Blackburn 2-1 Blues

Starting XI

Two changes. Juninho Bacuna and George Hall return to the starting XI with Troy Deeney and Hannibal Mejbri dropping to the bench for a rest. Tahith Chong steps forward to the attack to partner Scott Hogan.

Game

A relatively close first half in which both sides had two big chances but only one side took them.

Six minutes in, Bacuna found Hogan in behind and he teed up Chong who hit the inside of the post. Just over ten minutes later, Ben Brereton found himself free on the right and found the run of Tyler Morton who gave Sam Gallagher a tap in.

An Emmanuel Longelo free-kick and Hogan effort deflected wide from range came either side of an excellent move that saw Dion Sanderson find Hogan, the Irishman playing a 1-2 with Hall and seeing his powerful effort parried away by Thomas Kaminski, who was named man of the match. With three minutes left of the half, Gallagher found space and played to Adam Wharton who showed quick feet to turn Auston Trusty and the bottom corner.

Blues stepped up in the second half. Bacuna played in Hogan who failed to beat Kaminski 1v1 and he also denied Bacuna from a similar situation moments after Kristian Bielik headed over. John Ruddy still had to be alert, denying Ryan Hedges from a tight angle. Kaminski was involved again when Bacuna's dipping effort from range swerved towards him.

A quadruple substitution gave Blues more impetuous and within five minutes, Blues equalised, Bacuna's cross finding the head of Lukas Jutkiewicz whose knockdown was missed by Hyam and finished by Hogan. Game on.

Brereton spooned wide when a ball was blocked towards him. Jutkiewicz headed wide a Longelo cross and the same pair linked up five minutes later only for Kaminski to make yet another save. Jutkiewicz headed over the resulting corner and later on, Jordan Graham fired at goal only to see his effort blocked behind for a corner. It wasn't to be.

Tactics

This was an interesting game and I was impressed with how Blackburn managed to overload central areas and utilise their forwards in wide areas or in pockets.

Out of possession, they were a relatively standard man-to-man 3-4-1-2. They dropped off with Brereton & Gallagher ready to step onto Sanderson and Trusty. A.Wharton followed Bielik. Lewis Travis picked up Bacuna, WB v WB on either side. Hyam and Hayden Carter picked up Chong and Hogan with Morton and Scott Wharton passing off Hall, who was quick to make runs into the right hand channel.

In possession, their system would change. Hedges, at right-wing-back would often occupy a more central area with Carter becoming the right-back. It helped Blackburn create an overload that Blues didn't deal with. Blues' initial plan was as standard, sitting off the front and waiting until the ball moved to Carter or S.Wharton to set the press through Chong or Hall.

However, Blackburn's rotation in midfield was excellent with A.Wharton, Morton and Travis switching roles to receive the ball or moving into wide areas to pull the Blues midfield out. Gallagher and Brereton would also pull into wide areas which would stretch the Blues back three. It meant that Blues' nominal press against a back three system, which sees Colin, Longelo and/or Bielik step high up the pitch and Blues' centre backs play aggressively through the opposition forwards became problematic with Blackburn getting hold of the ball in central areas and being able to play in the gaps between midfield and defence or switch wide where a powerful forward would take hold of the ball and keep it.

Blackburn dropping off also caused Blues some issues in possession. With A.Wharton sat on Bielik, Blues were often forced to play across the back three with Harlee Dean having to be patient in finding the right pass for Trusty or Sanderson to build. Maxime Colin and Longelo did a decent job of progressing with the ball but were generally forced inside into traffic. The other option was the forward pass into the feet of Chong, who struggled with his back to goal, or Hogan, who performed the role well against Hyam.

Blues changed it up slightly second half. It was a 3-4-3 / 4-2-3-1 with Longelo playing much more aggressively, he and Chong dovetailing on who closed Carter/Ashley Phillips and who blocked the ball into midfield. Hall continued to play high while Bacuna sat in alongside Bielik, offering box-protection for the back two/three. The ball through the lines became less of an option for Blackburn and the additional energy in Blues' press enabled them to stay on top.

There were substitutions that affected things. An injury to Hedges did little to help Blackburn's shape with Ashley Phillips stepping into the heart of the defence and Carter moving to RWB.

Blues made a quadruple sub with 15 to go and it really allowed them to pile on the pressure. Dean, Colin, Chong and Hall were replaced by Graham, Deeney, Jobe Bellingham and Jutkiewicz. Blues moved to a diamond with Graham and Longelo at full-back, Bacuna at the base, flanked by Hannibal and Bellingham with Deeney behind Jutkiewicz and Hogan. More balls went into the box as a result but it's worth noting that Blackburn enabled this, dropping deep and holding on to what they had, their defending no-nonsense rather than composed.

Players

It was tough for Blues today. I thought Hogan played well. He won most of his battles with Hyam, created an excellent chance for Chong then himself. He got his goal, albeit he ought to have had one earlier.

I thought this was a learning curve for Sanderson, who was caught out a couple of times against Gallagher. Hall showed glimpses as he bids to prove he's ready but remains raw. Bellingham lacks a turn of pace just now but is showing some strength and composure on the ball.

Brereton and Gallagher were excellent for Blackburn. Big, powerful, quick, good first touch, stretched our back line and made life difficult for us. Morton and A.Wharton were also positives for the hosts, technically excellent and full of forward running. And of course, Kaminski, who was named man of the match.

I did think their defence were a real weak point but very little physicality about it, especially Hyam in the centre.

Anything else?

Recent academy products everywhere. George Hall started for Blues. Jobe Bellingham came off the bench. Jordan James remained on the bench. For Blackburn, there was Adam Wharton while Jake Garrett and Ashley Phillips and Jake Vale stepped off the bench.

Wrapping it up...

This is a frustrating one. Blackburn were there for the taking and more confidence / precision in front of goal, particularly in the second half, would have won us the game.

But this is what happens when you start slow and give up the first goal. I felt we lacked a bit of leadership and knowhow on the pitch first half. Eustace said recently that he doesn't talk too much on the sidelines because he and his team do the work on the training ground to ensure there are no excuses for his players with everybody knowing their jobs. That means players have to take responsibility for their jobs on the pitch and if they aren't doing it, the players have to hold each other accountable and resolve problems. That didn't happen in the first half and we were too passive out of possession, making it easy for Blackburn to get out. You can't afford to be off it at this level because you will more than likely be punished and we had one too many not at it today.

However, it probably summed up my feelings towards this group and the overall performance that when I told my partner we had lost an hour or so later, she said that she wouldn't have known. I've been with my partner for over four years now and she's used to the sullen, p*ssed off or generally depressive Ryan post-match but that has gone for the moment and I assume many others feel the same. In the past, we've performed well one game in five. Since September, we have played average at worst.

What we have to learn now is how to remain unbeaten during a three-game week. We've fallen the wrong side of the margins against both Middlesbrough and Blackburn in tight affairs now and getting over that hurdle will be key coming into the second half of the season. We have to be more ruthless.

It's fun talking that way. One good performance in five before the season may have ensured survival. Now I get the impression that while the focus will remain one game at a time, the management and playing staff have their sights set a little higher.

But let's not get carried away just yet...