In the wake of Blackburn Rovers’ fifth defeat in their last six league games, a deflated and mentally tired Jon Dahl Tomasson sat down with RoversTV to reflect on the 4-1 mauling of his side, which came at the hands of playoff-chasing West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns.
“We need to accept that today was not a good day. I thought we started quite brightly, but we gave chances away. We gave three set-play goals away. We know that’s a big quality that West Bromwich Albion possess, and we spoke about that before the game, but they got the second contact in those moments, which is disappointing. The players should not be blamed for those individual mistakes, I should be blamed, instead. The players are trying their best. I thought, in open play, we matched West Brom, but games are won both boxes; that’s football. We must admit that we need to improve in those circumstances. I’m disappointed for the fans who have travelled to support us.
“West Brom is a difficult place to come, because they have a very good home record. They have a team with a lot of experience and are a team that need to be around the playoff places and get promoted. It was a tough day at the office and we’re left disappointed. We’re not giving ourselves a chance in games when we concede in this manner and this early. We need to defend better. The players are trying their best, but goals cost games and they change games. I thought we started brightly in the second-half and were the better side. All the credit must go to the spirit of the lads. We scored an excellent goal from (Jake) Garrett and then we thought we could have potentially come back and taken something from the game, but we then conceded another goal from a set-play, which is disappointing.
“Conceding so many set-pieces is disappointing. However, as I’ve said many times, in this league, you normally have at least four good headers of the ball, on the pitch to cope with those moments, but in the end, even if you’re not that tall, you should always try to win the duel. But, even in the end, the players continued to try their best and we shouldn’t forget that I haven’t been able to rotate for a long time, due to the size of the stretched squad and the injuries we have. The only aspect I was pleased about today, was to see Sam Gallagher and Joe Rankin-Costello getting their first minutes after their returns from injury. Sam has been out for around four months and Joe has also been injured for a long time. It was nice to see them earn minutes in their legs, because we need to get those boys up to speed, to increase the competition for places, but also help the team.
“It’s very important to get these players minutes, especially when they’ve been out for as long as they were. When you’re out for such a long time, you’re not going to come back match fit or earn that fitness back after just 30 minutes, which they played today. I know they need to work hard to get back to being match fit and those two lads know that, too. I’m just pleased that they’re getting minutes because it means the group of players will get stronger over time. I always had it in my mind that I wanted to give them minutes, but the game also dictated whether that would happen.
“Jake played a good game and scored an excellent goal. He was everywhere and did well. If you look at open play, I thought we were the better side, today. They were just more clinical in the box. Garrett has been playing a lot lately. For him, it’s important to do all the right things we’re speaking about and working on, such as the right runs at maximum speed, both with and without the ball. He should also look to use a number of touches and choices, on the ball, but I think he did that well, today.
“Sammie’s (Szmodics) absence was a blow, because not only is he the league’s top goalscorer, but his experience with the group is also important. He was ill yesterday and this morning, Harry (Pickering) was also ill just before we arrived here. Losing them both, so late, is also very frustrating. Hopefully, they should be alright before next Saturday at home to Huddersfield Town.
“Playing at home is always great. Playing at Ewood is special. Of course, we need results, and this is a great opportunity to turn this bad form around. Every time there’s a game, there’s an opportunity to put in a good performance. If you look at today’s game; the performance was okay in open play, but it was not okay in the boxes. They’re the facts of the game. We also have the FA Cup game coming up, against Wrexham and this game gives us the opportunity to have another great cup run, which we all want.
“I hate this run of form we’re in, just like the players hate it and the fans hate it. It frustrates even more when you’ve started the game brightly and remain in the match. I have been in the game long enough to know that individual moments change games and we need to start improving and doing better when those moments arise.”
