Blackburn Rovers enjoyed a crucial 2-1 win over local-rivals Preston North End in the Lancashire derby. This win is their exceedingly fourth W in the last five games. Blackburn moved up to 16th on the Sky Bet Championship with an impressive triumph, their first in Whaddon Road in almost 18 months. They recently found themselves only six points off those desirable play-off spots. Goals from Lewis Miller and Andri Gudjohnsen propelled the team forward, showcasing their improvement since a challenging start to the season.
The latest episode played out at Deepdale on Saturday, with Rovers hoping to take advantage of great recent form. The team began the season poorly by losing seven out of their first ten league matches. Perhaps unexpectedly, with the arrival of manager Valerien Ismael, they rediscovered a sense of toughness.
Strong Performance with Areas for Improvement
Ismael was understandably full of praise for his side’s performance, highlighting their dominance and resilience all-round during the encounter. “But we had everything that we wanted right until the end of the game,” he said. He particularly loved the team’s patience and poise, particularly under pressure.
He acknowledged areas needing attention. Ismael highlighted that Blackburn were prone to panic and disorganization in their efforts to reassert control post goal conceded. It was two very bad goals that we gave away from our perspective, 2 set play situations,” lamented Ismael. “If you’re going to concede two set-plays in a Championship game, it’s going to be an uphill battle.”
Blackburn’s victory was characterized by improved possession in the opponent’s half and a reduced level of sloppiness compared to previous weeks. Their assault on the Red Star net showed more purpose in the attacking third. The likes of Lewis Miller and Andri Gudjohnsen regularly found the scoresheet.
Controversies and Key Moments
The match was not without its controversies. Preston’s Ben Whiteman followed with a hard challenge on Blackburn’s Moussa Baradji. This dangerous gambit earned them a signing that had former player Tim Sherwood shaking his head in disbelief. Without a doubt, that’s a red card, Sherwood announced. He went on to say that the tackle in question was shocking enough to warrant worse punishment.
Blackburn manager Jon Dahl Tomasson claimed his side had been robbed when sub Makhtar Gueye was said to have been slapped in the face by Preston’s Andrew Hughes. This incident raised calls for a penalty, but none ever materialized. The decision left many Blackburn fans furious, feeling that the foul was obvious.
On loan from Aston Villa, Alfie Devine had an instant influence. He netted a mere 80 seconds after entering the action, evidence of the staggering talent on hand at Blackburn as they look to continue their ascent.
Looking Ahead
After this impressive win, Blackburn Rovers remain firmly 4th in the Championship as they chase a return to the Premier League. The biggest area of growth for the team has been in their game plan and overall execution, something Ismael is just as focused on expanding to build off of. The manager emphasized the importance of maintaining focus and not allowing complacency to set in as they push for higher standings in the league.
It’s important not to lose our cool and lose our focus and stop grinding,” he continued. The players have shown amazing character. If we can … when we get rid of these, you’re going to see us kick the rearview mirror and move in such a positive way.
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