Goals from Jordan Rhodes and Scott Dann finally gave fans something to celebrate after Rovers ended their winless run of 11 games with a victory over Derby County. The last victory was the memorable 1-0 win over Arsenal at the Emirates in the Fa cup.
Jordan Rhodes opened the scoring by putting away a penalty in the 8th minute much to the home fans delight, which put Rovers in good stead for the remainder of the game.
Rovers clearly dominated the first half, taking time over their passes to ensure high percentage of possession. The midfield were cohesive and composed acting as a strong unit.
Derby were tactically playing in a counter attacking style, defending well and going on the break when possible, but Rovers secured the lead when skipper Scott Dann got the second goal following a corner just before the whistle blew for half time.
The second half saw unchanged teams and a continuation of the dominance Rovers initiated in the first half. Derby had a decent penalty shout but the referee decided against it which infuriated not only Nigel Clough but the Derby players as well who reacted by playing with slightly more aggression. This provoked Blackburn’s side into reaction seeing Hanley and Kazim Richards presented with yellow cards.
Bowyer made three substitutions seeing Dunn and Lowe come off for Pedersen and King. Goodwillie also made a short appearance, replacing Jordan Rhode minutes before full time.
Rovers deserved the win after 90 minutes of hard work. They played with devotion and fight, defending well when Derby put the pressure on and retaining good possession as a result of generally clear passes.
There are many positives to take from today’s games despite a few setbacks. First, it seemed like a combined effort rather than 11 individuals on a pitch. Rarely this season have fans witnessed such composure, especially in the midfield.
There was also a distinct effort from Rhodes to link up with the midfield more as the game allowed him to act as more of a team player as opposed to a typical striker.
The back four continued their record of exemplary performances with superb defending for the majority of the ninety minutes by defensive partnership Dann and Hanley. Josh Morris started while Martin Olsson remains injured and despite making a few errors, contributed well to the squad. Morris is likely to improve over time but having been thrown in the deep end recently, he has worked hard.
Lee Williamson unfortunately did not have his best game but shows huge potential. He links up well with Dave Jones and David Dunn and sees his challenges through. Like Kazim Richards he also shows signs of a temper which may need to be controlled at times.
Bookings for Kaz and Hanley are not ideal as it sees them suspended for the next game which is probably the most important of remaining fixtures – Tuesday nights battle against Huddersfield Town.
Hanley has played a vital role in the team this season and replacing him with a suitable centre back may prove difficult as options include Gael Givet – a fantastic defender who is unfortunately in a deteriorating state of mind and has expressed his desires to leave Blackburn, Nuno Henrique – a Portuguese player signed by Shebby Singh who has not made a first team appearance thus far, and loanee Karim Rekik who despite proving his ability earlier this season did not display a strong link-up with the other defenders.
Kazim Richards can be a great player when he is focused but unfortunately often finds it difficult to control his temper, resulting in an accumulation of yellow cards. The most probable candidate to replace Kaz will be Leon Best, but arguably Nuno Gomes is a more suitable contender considering his earlier season performances which displayed a positive and working relationship with Rhodes whilst on the pitch.
Sandomierski made his home debut today and managed to keep a clean sheet. Despite a slip up early in the first half which could have seen Derby equalise, he made some crucial saves which kept Derby from finding a goal.
Tuesday night sees Ewood Park host Huddersfield Town which will prove a pivotal game in the relegation battle. It is imperative for Rovers to grab the three points to ensure safety. But until then, fans can enjoy the relief of rising out of the relegation zone and the much deserved win.
Written by Anna-Louise Adams, twitter: @anna_brfc
Player Ratings
Gregorz Sandomierski
Demonstrated that he is capable of acting as a suitable replacement for injured Jake Kean. Made some key saves and took decent goal kicks.
Todd Kane
Proven himself to be an important player during his loan spells and demonstrates a positive link up with both the midfield and the two centre backs.
Scott Dann
The captain and man of the match, hard to fault as he puts in a creditable performance every game and has developed a strong partnership with Grant Hanley.
Grant Hanley
Another exceptional performance from Hanley who continues to battle for 90 minutes every game. Made some crucial challenges and clearances to retain the clean sheet.
Josh Morris
Currently replacing Martin Olsson and although he is young he displays potential. He is prone to the occasional slip up but generally defends well and helps get the ball up field.
Jason Lowe
Had a decent first half but was replaced by Pedersen in the second half after giving the ball away a number of times and looking in danger of being booked which could have seen a suspension.
Dave Jones
After a poor game against Blackpool he regained his form and continued to link up with David Dunn and also played well with Williamson. Works hard and is a strong midfielder.
Lee Williamson
Generally had a good game despite a few errors like giving the ball away, however he is quick to regain focus and attempt to win the ball back. Showed a slight temper which he may need to control.
David Dunn
Although he may have given the ball away a couple of times he had a very good game and worked hard. He is a true team player and helps to defend and get the ball up front. He was substituted for Josh King around the 60th minute after looking tired.
Colin Kazim-Richards
Started off well linking up with Rhodes and the midfield but was slightly greedy at times of the second half, releasing the ball too late and has been suspended for the next game following a booking. Needs to work on keeping his cool although nice to see a bit of passion and fight.
Jordan Rhodes
Played very well today demonstrating he can also play as a team player, took the penalty well and fought hard throughout the game.
Josh King
Has great pace and shows potential but sometimes is too hesitant on the ball and rather than shooting he tries to find a pass and can end up losing the ball.
Morten Gamst Pedersen
Came on for Jason Lowe and fitted straight in with the midfield, didn’t really add much to the game but still played well.
Only had a few minutes game time but made some good passes and set himself up in good positions.
