v Portsmouth (h) - 15/1/2025

[rigger]

4 hours ago, bigbrandjohn said:

It's a whopper to think we can still keep piling on the goodies. I am relishing it at the moment.

Big Mak makes a difference when he is served up. Even if he was on the other side of the counter when he served up his special. 

Mr Eustace you doing wonders with the economy menu.

I 'm loving it. 

Big Mak is a sub.

[Ossydave]

3 hours ago, bluebruce said:

Can't find the more recent figures, but in 22/23 the 2.Bundesliga clubs had 785.7 million Euros in revenue. Championship clubs had £749 million. There's not much difference in the financial heft of these leagues, and there are only 18 clubs sharing that revenue in Germany. They're stronger sides than you think.

I think he's on about in terms of the standard of football.

Revenue wise, they have some really big stadia, multiple stadiums above 50k capacity ( that get filled) Which will account for the revenue side of it.

[DavidMailsTightPerm]

Another typical Championship match that, despite the 3-0 scoreline could have gone either way. They hit the bar at 0-0, could have had penalties prior to two of our goals. Equally we missed chances - its all about fine margins. We desperately need a decent striker to make those fine margins more in our favour.

[Nic81]

The pass by Cantwell, the cross by Brittain and the header by Mak were all sublime. Particularly that cross. Big Mak pointed where he wanted it and Brittain delivered. 
 

The dummy and goal for the second were also amazing. Foreshaw was praising ACD as he celebrated. Great to see. 
 

Saw a comment about Mak’s shot for the third so thought it was going to be worse than it was. It was better than some of his really scuffed, weak efforts. Not a strong effort but an improvement 😉Weimann got himself into a great position and worked hard to get the third. 
 

Really happy! 

 

Edited January 16 by Nic81

[Cherry Blue]

27 minutes ago, DavidMailsTightPerm said:

Another typical Championship match that, despite the 3-0 scoreline could have gone either way. They hit the bar at 0-0, could have had penalties prior to two of our goals. Equally we missed chances - its all about fine margins. We desperately need a decent striker to make those fine margins more in our favour.

They did hit the bar and had penalty claims but, we scored 3 good goals and they didn't. 

But we still need a striker.

[arbitro]

Sometimes winning games comes down to fine margins as last night ably demonstrated. The first half performance left me so frustrated as we were poor and played with a low intensity. I would have taken Cantwell off at half-time as his half arsed attempt to play infuriated me. The 'experiment'of playing Weimann as a centre forward failed miserably as we huffed and puffed. We did miss a couple of big chances but so did Portsmouth. Seeing Leonard and Gueye both doing a thorough warm up at half-time told me that Eustace felt the same way. The changes were made earlier than Eustace normally likes to do them and suddenly we had a focal point at the top end. The first goal was simplicity in itself. A cross to the far post, pace on the ball and a big centre forward on the end of it. Then the fine margins kicked in as Portsmouth were denied a clear penalty and with no time at art we were two up and effectively game over. The third goal was the icing on the cake as Portsmouth had thrown the towel in. Cantwell was a lot better in the second half (did anybody else notice he pulled his socks up - literally) as were the majority of the team. I have to say Brittain was once again outstanding. I have often been critical of him in the past but I'm delighted with him right now. And credit to Eustace too as he wasn't too proud to change what clearly wasn't working. Recent managers might have dug their heels in to try and prove themselves right.

The big plus aside from the three points was the goal difference improving and no apparent injuries. With another three games coming up in the next ten days we can go into them confident of getting a positive result in them all.

[Wegerleswiggle]

Have just been speaking to Josh Murphy's old man. Josh reckons Brittain and Beck are the best pair of full backs in the league. Also said Cantwell's a t##t. 😂

[Herbie6590]

They’re back…vote for your POTM…you have until 19:45 tonight…⚪️🔵

https://www.brfcs.com/magazine/football/match/1216023/blackburn-portsmouth?tab=voting

[RoversTilliDie]

I was far from convinced from last night's performance, we gave the ball away nearly every time we got it in the first half, and we didn't seem to know what to do with the ball when we got near there box. There was improvement in the 2nd half, when Guey came on, he held the ball up well and took his goal well, add to that Andy Weiman on the scores sheet again and Callum Britain getting in on the act. If we're to put a serious challenge in for a top 6 finish, we need to step up a gear and get our act together. Great to see Joe Rankin Costella back in action.

[RoversTilliDie]

I agree with some of the comments, Britain and Beck have got to be up there with the best of them in the Championship for a defencive pairing.

[martonrover]

Delighted with the win, and that, (as well as no new injuries), is what matters.

Have to say, that is probably the most amazing non award of a penalty I've ever seen 🙂 

You could see our players practically stopped, as they were just waiting for it to be given.

The fact we scored so soon afterwards made it even funnier.

We would be apoplectic if that happened against us 🙂 

Swings and roundabouts.

[Tugayisgod]

16 minutes ago, RoversTilliDie said:

I agree with some of the comments, Britain and Beck have got to be up there with the best of them in the Championship for a defencive pairing.

I love Beck but thought it was actually one of his poorer games last night. Would love him back next season though

[...]

9 hours ago, Exiled_Rover said:

Two thumping headers too.

Maybe we should, y'know, cross more balls into the box for our 6'5" CF?

 

4 hours ago, rigger said:

Big Mak is a sub.

He's on a roll....

I'll get me coat...

[...]

