for the important match against Wolverhampton on Saturday, and I could not ask for better company to do just that. Stig has already gone home to Norway, while Fredrik leaves tomorrow, I will go with the rest of the team to Wolverhampton and make the final preparations for the match.

Morten Gamst Pedersen

I thought we were unlucky that we only got 1-1 at home against Aston Villa today. We were poor in the first half, and it was only Yakubu and Robinson who delivered a satisfactory performance in the first half. But in the second half we were by far the better team. And it was just bad luck that we didn’t win this one. The Olsson twins gave us tremendous speed on the left wing and the whole team played well and it was fully deserved that David Dunn got the equalizer for us.

Morten Gamst Pedersen

Good morning folks. The game against Northern Ireland was nothing to remember, but we won 3-0 and we have to be satisfied with that. It was nice that several of the younger guys got their chance, and I think they took good care of it, so the future looks bright.

Yesterday a great man buried was buried. Knut Thorbjørn Eggen was only 51 years old, but he has made his impact on Norwegian football, and he will always be remembered for the wonderful person he was.

Morten Gamst Pedersen

No one expected us to beat Manchester City at Etihad Stadium, but it still pisses me off when we lose. There is no one in the club that likes to lose, and it does not matter whether it is City, United, Barca or Dagenham & Redbrigde. We worked hard, but sometimes we meet a team that is simply better than us, so for our own sake we have to focus forward and do everything we can to take the necessary points.

Now I’m with the national team and we are in Belfast. It’s always good fun to go with the national team, but this time it is something extra. Because  we will play on the same pitch that I got my debut for the national team in. I remember I had a really good game and was so proud after the game. And as a little quiz we can see if there are someone who remember the result in that game and who scored the goals?

This time we have Valon Berisha with us, and he is a very nice young man who has good skills on the pitch. I hope he does just as good against Northern Ireland as I did when I was new to the national team. The story is a little different for the two of us since he already got some games for the national team on the trip to Thailand in January. But still, this is his first trip with our best squad. But it is going to be fun to see if he gets a chance, and it would been fun if he takes it.

Morten Gamst Pedersen