Ismael's Rovers Have Landed

I write this on the 150th Anniversary of Blackburn Rovers, the day after the Lancashire outfit made it 3 wins in 3 with a scrappy 1–0 win at Ashton Gate.

A Trying Start

It’s been a trying first 13 Championship games (14 if you include Ipswich) for Rovers, and drama has never been too far away. Performances have been steadily improving, but it has taken 13 games to start finding some consistency and securing points.

Rovers sit on 16 points, 7 clear of Sheffield United in 22nd and only 6 points short of Preston North End in 6th. Incredible how different the situation is two weeks on from being rock bottom of the division, having suffered a 3–1 home defeat to the Blades.

It was after that defeat that support for Blackburn Rovers manager Valerien Ismael began to wane. Many fans were calling for the corner flag, and when the side went 1–0 down to Southampton at home 3 days later, tensions were at breaking point. And that was where the tide turned for Rovers.

Two second-half goals, one from Ryan Alebiosu, who has been a star since arriving in the summer, and a late winning goal from Andri Guðjohnsen, who is finally starting to find some form in front of goal, saw the mood somewhat more positive.

A fantastic performance 7 days later at the King Power Stadium against a very poor Leicester City, and Andri Guðjohnsen was finding the net again, 2–0 and things were really improving. The national focus was, wrongly, on the mess Leicester City are in as opposed to how well Rovers played.

Then on to Ashton Gate, where it wouldn't have been unseen, or overly unexpected, for Blackburn Rovers to fall to a dismal defeat, but that was not to be the case. Yuki Ohashi netted in first-half injury time after a superb move from Ryōya Morishita, but it was the second-half grit and determination not to concede that shone out.

The side looked to have clicked finally, with Valerien Ismael’s high press really putting pressure on Bristol City, who eventually lost the ball. The much more direct, forward passing through those little triangle-thingys seems to suit the new-look Blackburn Rovers, with 5-at-the-back making the team look much more solid.

What Now?

Whether we’ll be able to play 5-at-the-back on Saturday is a different question, with the win coming at a significant cost. Scott Wharton, who, whilst wearing the armband in Todd Cantwell’s absence, was subbed off with an ankle issue, whilst Balázs Tóth, who is finally coming into his own this season, having made himself Hungary’s no.1, hobbled off with knee pain. Just to make everything worse, Sondre Tronstad will be suspended after picking up too many yellow cards.

The new boys do, however, look to be clicking. Lewis Miller and Sean McLoughlin look to be fitting in to the back line nicely, and Ryan Alebiosu looks to be a perfect Callum Brittian, showing just how good he is going forward as well as in defence.

Taylor Gardner-Hickman has made that midfield his own and looks really solid alongside Sondre Tronstad, Adam Forshaw or impressive youngster Kristi Montgomery. Andri Guðjohnsenh has found his scoring boots, and his confidence looks to be thriving, whilst Yuki Ohashi is showing once again just how hardworking he is. We haven't been treated to much of Dion De Neve, Axel Henriksson or Sidnei Tavares, but their time will come; we all know the importance of squad depth in the Championship as we approach Christmas.

This was always going to be the case; this team needs time to click, but it can’t come at the risk of relegation to League One. That would not be a good way to celebrate the club's 150th birthday.