5 minutes ago, Tugayisgod said:

I love Beck but thought it was actually one of his poorer games last night. Would love him back next season though

Made up for his small mistakes by intercepting a few crosses, think he cancelled out his poor moments, all in all was happy with our back four again. Still a solid player and does his bit 

Dion will play a big part in reinforcing our back four and nice to have someone that can slot in and be a big body could of done with him v dingles to shit them up a bit

Edited January 16 by ...

[...]

35 minutes ago, RoversTilliDie said:

I was far from convinced from last night's performance, we gave the ball away nearly every time we got it in the first half, and we didn't seem to know what to do with the ball when we got near there box. There was improvement in the 2nd half, when Guey came on, he held the ball up well and took his goal well, add to that Andy Weiman on the scores sheet again and Callum Britain getting in on the act. If we're to put a serious challenge in for a top 6 finish, we need to step up a gear and get our act together. Great to see Joe Rankin Costella back in action.

Goes to show though once we get a goal the play opens up for us and they start working the channels, we really couldn't get it going that first half and was very frustrating to watch at times, think it was a good confidence booster going into the next one and hopefully we press on a bit more with more urgency as it felt slow at times, I think portsmouth played a different strategy to what we've played against this season sitting rather high and with that we were trying to play the ball out from the back and couldn't get it past the half way line at times, lots to learn from.

What's the reason for Pears not taking a proper goal kick? He ends up hoofing it under pressure with no thought when he could of just taken it from the off.

Edited January 16 by ...

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

9 minutes ago, Tugayisgod said:

I love Beck but thought it was actually one of his poorer games last night. Would love him back next season though

He made a great length of their half run late on in the second half that should have led to a goal. Plus he had their winger, who looked like he could be dangerous, under his thumb.

[Exiled_Rover]

14 minutes ago, martonrover said:

Delighted with the win, and that, (as well as no new injuries), is what matters.

Have to say, that is probably the most amazing non award of a penalty I've ever seen 🙂 

You could see our players practically stopped, as they were just waiting for it to be given.

The fact we scored so soon afterwards made it even funnier.

We would be apoplectic if that happened against us 🙂 

Swings and roundabouts.

Pears cleaning out their attacker was a penalty (although we didn't get one very similar against Boro), but the CF diving with the goal at his mercy wasn't.

[Exiled_Rover]

13 minutes ago, Tugayisgod said:

I love Beck but thought it was actually one of his poorer games last night. Would love him back next season though

I think he needs a rest. I too would love to sign him permanently. 

[roverblue]

I think the first half was just the wrong team, leaving Gueye and ACD on the bench over Hedges and Weimenn was just pandering to the squad instead of playing your best team. Luckily it paid off once they came on, but if the Portsmouth shot that hit the bar went in during that first half it could have been a very different outcome.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

6 minutes ago, roverblue said:

I think the first half was just the wrong team, leaving Gueye and ACD on the bench over Hedges and Weimenn was just pandering to the squad instead of playing your best team. Luckily it paid off once they came on, but if the Portsmouth shot that hit the bar went in during that first half it could have been a very different outcome.

The trouble is both of Gueye and ACD are poor when they start a game. I think Eustace knows that. 

[rigger]

6 minutes ago, roverblue said:

I think the first half was just the wrong team, leaving Gueye and ACD on the bench over Hedges and Weimenn was just pandering to the squad instead of playing your best team. Luckily it paid off once they came on, but if the Portsmouth shot that hit the bar went in during that first half it could have been a very different outcome.

And if we had played Gueye and ACD from the start, it could  also have been a different outcome. What is known is that we now have three more points.

[roverblue]

2 minutes ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

The trouble is both of Gueye and ACD are poor when they start a game. I think Eustace knows that. 

ACD completely destroyed Luton when he started just before Xmas and got MoM? I don't think either are world beaters but iv seen enough of Hedges to know he is a sub at best. Gueye is a bit of mystery, looks unplayable at times then a total donkey at others, but at least is a striker unlike Weimenn.

[roversfan99]

Is ACD better from the bench? I actually think sometimes he has struggled to really impact games in cameos whereas from the start he actually has looked more threatening before he tires in the second half. Notably v Luton at home.

[BlackburnEnd75]

12 minutes ago, roverblue said:

I think the first half was just the wrong team, leaving Gueye and ACD on the bench over Hedges and Weimenn was just pandering to the squad instead of playing your best team. Luckily it paid off once they came on, but if the Portsmouth shot that hit the bar went in during that first half it could have been a very different outcome.

Half agreed with this in that it was the wrong team selection.

Weimann up top didn't work and was a gamble but I really don't see gueye as being an effective starter as he doesn't have the legs. I would've started Leonard and I probably still would vs Oxford on Saturday.

ACD should start most weeks out wide as he's the most likely to create something, however he's come back from illness so there may have been a doubt on wether he had 70 mins in him. He'll start on Saturday.

[sharpysharps86]

Fantastic win. It was looking and sounding a lot like the Hull defeat at half time but the lads got the job done in style in the end. Credit to Eustace for the subs he made that ultimately changed the game.

Gueye is definitely an impact player. Great header from that angle but what a ball from Brittain, who is fast becoming player of the season IMO. Gueye unfortunate not to get the third as the shot was ok, just probably not enough power on it. Thankfully Weimann is there to score. Weimann now top scorer in all comps with 7...which says a lot about our need for a goal scorer! A lot of his goals have been from simply knowing where to be at the right time, which is something pretty much all of our other forwards seem to lack. Been a good signing for us on the whole.

Crucial win, and delighted for the players, but more so JE.