Looked like another game against fired-up opposition, with Blackburn’s manager at least still smarting over the EFL’s decision to have their game against Ipswich replayed from the start. For us it seemed like the first game of the next spell of the season, the opening having gone well enough (2,2,2) even though we felt the performances deserved more points. A game that you felt could go any which way, but short odds on another close one.
Proved to be far from that. Blackburn had the better of the opening 10 minutes but once we’d got into gear and especially after we went ahead we increasingly took control, progressively winning all the key battles across the pitch. The only surprise in the second half was that it took so long for us to put the game to bed, having spurned several good opportunities and restricting them to almost nothing. We did eventually get the second and the third at the death was just the proverbial icing on the cake.
Jones the Boss had a few selection issues to ponder before the game. Should Ramsay return after his suspension, with Byrne having slotted in very well? Should Apter start as the more attacking option at home and replace Bree, who had also done very well at Sheffield, including laying on the only goal of the game? And who would get the nod to start up front, out of Kelman, Leaburn and perhaps Olaofe? Good to have all the options. And in the event Jones went for an unchanged starting XI, with Ramsay replacing Fullah on the bench.
Again, at the start Blackburn looked the more threatening, with small forwards involving balls into feet and good movement. Bell was beaten down their right and may have made contact from behind with their guy in the box. If he’d gone to ground the ref – who had a stinker from start to finish – would have had a decision to make. We were struggling to make anything happen in their half, with Kelman as usual up against two centre-backs and Campbell not in the game early on. But while not functioning well, crucially we once again ensured we didn’t concede.
The gameplan changed a little on 17 minutes as Edwards went down under a challenge and stayed down, no foul being given. After extensive treatment he continued, but a few minutes later after taking a long throw he went down again holding his ankle and had to go off, replaced by Gillesphey, who moved into the back three and Bell moved to the wing-back spot. And whether or not as a result of that adjustment we started to create more. A Coventry long ball bounced only just beyond Kelman, then an interception was moved onto Campbell, whose low cross from the left couldn’t find a red shirt. Then a cross from the right was taken down by Docherty, whose decent shot was blocked, then Carey’s shot from the rebound was saved.
So it wasn’t entirely out of the blue that we took the lead. Coventry was fouled on our right side and Bree sent the free-kick to the far post, where Gillesphey easily outjumped his marker and headed back across goal and into the net. Whether their keeper got his positioning wrong, whether Blackburn made a mess with their marking, who knows, or cares? For Gillesphey it meant goals in consecutive games, the previous one being at Wembley. He also became the first player to score for us this season who wasn’t a new signing.
The rest of the first half saw half-chances at both ends. Coventry turned well on the byline to get in a low cross, then Campbell worked the ball to Kelman, who played it back to him to run in on goal. There was some hesitation as the keeper came out to narrow the angle and TC ended up going over him but with no real suggestion of a penalty. Jones managed to pick up a yellow for next to nothing, which was followed shortly by a rash Blackburn challenge on Docherty which produced no card. Blackburn did have moments, with Carey having to put in some great defensive work to keep them out, then Jones fouling their guy on the edge of the area. The free-kick was clearly in a dangerous position, but fortunately their guy blasted it well over the bar.
At the break the stats showed even possession and seven shots from us, three on target, against five and one for them. But I think everyone watching would have acknowledged that we had got on top as the half progressed and that Blackburn would have to raise their game to get back into it.
In that they failed as the second half became a tale of Charlton missed chances. Shortly after the restart Campbell cut inside. His shot was poor but it rebounded to Docherty, whose shot was saved. Blackburn did have a shout for a penalty when a cross seemed to hit Jones’ arm. It would have been a very harsh one but you have seen them given (and if it had been perhaps it would have been a second yellow and a red). But that was the exception to the rule.
On 56 minutes after another interception Bell fed Campbell, but his poor shot went over the bar. And a minute later Campbell was involved again, cutting across the box and curling a shot only inches wide of the far post. That was to be his last involvement as on 58 minutes Leaburn and Olaofe came on for him and Kelman. On 60 minutes Leaburn fed Olaofe and he almost managed to squeeze it through to Docherty in a good position. Then after picking up a yellow for a late challenge (following Bree also in the book) Carey got free inside the box on the right side but his low ball into the mix found nobody.
On 69 minutes we really should have extended our lead. Leaburn set up Carey, whose good shot was parried into the path of Burke, with something of an open goal in front of him. He failed to control the effort and put it over the bar. By now the doubts were rising, would we end up getting punished for not getting a second? But such concerns were buried on 77 minutes as Docherty played the ball forward to Olaofe, who held it up superbly then laid it off inside to Carey. He was still a fair way out but wasn’t closed down and had the time to line up his shot. He hit it powerfully inside the near post, the Blackburn keeper perhaps here too a little at fault for not getting to it.
That wasn’t entirely game over, but it felt like finally just rewards for our display. Blackburn did have a couple of shots, one deflected wide for a corner and the other sent only just over the bar after a good attack, but they were not to get back into it. Jones the Boss was even able to withdraw Jones the Player on 82 minutes, along with Carey, Ramsay and Knibbs coming on. By now Blackburn’s frustration was threatening to boil over, especially with the ref giving all sorts of odd decisions. On 90 minutes Bell got involved in a bit of handbags and got a yellow, along with the Blackburn guy and on 93 we added some gloss to the scoreline as good initial work by Docherty was followed by more from Olaofe, who played in back to Docherty. He pulled it back across goal to find Bree, who side-footed it home as the defender seemed to leave it for the keeper, who was in turn confused.
It was a performance with absolutely nothing to complain about. We defended once again superbly, despite losing Edwards, with Gillesphey and then Ramsay fitting in very well, while Burke and Bell both had good games. In central midfield Docherty and Coventry were outstanding (I’d give MoM to the latter). I think many felt this was an area of the pitch we would struggle in, but both are playing out of their skins at the moment. And although none of the forwards found the net, Carey showed he can make the kind of goals contribution that Berry managed last year, with Knibbs a very capable replacement. And there’s still Apter, player of the month but now having to wait for his chance.
The only concern Jones must be having at the moment is whether some of the players will be able to continue with this commitment and intensity for three games in seven days. We will find out, but from what we’ve seen if some fresh legs are needed we have the replacements to hand. It’s a very good feeling tonight.
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