Mark Hughes was thrilled as Blackburn Rovers made it two Premiership wins on the spin with their 1-0 win over Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium.
As alluded to by James in his match report it was a result, which would see a series of firsts. Rovers won back to back games for the first time this season; it would be a first clean-sheet resulting in a Rovers win, Rovers’ first win of the season and also Shabani Nonda’s first goal for his new club.
Mark Hughes would have this to say to Sky Sports News following the win, which moved Rovers into the Premiership’s top ten:
“I thought we were excellent in the first half, especially.
“In the second half, as an away team, you’re put under a little bit of pressure, but we withstood that.
“We were worthy winners.”
Andre Ooijer, a man who has come in for some criticism following some of his early performances for Rovers had a superb game, the type of game that shows just why Hughes would be so keen to pay out over £2 million for a 32-year-old:
“I thought we were excellent at the back. I thought Andre Ooijer was really commanding, his best game for us so far.
“He will only get better from this point onwards. He read things and broke things up, and from that, we had a platform to be able to spring our own attacks.”
And last, but by no means least would be the credit for the also hailed as “excellent“, Congolese International forward Shabani Nonda; who opened his Rovers goalscoring account with his headed winner, with Hughes adding:
“I thought his movement and his work ethic was a joy to behold.
“He’s not as fit as he needs to be. The intensity of football in the Premier League is different to what he’s used to.
“But I thought today, the way he applied himself along with Benni up there, caused Middlesbrough problems all day long.
“I’m pleased that he’s got off the mark as well – a great towering header at the back post – so a lot of positives today.”
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