[Archived] News Article -> 2013/14 Match Report: Rovers 3 Brighton & Hove Albion 3

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Blackburn Rovers	(2) 3 – 3 (1)	Brighton & Hove Albion
Rhodes 25, Cairney 42, Rhodes (pen) 86		Rodrigues 17, Greer 79, Stephens 88
Referee: K. Hill		Attendance: 12,332 (272 Brighton fans)

Eight goals have been scored in the past week by Blackburn Rovers and yet those three games have brought a return of just three points. If anyone wants to know the reason why we will be playing Championship football next season, they need look no further than the defensive frailties which return to haunt Gary Bowyer time and time again: An experienced England international goalkeeper, with 40 caps to his name, who is continually exposed on his near post. A budding Scottish international centre-half who struggles to dominate aerially in his own penalty area. A right-back spot which has become something of a poisoned chalice and so on and so on.

The woes of the Rovers' defensive backline is, for me, the real story of why the Rovers have been unable to mount a sustained challenge for a play-off spot. Defensive inconsistency has been the real Achilles' heel for the Rovers. Three clean sheets in February ought to have been the perfect platform to mount a play-off push in March. Sadly, the defence has simply fallen apart over the past eight matches. Conceding a staggering nineteen goals in these games meant any realistic play-off challenge was well and truly holed below the waterline.

Success is usually built on a solid defensive platform rather than the rickety structure that passes for the Rovers defence these days. Above all, we need a leader at the heart of the defence who can organise on the pitch and hold the defensive unit and the team together.

Whilst the result and the manner in which the three goals were conceded proved disappointing, there was still much to admire about the Rovers performance in this game.

The manager made just one change to the team which drew at Millwall at the weekend with Tom Cairney returning after injury at the expense of Luke Varney, who dropped to the bench. Rovers were given a pre-match boost with news that Grant Hanley's red card had been overturned and the Scottish international was free to play.

In a game that had become a "must win" for both clubs in terms of clinging to rapidly diminishing play-off hopes, it was the visitors who started the more brightly. Keith Andrews, the former Rover who has become something of a pantomime villain for some Rovers fans, was at the forefront of most of Albion's early moves and he fired a 25-yard effort narrowly over the bar. Andrews then sent in a dangerous cross which Paul Robinson did well to gather and avert any danger.

For a team that had lost its previous three games without finding the net the visitors looked increasingly dangerous going forward and it was no surprise when they opened the scoring on 17 minutes. The goal itself was a relatively simple affair with a long ball by Bruno Saltor being headed on by Jose Ulloa into the path of Jesse Lingard on the right. He made progress down the wing but faced with Matt Kilgallon he simply slipped the ball into the path of David Rodriguez on the right of the penalty area and the young Spaniard merely moved it away from Hanley and then fired a low shot which beat Robinson on his near post and found the back of the net.

The Rovers again showed the spirit which Gary Bowyer has engendered in the team by hitting back fairly quickly after this reverse, although, it must be said, luck was very much on our side. Rohan Ince tried to bring the ball out of defence but was robbed by Cairney. The ball was played to Lee Williamson, who was brought down on the edge of the box. Cairney took the kick but seemed to mishit it and the ball went along the ground towards the far post where Jordan Rhodes demonstrated his predatory instincts and in an instant had run onto the ball and fired home from close range.

The play became more even, but Robinson had to be alert to keep out another effort from the ever dangerous Rodriguez, although he hadn't realised that a linesman had flagged for offside.

Excellent interplay by Cairney and Craig Conway provided a heading opportunity for Rhodes, but the Scottish international was just wide with his attempt. Another cross from Conway was met by the head of David Dunn, but the ball was deflected wide.

Just as it looked as if the teams would end the half on equal terms, the Rovers produced an excellent piece of football which resulted in a second goal. Conway and Corry Evans combined to set Tommy Spurr free down the left wing. The former Doncaster man showed great pace to get past a defender and once inside the area he drove the ball across goal to the far post where Cairney rifled the ball home from the tightest of angles.

