Ryan's Blues Musings

Starting XI Four changes from last league game. George Friend and Gary Gardner start for the first time since August. Neil Etheridge and Lukas Jutkiewicz also come in. Troy Deeney is rested. John Ruddy, Hannibal Mejbri and Scott Hogan drop to the bench. Nico Gordon and Romelle Donovan are in the squad. Game Blues took the lead after a couple of minutes. Tyler Morton tried to switch play under a bit of pressure but the pass was cut out by Gardner. He found Reda Khadra who controlled and finished from 20 yards. Ben Brereton Diaz was the Blackburn Rovers danger man and he was denied at the near and far post by Etheridge either side of a Khadra deflecting wide via Thomas Kaminski's boot. Scott Wharton headed a free kick wide. Blackburn equalised after an impressive move. They breached the Blues midfield for a chance. Recycled possession twice when the ball was cleared, showing patience. I believe it was Morton who played a 1-2 with Gallagher and was denied by Etheridge only for Bradl...

Starting XI Three changes. Dion Sanderson injured. Troy Deeney and Emmanuel Longelo dropped. Jordan James, Jordan Graham and Lukas Jutkiewicz in. George Friend on the bench. Hannibal up front. Chong and James in CM. Game Not much in the way of chances as Blues frustrated Boro. A Giles-Howson 1-2 led to the former crossing for Akpom. Header deflected wide. Friend, on as a substitute, denied Forss after some patient play. Jutkiewicz did well to control a Bacuna pass and fired over from 30 yards. Second half started in the same vein, Boro moving the ball, Blues trying to halt them. There were signs of tired minds, Graham switching off to let Forss in, who was denied by Ruddy. Then came the opener. A short throw on the right was taken under no pressure. Laid back with no pressure. Laid back to Howson with no pressure. And the ball to the back post was headed in by Crooks under no pressure, Bacuna and Friend failing to communicate. Two minutes later, Friend miscontrolled a high ball and l...