What a performance,every player worked his balls off ,this really was one of those valley days you just love.i really could not care less who owns the club when the team puts in this kind of effort.14000 + home fans there today,covered end almost full,noise all day from all round the ground,my condolences to those who chose to spend the afternoon elsewhere.
Konsa made an unbelievable tackle on the edge of the box in the first half, striker looked clean through. Great timing.
The ref was good today but the ass ref missed a clear offside for that move.
I actually think that Konsa got back to make the tackle because the Blackburn player expected to be flagged and so reacted half a second slower to the ball
Apart from nearly soiling myself due to the tension of the game, I was able to enjoy a Valley atmosphere for the first time in a long time. Well done to the fans.
Seriously, very pleased the injury's not too serious. Apart from that misplaced pass, another top performance today.
Never thought I'd be given (edit: that's 'giving', you tool) Marshall a MOTM largely for a defensive performance. He was amazing, hitting form just at the right time.
A strong team performance. Very positive defensively. Lots of first time tackles, quick clearances and a couple of vital saves from Amos.
On the other hand...we had 6-7 free kicks in reasonable positions and nothing came of them bar the one where we scored (with what looked like a deflection to me). There was no real sense of positional play at all between Ajose and Magennis. Between them I think Magennis managed a header off target - that's all.
The fragility of our play at present seems clear. If the other side score (and it could just be that they get an unjustified penalty, or a silly own goal etc) we'd struggle, for all our defensive values, to get back in the game.
Thinking that through to the Play-Offs, I'd suggest Bowyer thinks carefully about all his striking options - including Zyro and recalling Ahearne-Grant from Crawley.
A strong team performance. Very positive defensively. Lots of first time tackles, quick clearances and a couple of vital saves from Amos.
On the other hand...we had 6-7 free kicks in reasonable positions and nothing came of them bar the one where we scored (with what looked like a deflection to me). There was no real sense of positional play at all between Ajose and Magennis. Between them I think Magennis managed a header off target - that's all.
The fragility of our play at present seems clear. If the other side score (and it could just be that they get an unjustified penalty, or a silly own goal etc) we'd struggle, for all our defensive values, to get back in the game.
Thinking that through to the Play-Offs, I'd suggest Bowyer thinks carefully about all his striking options - including Zyro and recalling Ahearne-Grant from Crawley.
Blackburn arent a small team though, there were a couple of times when Marshall won a few headers and wondered how the hell he managed it
Typical Northern team really who under Mowbray should be used to being able to defend set pieces
Three tough games and three wins. Said before the game that we had to be cagey and we certainly didn't fall into the trap we could have. Tactically we were spot on. Blackburn backed themselves a bit in the second half and played quicker forward balls, that is why a number were overhit etc... but most stuck and I don't think any other League One side has the quality to play that way -so credit to them. They will do well next year in the Championship. It is of immense credit to us that we beat them. And it turns out we needed to beat them!
This was a game where if you understand the quality of the opposition, you have a better understanding of what a good game Magennis had. And the last word I would use to describe our play in the last three games would be fragile!
Only downer for me today was how we kinda played after we scored.
When it was 0-0 I felt we were the stronger team, passed it about (without creating much), forced Blackburn into constantly fouling our players which ultimately led to the goal
Moment we scored though we started to sit back and let Blackburn come to us, meant we saw less of the ball and meant we won less set pieces
I guess had we kept up our current system, gaps may have been left but I wonder if we'd have given them more to think about at the back rather than concentrating on attack
Only downer for me today was how we kinda played after we scored.
When it was 0-0 I felt we were the stronger team, passed it about (without creating much), forced Blackburn into constantly fouling our players which ultimately led to the goal
Moment we scored though we started to sit back and let Blackburn come to us, meant we saw less of the ball and meant we won less set pieces
I guess had we kept up our current system, gaps may have been left but I wonder if we'd have given them more to think about at the back rather than concentrating on attack
It reminded me of a lot of the performances under KR but defensively we look less fragile. We were under the cosh for a large part of the game.
We had a shot in the first half from Kashi which hit Pearce on the arse and went into the net leaving the Blackburn goalkeeper flatfooted. Our next attack of any note came with about 10 minutes of normal time left when Mavididi's pace made a bit of an impact, following his introduction as a sub for Ajose, and their keeper made a decent save from the resulting shot pushing it round the post for a corner.
Either side of that shot Blackburn threw the kitchen sink at us and with the help of the woodwork, good goalkeeping and brave defending we held onto the lead given us by our latest double barrelled name signing Pearce's- Arse.
The midfield all worked like trojans Forster- Caskey and Marshall being the pick on the day for me. That's not to criticise Kashi and Reeves. Kashi's powerful shot was the 'assist' for the goal and Reeves is unrecognisable from the lightweight waste of space that wore his shirt under Robinson. My only minor criticism of him is that just occasionally when seeking work elsewhere he left Konsa, who is not a specialist right back, a little exposed at times against an awkward customer in the lanky pacy Bell. I don't remember Page or Dasilva being left exposed by Marshall.
The defence was solid most of the time. The one time my heart was in my mouth more than normal was towards the end of the first half when Konsa brought Bell down just inside the area but fortunately the referee decided he got enough foot on the ball to justify the challenge as a fair tackle. Pearce and BFG both played well as did the two left backs Page and Dasilva. I hope Page's injury isn't as serious as it looks, the bloke must have broken a whole hall of mirrors in a past life when you consider the awful luck he has had with injuries.
