Blackburn Rovers’ dire Boxing Day displays continued, as the Lancashire side again failed to see three points on 26th December in 16 of their last 17 years.
Rovers came into their Boxing Day fixture searching for a win, having only won one of their last five fixtures as Jon Dahl Tomasson made three changes to the depleted side that fell to a late 2-1 defeat to Watford at Ewood Park at the weekend. Callum Brittain, Harry Pickering and Sammie Szmodics all returned to the team to replace the injured Scott Wharton, Lewis Travis and the impressive Jake Garrett (in a box) who will be disappointed to have missed out on starting his first festive fixture.
With a sold-out away end backing the Blues in Yorkshire, when 3pm struck the clock, it was the home side who kicked off, as they were looking to return to winning ways having failed to earn three points in any of their last five games, with their last victory coming away at the Stadium of Light at the end of November.
The Terriers started brightly after five minutes as they hit Rovers on the counter-attack with David Kasumu finding ex-Rover, Sorba Thomas, however the Welshman’s effort was sliced far and wide at the back-post.
After eight minutes of play, Rovers were looking for their first opportunity which fell to Niall Ennis. The lively forward managed to create a shooting angle, however Chris Maxwell was alert to the danger and managed to deny Ennis a first league goal in Blue and White.
Three minutes later, Huddersfield were again knocking on the door, as a succession of corners culminated in Tom Leeds trying to nod home, but the defender’s header bounced into the gloves of Leopold Wahlstedt after bouncing off the turf.
In the 16th minute, Kasumu and Thomas were again causing Rovers havoc as the former’s cross was flicked into the path of the latter which forced Wahlstedt into making a fine reaction save to keep the game goalless.
Four minutes later, Sammie Szmodics and Arnór Sigurðsson combined with the Icelandic international looking to curl in the opener, but it lacked the required accuracy to sneak in at the far-post, as Huddersfield were awarded a goal-kick.
The opening goal did come in the 28th minute as Jaheim Headley netted his first league goal of the season to cap off a solid opening half-an-hour for the Terriers. Sorba Thomas picked out Headley in space who lined up a cross-goal effort that somehow squeezed through Leopold Wahlstedt to give the home side the 1-0 lead.
In the 35th minute, the first booking of the game was shown as Hayden Carter fouled Delano Burgzorg.
Town were forced into a change after 42 minutes as goalkeeper Chris Maxwell departed and was replaced by Jacob Chapman, who was making his Championship debut.
As seven minutes of added time were allocated onto the end of the first-half as the 45th minute struck, Rovers managed to forge an opportunity in the second minute of added time, as Szmodics and Ennis combined before the division’s top scorer fired wide.
That summed up what was a diabolical first period for Rovers as after an eventual 10 minutes of added time, referee Darren England brought the first-half to a close.
Darren Moore would have been delighted with his side’s efforts during the first-half. They had remained compact for the most part and showed excellent speed and quality to hit a lacklustre Rovers on the counter. Their goal came as a result of some fine build-up which left the visitors disorientated and still reeling from yesterday’s festivities.
Jon Dahl Tomasson would have been forgiven for losing his temper with the team after such a disappointing first-half display. His side looked void of any confidence, pace or forward-thinking nous, with the lack of any real attempt at goal worth highlighting being a lowlight of the first period. Furthermore, the ridiculous nature of the Huddersfield goal, from a goalkeeping perspective left much to be desired by both, those in black and their supporters behind the goal, as Wahlstedt’s failure to deny a routine attempt will ultimately be the game’s key talking point if the second-half doesn’t change the outcome of the tie.
Just before the game was restarted, Jon Dahl Tomasson turned to his bench as he introduced the tackling Scouse duo of Lewis Travis and Jake Garrett as Andrew Moran and former Terrier, Sondre Tronstad both departed. Once the players returned to the field, it was Rovers who got the game back underway as they were looking for their first Boxing Day victory since the 2-0 win over Rochdale in the third tier – and their first in the top two leagues since 2006!