The Rovers started the second half in search of a third goal to kill the game. Another cross from Conway deflected off Bruno and looped over Tomasz Kuszczak and onto the bar. Albion's Polish international 'keeper then made a routine save from a fierce effort from Rhodes and then pulled off a much better save to keep out a low shot from Conway which seemed to be destined for the bottom corner of the net. Cairney was the next to have an effort on goal saved by Kuszczak.

The visitors hit back with a splendid effort from substitute Solly March which flashed across the six-yard box before Robinson was forced to make a one-handed save to his left to keep March out.

Once again, the Rovers defence proved vulnerable to a simple corner routine. On 79 minutes a corner from Kazenga LuaLua was met by former Rover Gordon Greer, who steered the ball home at the near post.

With the game seemingly drifting to another draw the Rovers were thrown a lifeline when Rhodes found himself sandwiched between defenders as he attempted to reach another cross from Conway. The referee immediately pointed to the spot and, despite some delaying gamesmanship on the part of Kuszczak, Rhodes slotted the spot-kick home with some aplomb.

That goal ought to have won the game and brought three points which would have kept the slimmest of play-off hopes alive. However, the Rovers' penchant for self-destruction surfaced once again just a couple of minutes later. Lingard was given too much room and his cross from the left found Dale Stephens, who had evaded his marker and ghosted into a position which enabled him to head home and equalise.

Rudy Gestede came on in a last-ditch bid to find a fourth goal but his back-post header was just off target.

The official crowd was given as 12,332, but many felt the empty spaces around the stadium suggested that many ticket-holders had opted to spend the evening elsewhere.

Paul Robinson had a mixed evening. He was badly caught out at his near post for the first goal but made one or two decent saves afterwards.

Michael Keane was steady at right-back and tried to get forward to support the attack.

Grant Hanley was another who had a mixed evening with one or two decent tackles but a number of rash challenges which saw him caught out by fleet-footed opponents.

Matt Kilgallon, like Hanley, had a difficult evening at times, whilst on other occasions he did some decent work in the centre of defence.

Tommy Spurr put in a steady performance defensively and played a vital part in the second goal for the Rovers and looked very good going forward.

Tom Cairney made a welcome return on the right of midfield and was a major driving force in creating things for the Rovers in the first half. He took his goal extremely well before fading as the game went on.

Corry Evans worked hard in the centre of midfield alongside Williamson before his evening ended early after picking up a knock in the second half.

Lee Williamson played his part in the first goal for the Rovers and proved a tenacious opponent in the centre of midfield, working hard before being withdrawn late on.

Craig Conway was the outstanding performer for the Rovers on the night. He supplied a steady stream of crosses and was a constant thorn in the side of the visiting defence.

David Dunn gave his usual workmanlike performance in trying to open up the opposing defence. It's just a pity that he can't last ninety minutes these days because there is no doubt that the Rovers are a better side when he is on the pitch.

Jordan Rhodes continues to show a welcome return to form and the opening goal was a real goal poacher's effort. The penalty was his fiftieth goal for the Rovers.

Chris Taylor worked hard when he came on but never looked like making a difference in terms of opening up the Brighton defence.

Josh King had one decent run but was largely kept quiet during his brief appearance.

Rudy Gestede had one header which just went wide but wasn't on long enough to have any real impact on the game.

Teams

Blackburn Rovers

Paul Robinson; Michael Keane, Grant Hanley, Matt Kilgallon, Tommy Spurr; Tom Cairney, Corry Evans (Chris Taylor 68), Lee Williamson (Rudy Gestede 88), Craig Conway; David Dunn (Josh King 70), Jordan Rhodes
Subs not used: Simon Eastwood (gk), Todd Kane, Luke Varney, Liam Feeney
Manager: Gary Bowyer

Brighton & Hove Albion

Tomasz Kuszczak; Bruno Saltor, Gordon Greer, Matthew Upson; Stephen Ward, Keith Andrews, Jake Forster-Caskey (Solly March 63), Rohan Ince (Dale Stephens 46), Jesse Lingard; David Rodriguez (Kazenga LuaLua 76), Jose Ulloa
Subs not used: Peter Brezovan (gk), Lewis Dunk, Inigo Calderon, David Lopez
Manager: Oscar Garcia

Bookings

Blackburn Rovers – None

Brighton & Hove Albion – Solly March, Bruno Saltor


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