Blackburn Ratings (13 Viewers)

[blunted]

They swamped us in midfield and our passing particularly in the first half was off from Rushworth and right through the team. They were tall and won a lot of headers in their defence and in midfield.
The match was a real battle until we scored twice. EMC got nothing from the ref.
JDS had his worst game for a while until he settled down and Haji looked off the pace which meant our attack by our standards misfired.
Rushworth one game saving save, Torp and Asante game winning strikes. That is why we won; we were better where it counted, despite a below par performance when compared with other games this season.

 

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[CCFCSteve]

I agree , more a second striker , id rather see torp 10 BTA wide if im honest .. for me sakamoto offers us very little atm

Ability wise I agree about Torp being more suited to a 10 out of available players but feels like Lampard wanted Eccles and BTA up there for the high press as much as anything.

BTA keeps providing me wrong as I’d have had him off the pitch for Allen before he scored to give us more control…happy to see though as he comes across a great lad and full of confidence at the moment

Kitching and Thomas were really good today

Simm with a very good cameo as well, just a shame he connected poorly with that snatched effort. Also loved Andrew’s little run at the end. Exciting times !

 

[Briles]

@Nick would there be a way to do the player ratings like they do on the BBC whereby it collates everyone's scores and gives the average? Be good to give a definitive forum concensus instead of just reading everyone's individual scores. Plus half the comments aren't even ratings (like this one)

 

[Gibbo]

Rushworth 6 (8 for saves, 4 for distribution)
MVE 6
Thomas 8
Kitching 8
Da Silva 5
Grimes 7
Torp 7
BTA 7
Saka 6
Wright 5
EMC 7

Bonkers I have little time for Da Silva as a general rule but he was one of the few who had a good game. The problems were on the righht, where they got round repeatedly in the first half.

 

[Gibbo]

Scrappy game, unable to play through their press so relied too much on the long ball. Really missed an in-form Rudoni

1. Best thing that can be said was another clean sheet - although had Rovers had a Wright in their team we would have been in trouble. Rushworth is worth every penny. Kitching was probably MotM for me

2. EMC is frustrating. Defenders know they have to close him down, and he seems to have little answer to that. But two good crosses and two goals. He does need to up his game.

3 Best moment apart from the goals. On 74 mins, MVE and Tats were both caught up field when Rovers broke. Given a 5 yard start, MVE overhauled Tats in another 4-5 yards, from a standing start. Extraordinary speed over the first 30-40 yards. What an asset.

4. Subs: Allen made a big difference - snap and bite in the middle. Andrews looked totally at home.

5. Let's hear it for BTA. He may not be the best in any position but he can turn his hand at a number. You do not have to substitute like for like because he is versatile enough to switch positions. The huge advantage of that is that substitutions need not force you to change shape

 

[play_in_skyblue_stripes]

Liam and Bobby were our motm.

 

[pusbccfc]

Asante is playing so well. Must be horrible to play against.

 

[Sky Blue Pete]

Scrappy game, unable to play through their press so relied too much on the long ball. Really missed an in-form Rudoni

1. Best thing that can be said was another clean sheet - although had Rovers had a Wright in their team we would have been in trouble. Rushworth is worth every penny. Kitching was probably MotM for me

2. EMC is frustrating. Defenders know they have to close him down, and he seems to have little answer to that. But two good crosses and two goals. He does need to up his game.

3 Best moment apart from the goals. On 74 mins, MVE and Tats were both caught up field when Rovers broke. Given a 5 yard start, MVE overhauled Tats in another 4-5 yards, from a standing start. Extraordinary speed over the first 30-40 yards. What an asset.

4. Subs: Allen made a big difference - snap and bite in the middle. Andrews looked totally at home.

5. Let's hear it for BTA. He may not be the best in any position but he can turn his hand at a number. You do not have to substitute like for like because he is versatile enough to switch positions. The huge advantage of that is that substitutions need not force you to change shape

I thought Allen was great when he came on

 

[covboy9]

I was frustrated with EMC today

 

[fatso]

BTA and Rushworth, 8
Everyone else, meh

A very average performance and not the best atmosphere, but a very welcome 3 points, its games like today's that we would normally drop points, so to get the win and keep another clean sheet is a big bonus.

We need to grind out wins like this if we are to get an automatic promotion spot.