Shame about the other results but still in our own hands which pre Bowyer we would never have imagined with 1 game left. A Scunthorpe win might be best for us now when they meet Plymouth. That would leave Plymouth having to win at Gillingham to overhaul us but I'm sure, I know, there are still plenty of other permutations.
The determination under Bowyer is so impressive. 442 is also making a big difference with Amos happy to whack it long - his kicking was very good today with Mag winning most of the headers. Our first half was possibly the best I have seen this season, with the fans from all the stands doing their bit, willing the team to win. Brilliant! Second half started with Blackburn on the offensive and threatening to score. We seemed to lose our shape for a while so it became mayhem with lots of last ditch tackles and magnificent saves from Amos (who is my POY). I think back to all the pony games we had earlier in the season under Robbo and wonder if he regrets being so rigid about his diamond formation? So onto Rochdale who will be no pushover. Oh one last thing...Jake F-C has been absolutely outstanding in all the recent games. I criticised him a few months ago for not being effective enough but wow, is he running the show now!
Comments
Read his post-match thoughts
https://www.cafc.co.uk/news/view/5ae4ad7b0d7aa/bowyer-on-amos-brilliance-his-team-digging-in-a-big-step-and-not-watching-scunthorpe-vs-plymouth … #cafc
https://www.cafc.co.uk/news/view/5ae4b28910396/amos-delighted-with-third-straight-clean-sheet
Reckon if you add together all the extra minutes we've played at the end of games this season the at least total another 90mins of football!!
Whichever division we are in next season, and under whatever owner, we don't need any Harry f-----g Kewell!
Seriously, very pleased the injury's not too serious. Apart from that misplaced pass, another top performance today.
Never thought I'd be given (edit: that's 'giving', you tool) Marshall a MOTM largely for a defensive performance. He was amazing, hitting form just at the right time.
Felt lucky to be there today.
On the other hand...we had 6-7 free kicks in reasonable positions and nothing came of them bar the one where we scored (with what looked like a deflection to me). There was no real sense of positional play at all between Ajose and Magennis. Between them I think Magennis managed a header off target - that's all.
The fragility of our play at present seems clear. If the other side score (and it could just be that they get an unjustified penalty, or a silly own goal etc) we'd struggle, for all our defensive values, to get back in the game.
Thinking that through to the Play-Offs, I'd suggest Bowyer thinks carefully about all his striking options - including Zyro and recalling Ahearne-Grant from Crawley.
Typical Northern team really who under Mowbray should be used to being able to defend set pieces
At the risk of sounding like Big Sam, that's how to build a promotion team, make yourself hard to beat
This was a game where if you understand the quality of the opposition, you have a better understanding of what a good game Magennis had. And the last word I would use to describe our play in the last three games would be fragile!
I'm still not sure how we won that game. You can't afford to keep losing possession like that and having so little flair in the side.
Amos good as always and Pearce/Bauer did well in the centre of defence. Marshall gave his all defensively.
We need to improve on our last two home performances to get anywhere in the playoffs.
When it was 0-0 I felt we were the stronger team, passed it about (without creating much), forced Blackburn into constantly fouling our players which ultimately led to the goal
Moment we scored though we started to sit back and let Blackburn come to us, meant we saw less of the ball and meant we won less set pieces
I guess had we kept up our current system, gaps may have been left but I wonder if we'd have given them more to think about at the back rather than concentrating on attack
Word of the day RESILIENCE.
We had a shot in the first half from Kashi which hit Pearce on the arse and went into the net leaving the Blackburn goalkeeper flatfooted. Our next attack of any note came with about 10 minutes of normal time left when Mavididi's pace made a bit of an impact, following his introduction as a sub for Ajose, and their keeper made a decent save from the resulting shot pushing it round the post for a corner.
Either side of that shot Blackburn threw the kitchen sink at us and with the help of the woodwork, good goalkeeping and brave defending we held onto the lead given us by our latest double barrelled name signing Pearce's- Arse.
The midfield all worked like trojans Forster- Caskey and Marshall being the pick on the day for me. That's not to criticise Kashi and Reeves. Kashi's powerful shot was the 'assist' for the goal and Reeves is unrecognisable from the lightweight waste of space that wore his shirt under Robinson. My only minor criticism of him is that just occasionally when seeking work elsewhere he left Konsa, who is not a specialist right back, a little exposed at times against an awkward customer in the lanky pacy Bell. I don't remember Page or Dasilva being left exposed by Marshall.
The defence was solid most of the time. The one time my heart was in my mouth more than normal was towards the end of the first half when Konsa brought Bell down just inside the area but fortunately the referee decided he got enough foot on the ball to justify the challenge as a fair tackle. Pearce and BFG both played well as did the two left backs Page and Dasilva. I hope Page's injury isn't as serious as it looks, the bloke must have broken a whole hall of mirrors in a past life when you consider the awful luck he has had with injuries.
Shame about the other results but still in our own hands which pre Bowyer we would never have imagined with 1 game left. A Scunthorpe win might be best for us now when they meet Plymouth. That would leave Plymouth having to win at Gillingham to overhaul us but I'm sure, I know, there are still plenty of other permutations.
COYR
I think back to all the pony games we had earlier in the season under Robbo and wonder if he regrets being so rigid about his diamond formation?
So onto Rochdale who will be no pushover.
Oh one last thing...Jake F-C has been absolutely outstanding in all the recent games. I criticised him a few months ago for not being effective enough but wow, is he running the show now!
I moaned with the best when 7 minutes went up until the bloke next to me said what about the Page injury?
I think we all forgot about that at the time.