Two minutes into the second-half and Szmodics caused some havoc in the box with a cross that deflected behind for a corner, via the substitute goalkeeper Chapman and a defender, however Rovers were unable to make something of their set-piece.
Tom Lees became the first Terrier in the book on 49 minutes for descent after kicking the ball away, after Rovers were awarded a free-kick on halfway.
Minutes later, the card was out again after Jack Rudoni fouled Adam Wharton, however it was the Rovers youngster who saw the card, after he reacted aggressively after being halted.
Rovers were more or less knocked out by the 55th minute as former loanee, Sorba Thomas put the sword into his former side by doubling his current employer’s lead to 2-0. Burgzorg broke down the left-hand side before a simple cross was delivered centrally into the path of Thomas who displayed composure that Rovers fans didn’t see during his time at Ewood Park, as he swept the ball home for 2-0.
Moments after the restart, Huddersfield were back up testing Wahlstedt again, but this time, the Swede was able to deny a third goal as he nicked the ball off Rudoni, who had made a frightening advance forwards.
In the 62nd and 66th minutes, Rovers made their third and fourth changes as Semir Telalović and Dilan Markanday replaced Niall Ennis and Arnór Sigurðsson. Huddersfield also made a double change, as Loick Ayina and Josh Koroma replaced Ben Wiles and goalscorer, Sorba Thomas
The evening went from ‘bad to worse’ for Rovers as Huddersfield shoot putt he final nail in the coffin in the 67th minute when Delano Burgzorg grabbed Town’s third. Rudoni won the ball high up the field with a press and fed Koroma, before spinning and slipping Burgzorg through, inside the area. The Dutchman’s first-time effort was on-target as it went in via a touch off Wahlstedt to send the home team into dreamland at 3-0.
In the 78th minute, an epitome of Rovers’ toothlessness in-front of goal saw Jake Garrett curl a direct free-kick over the crossbar.
Another home change soon came in the 79th minute as the game began to wind down with Town looking to protect their assets. Rarmani Edmonds-Green was introduced as David Kasumu departed to a warm applause.
Callum Brittain soon tried to restore some pride in Rovers’ diabolical performance as he saw his shot from range balloon over the bar, after a corner was worked out to the full-back.
Rovers’ final substation came in the 85th minute as they were also wrapping their players up in cotton wool after a terrible afternoon. James Hill was given five minutes, plus added time, as Dominic Hyam left the field.
With the 90th minute looking set to close the game out, everyone connected with Rovers would have sighed over the fourth official’s board which raised six added minutes onto the end of the game. Despite the extension to the game, a high number of visiting supporters had already left, as was the ridiculousness of the performance.
Both team soon saw the game out with nothing much to shout about in added time as Rovers withered, whilst Huddersfield basked in their glory. The only two moments worth mentioning were bookings to Callum Brittain and Lewis Travis, which preceded the final whistle.
Not much can be said about that display. Poor, spineless, lack of creativity, guile, focus. Feel free to add whichever word you’d like. The players need to take a long, hard look at themselves, with such a dire display after being backed to the hills by a sold-out allocation. Arguably, the day is summed up by the fact that Huddersfield Town managed to get two goalkeepers onto the field, and they both earnt clean-sheets!
That frustrating afternoon has seen Rovers drop to 15th with 31 points from 24 games and now a negative goal-difference of -8. This is alongside having the second worst defensive record in the division, with 43 goals conceded, second only to last place’s Rotherham United’s 47.
If you can still take watching Rovers over this festive period, they’re next back in action in three days’ time, on Friday 29th December when they travel to Hull City for the 7:45pm start. After that, they’re back at Ewood Park on New Year’s Day as they look to start 2024 off right against Rotherham United at 3pm, before turning their attentions to the FA Cup, where Cambridge United make the long trip north on Saturday 6th January for the 3pm kick-off.