 

[shmmeee]

Andrews being able to play 5-10 mins even is huge over the season for keeping players fresh when we’ve got so few forward options.

 

[ceetee]

I think if that game had been earlier in the season opinions would have been different. We now have higher expectations. We will lose eventually and maybe to a lesser team. I think Blackburn were better than some of us expected and certainly better than their league position. They exploited width and their passing in the first half was really good. In the end a good win

 

[Jarvo87]

Credit to Blackburn first half ~ Controlled most of it. Grimes was pretty ineffectual and Torp struggled, in my view. We had those quick 3 half chances around the 5 minute mark and If one of those had gone it might have changed our tempo and the crowd/atmosphere (which was a bit flat all game) - obviously all ifs and buts.
Goals change games and we dominated the 2nd half after those two excellent efforts.

Agree with a lot of what’s already been said. Workmanlike but solid 3 points and another clean sheet.
Rushie: 6. Good saves but Woeful kicking/distribution
MVE: 7
Thomas: 7 battled well as always but passing forwards is very poor at times
Kitching: 7 better of the 2 today. Battled and led well
JDS: 6 bit better 2nd half
Grimes: 6 more of the ball and control of play in the 2nd half
Torp: 6 for most of game, +1 for the goal
BTA: 7, thought he was good and another +1 for the goal
Tats: 6 battled but just wasn’t really his game
EMC: 5, disappointing I thought. Starting to go down a bit easy. Penalty claim was a bit embarrassing
Haji: 6, just

Simms and Allen made a difference when they came on. Rest of subs made had very little time to influence/impact.

Thought the ref had a good game. Best I’ve seen at CBS this season probably.

 

[Sick Boy]

No idea but as I was waiting for the lift out of the balcony bar the staff member said “probably bringing the man of the match up” and then Rushworth walked out, so maybe?

Subtle boast there; nice!

 

[shmmeee]

Subtle boast there; nice!

Eccles Andrews and someone else who went past too quick came out before him too. Im basically Frank Lampards best mate at this point.

 

[Martw]

Liam and Bobby were our motm.

They were both superb today - Eoolfybhas made them better players !! Personally I thought Grimes was our MOTM. Always mopping up and setting us up.

 

[stupot07]

Scrappy game, unable to play through their press so relied too much on the long ball. Really missed an in-form Rudoni

1. Best thing that can be said was another clean sheet - although had Rovers had a Wright in their team we would have been in trouble. Rushworth is worth every penny. Kitching was probably MotM for me

2. EMC is frustrating. Defenders know they have to close him down, and he seems to have little answer to that. But two good crosses and two goals. He does need to up his game.

3 Best moment apart from the goals. On 74 mins, MVE and Tats were both caught up field when Rovers broke. Given a 5 yard start, MVE overhauled Tats in another 4-5 yards, from a standing start. Extraordinary speed over the first 30-40 yards. What an asset.

4. Subs: Allen made a big difference - snap and bite in the middle. Andrews looked totally at home.

5. Let's hear it for BTA. He may not be the best in any position but he can turn his hand at a number. You do not have to substitute like for like because he is versatile enough to switch positions. The huge advantage of that is that substitutions need not force you to change shape

I wouldn't say they were good crosses, both of the goals came from the headed clearance from his crosses, and both were wonder strikes.

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

I could be wrong but I don’t think we had a shot first half. Players weren’t on it and everyone is waiting for the spell to break I think. Today was a massive result.

We had EMC's shot on goal in the first 10-15 minutes but yes, we're in unchartered territory as fans at the moment

 

[clint van damme]

Asante MoTM for me.
I mean, obviously it was Grimes but you've got to give everyone else a chance.
How BTA has gone from being unable to control a ball with his back to goal to the 2nd coming of Mark Hughes is frankly astounding

 

[Sky Blue Pete]

Asante MoTM for me.
I mean, obviously it was Grimes but you've got to give everyone else a chance.
How BTA has gone from being unable to control a ball with his back to goal to the 2nd coming of Mark Hughes is frankly astounding

Great link
The goal was a strike of supreme quality

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

Asante MoTM for me.
I mean, obviously it was Grimes but you've got to give everyone else a chance.
How BTA has gone from being unable to control a ball with his back to goal to the 2nd coming of Mark Hughes is frankly astounding

A lesson in there for Simms who still controls the ball like he’s on the moon.

