A new chapter opened in the perfect manner at Ewood Park as Blackburn Rovers won their first league game since mid-December as the interim duo of Damien Johnson and David Lowe were aided to victory by new Head Coach, John Eustace who made a second-half appearance as Stoke City were beaten by a 3-1 scoreline in their first Ewood Park loss since 2015.
Although John Eustace was introduced to the Ewood Park crowd ahead of kick-off – after being appointed as Head Coach on Friday – Rovers claimed that assistant duo, David Lowe and Damien Johnson had picked the team for Saturday’s clash. The pair made three changes from last week’s 2-1 defeat at home to Queens Park Rangers, in what proved to be Jon Dahl Tomasson’s final game in charge. Ryan Hedges returned to the side after a five-month injury layoff, whilst Kyle McFadzean lined up against friend and ex-Coventry teammate, Dominic Hyam, whilst another returnee, Callum Brittain also joined the defensive line. Rovers seemingly looked to have set up in a 5-2-1-2 formation with Hedges and Brittain flanking a back three of Hyam, McFadzean and Ben Chrisene. Joe Rankin-Costello and Sondre Tronstad made up the midfield, whilst Sammie Szmodics lurked behind Sam Gallagher and Tyrhys Dolan.
After the introduction of John Eustace to rapturous applause from the home ends, the game was begun by Sammie Szmodics as Rovers were looking to try and finally quell their poor run of form which saw them only have one win in their last 11 league games prior to today.
It only took seven minutes for Rovers to get up and running and take the lead for the first time since their draw against Huddersfield at the end of January. Ben Chrisene won the ball on the left, before coming inside and picking out Szmodics who stroked the ball out wide to Callum Brittain, with a first-time pass. The right-back himself needed no time to think as he also delivered a peach of a first-time cross into the corridor of uncertainty which allowed the speedy Tyrhys Dolan to zoom between two Stoke centre-halves and tap the ball home, past the flailing Daniel Iversen to net the first goal (technically!) of the John Eustace era!
Three minutes later, Rovers remained on top as Szmodics again was up to his usual tricks. He made a run down the right as he tried to pick out Sam Gallagher in the middle, but the ball proved slightly quicker than the forwards as Iversen claimed the ball just ahead of Gallagher’s studs.
The 14th minute nearly saw Rovers double their lead as Stoke looked all at seas. Dolan released Gallagher with a pass that split the Stoke defence. As the forward closed in on goal, he shrugged his marker off and left him in his wake, before a left-footed effort couldn’t provide the required finish as the ball spun agonisingly wide of the right-hand upright.
With 20 minutes gone on the clock, 2-0 did appear on the scoreline, as Sammie Szmodics couldn’t but help himself get involved in the goals to take his seasonal tally in all competitions up to 22 for the campaign. After Rovers saw their route to goal blocked, Szmodics fed Joe Rankin-Costello, who found Brittain on the right again. A cross stood up towards the back-post was nodded downwards by Ryan Hedges as the steamrolling Szmodics burst through and kept himself onside before nodding the ball home from three yards out to double Rovers’ advantage.
Luke McNally became the first player to be given a yellow card by referee Gavin Ward, as he clattered into Szmodics on halfway and incurred the wrath of the Championship’s top scorer who had a lot to say to the towering defender, before the referee’s intervention quelled what looked to be brewing into a melee between the teams.
Although the team’s argument was limited to just handbags and some argy-bargy, Rovers soon delivered the knockout blow to Stoke via some old-fashioned route one football, the like of which hasn’t been seen at Ewood Park for nigh on 18 months. A 37th minute Aynsley Pears goal-kick was smashed downfield as Sam Gallagher rose highest inside the Stoke half to connect with the restart of play. The forward managed to flick the ball into the path of Dolan, who had timed his run forwards perfectly in order to peel off his man and break through on goal. The winger had all the required composure as he came face-to-face with Iversen and won the battle as he caressed the ball into the bottom left-hand corner for 3-0 to put Rovers out of sight…
…Or so we thought. From the kick-off, Stoke had had enough feeling sorry for themselves. They managed to get themselves somewhat back into the game straight from kick-off in the 39th minute, as former Rovers forward, Niall Ennis, who had only left Ewood Park just over a week ago, showed the Rovers fans what they were missing by reducing the arrears to 3-1. Wouter Burger’s ball into Bae Jun-ho saw the South Korean flick the ball over Kyle McFadzean and into the path of Ennis, whose body feint sent Chrisene flying before a calm, composed finish into the bottom left-hand corner gave the travelling fans something to cheer about, as the striker did not celebrate, instead preferring to encourage his team to retrieve the ball.
As both teams continued to battle away for the remainder of the first period, six minutes of added time were allocated by referee, Gavin Ward as the clock hit 45 minutes.
The first-half’s final act saw a Ryan Hedges deep free-kick lofted towards the back-post before being met by Dom Hyam who had peeled away from the pack and stood unmarked. The captain sent the ball back whence it came for Szmodics to connect with, but the goalscorer couldn’t grab a brace with his volley as it deflected over the bar, before Stoke dealt with the corner, as the half-time whistle soon followed.