 

[clint van damme]

A lesson in there for Simms who still controls the ball like he’s on the moon.

Another Simms clanger

 

[Captain_Slackbladder]

Until the last 3rd of the game Blackburn had done their homework on Grimes. Give them credit for that, but also shows why he is the most important player in our side.

Top marks have to go to both goalscorers, Kitching was solid, both fullbacks had an off day imo. Sakamoto put in a shift.

One thing which struck me is how fit we were as a side, Allen gave the ball away in the last 20 mins, but Sakamoto, MVE and Allen worked supremely hard to win it back with pace to spare

 

[clint van damme]

One thing which struck me is how fit we were as a side, Allen gave the ball away in the last 20 mins, but Sakamoto, MVE and Allen worked supremely hard to win it back with pace to spare

The fitness levels are quite incredible.

 

[Captain_Slackbladder]

The fitness levels are quite incredible.

Yep, it's why Sakamoto and MVE never get subbed, Lampard knows they can give their all then go again full blast 3 days later

 

[Nick]

Yep, it's why Sakamoto and MVE never get subbed, Lampard knows they can give their all then go again full blast 3 days later

Ay?

 

[steve101]

They were both superb today - Eoolfybhas made them better players !! Personally I thought Grimes was our MOTM. Always mopping up and setting us up.

I thought he was excellent. Broke up the play so well.

 

[Captain Dart]

Torp MotM for me, broke up play a lot, picked up loose balls and found a pass or carried the ball forward and then there was THAT goal, great skill to keep the ball down and on target.

Asante was pretty good also, getting better at holding the ball and THAT goal.

Solid defence though we got away with it a couple of times in the 2nd half.

Grimes had a quiet game for him.

 

[Captain_Slackbladder]

Ay?

Portsmouth on Tuesday...

 

[Nick]

Portsmouth on Tuesday...

I know, sakamoto got subbed today though? Has been a few times.

 

[wingy]

Great link
The goal was a strike of supreme quality

I think their goalie had seen the clip trom Millwall and positioned himself on the line to accept that strike from BTA Shot into the left side of goal while edging rightward.

 

[The Philosopher]

Rushworth 6

Couple of good long bank saves but lucky that his repeatedly poor distribution didn’t cost us. MVE saved his clean sheet with that header. That said, an improvement from a few weeks back when he was poor and a concern.

MVE 7

Not his year game and got caught out a few times. Good instinct to divert the goal off header and he was also in the right place at the right time.

Thomas 7

Watch how opponents are now aware of his danger from set pieces and that opens up space for others as they concentrate on marking him. That’s a good thing obviously. Was generally solid today.

Kitching 7

Clean sheet. Did well. Distribution a bit off at times.

JDS 6

Plays better when his frontman tracks back. Ie. Tats tracks back and covets for MVE allowing for good link up play on the right. JDS was immense when Rudi was on the left since he could risk getting forward knowing Rudi would be straight back covering defence on a break. EMC needs to work on that part of his game.

Grimes 8

Metronome.

Torp 8

What a solid player he’s become. Tidy, determined, disciplined positionally (reminds me of Claus Jorgensen a bit, which I guess isn’t a huge surprise thinking about it) and now banging shots in from the edge of the box. The whole team seems to have now got the knack of being alert in an attacking midfield position. I’m sure Lampard has something to do with that.

BTA 8

Should have played Tats in but elected to shoot around 70 mins. The reason I say that is that it’s good that he’s now got belief and confidence but needs to just get a bit of grounding. On it today. Tracks back and presses high. Cracking cracking goal.

Tats 8

His pressing and tracking work rate is exemplary. Unsettled defenders and stops teams building from left back.

Wright 6

Tired. Understandable. Lampard was right to hook and rest him.

EMC 7

8 going forward, 6 tracking back.

Subs

Sims 6

Should have scored but passed instead.

The rest 6.5. Tidy

 

[ptr]

Andrews +1 for the run at the end. He’s a proper athlete. Good future ahead of him.

 

[Sky Blue Pete]

Andrews +1 for the run at the end. He’s a proper athlete. Good future ahead of him.

Also came on at 2-0 with about 15 left

 

[stevefloyd]

Another Simms clanger

Simms whistle stop tour