John Eustace would have been buzzing with his team’s first-half display and would have no doubt been down in the dressing room offering his praise, despite watching the game from the Directors Box. Damien Johnson and David Lowe would have also been quick to congratulate the players for their fantastic energy, commitment and prolific nature in-front of goal, but the duo would have been quick to remind their players of their recent form where everything could dramatically unravel.
Steven Schumacher would have been flabbergasted with how poor his side had looked in the first period. The former Plymouth Argyle boss would have been quick to criticise his team for the simple manner in which Rovers had scored their goals, particularly their third which came from a simple punt downfield and a flick forwards. The Potters manager would have wanted more energy and pace from his team, who didn’t really test Pears in goal, bar Ennis’ finish.
After the teams returned to the pitch for the second period, it was Stoke who got the game back underway through skipper, Wouter Burger. The visitors were looking for their first win since their 1-0 victory over Rotherham United on 13th January.
Schumacher and Stoke were given hope, just two minutes into the second-half as André Vidigal flew forwards down the left-hand side and proved too quick for Callum Brittain who pulled the Portuguese down and gave Gavin Ward no other choice but to give the away side a penalty. With no protestations from those in Blue and White, former Preston North End midfielder, Daniel Johnson assumed responsibilities of the spot-kick, but failed to get his side back into the game and net what would have been his fifth career goal against Rovers, as Pears guessed the right way and made a fantastic save down to his bottom left to keep Rovers’ two-goal cushion intact.
In the 54th minute, another booking came the way of Stoke as Junior Tchamadeu was cautioned after bringing down the lively Tyrhys Dolan.
Five minutes later, Schumacher decided to make some changes as Lewis Baker, Ki-Jana Hoever and Luke Cundle replaced Daniel Johnson, Lyndon Gooch and Million Manhoef.
With just over an hour gone, as Stoke started to grow into the game, John Eustace materialised on the touchline to give his players and the support inside Ewood Park a much needed boost. Moments later Ben Wilmot tried a long-ranger, but Pears was alert and positioned himself nicely in order to get behind the ball and hold at the second attempt, after initially spilling.
As Eustace, Johnson and Lowe engaged in intense conversation, Rovers decided to make a triple change as Jake Garrett and Semir Telalović were introduced for Joe Rankin-Costello and Sam Gallagher, before Connor O’Riordan came on for his debut a few minutes later, to replace Ryan Hedges as Ben Chrisene became a left-wing-back with Hyam, a heavily bandaged McFadzean and O’Riordan filling up the central defensive spots.
Rovers looked to try and regain their three-goal cushion in the 76th minute as Sondre Tronstad tried to fire one towards goal on the half-volley, but despite his shot’s power being sapped out of it by a deflection, Iversen was hastily called into action as he was forced to tip the ball behind and avoid it looping into his net.
From the corner, Hyam again was free at the back-post, but the defender couldn’t keep his effort down.
Stoke soon made their final two changes in the 77th minute as Wesley and Sead Hakšabanović replaced Luke McNally and Wouter Burger as Stoke moved to a more attacking system.
In the 80th minute, Rovers had a chance for a fourth as the ball came over to Semir Telalović who had the chance to nod towards goal, but instead opted to knock the ball down for Sondre Tronstad whose effort was saved by Iversen.
Rovers soon made their final two changes in the 86th minute as goalscoring duo, Tyrhys Dolan and Sammie Szmodics were replaced by Andrew Moran and Arnór Sigurðsson for the final moments.
Despite some late Rovers pressure where they failed to really test Daniel Iversen, despite there being a minimum of five minutes of time added on, referee Gavin Ward soon called time on the game as Rovers secured their first victory since a 2-1 win over Bristol City in December and the first win of the John Eustace reign!
How nice is it to get back to winning ways, eh? Whilst there has been a lot to get angry about in terms of off-field issues at Rovers, over the past two weeks, the players out on the field showed they still cared about the club and their fans by putting in a top-class performance. With silence coming from the board room, as well as Head Coaches coming and going, a lot of credit is deserved to David Lowe, Damien Johnson and the remaining coaching staff for silencing the external noise and focussing solely on Stoke City, which has wielded Rovers’ first three points of 2024. Whilst there is still a fraction between the terraces and the suits in the boardroom, it’s nice to see that the players are leading from the front and are willing to take on board the new styles and thoughts of the new boss.
Whilst these greatly appreciated three points haven’t moved the needle much in terms of Rovers’ league position, they have given them a healthy seven-point cushion from the drop zone, with them holding a game in-hand above most below them. Rovers did move up to 17th and have 36 points from 30 games, but still hold a negative goal-difference of -5.
After a first outing at Ewood Park for John Eustace against former club Stoke City, the boss now takes his team to the side he started the campaign with as Rovers face Birmingham City on Tuesday 13th February at 7:45pm. Next Saturday (17th February) Eustace then gets his first taste of a Lancashire Derby as the Blues travel over to neighbours Preston North End for the 3pm start, before making the slightly longer trip midweek, to Wales, to battle with Cardiff City on Tuesday 20th February at 7:45pm.
