A ninth home defeat of the campaign was served up for Rovers, live on Sky Sports, in controversial fashion as although Ipswich Town’s narrow victory saw them top the Sky Bet Championship table, Rovers were left hard done by, following three disallowed goals were chalked off in the tea-time kick-off.
After the fortnight off for internationals, Rovers returned to Brockhall with some frustrating news after it was revealed that Arnór Sigurðsson – who played in Iceland’s Euro 2024 qualifying play-offs – was hauled off and ruled out for the remainder of the campaign. Adding to that injury list were John Buckley and Kyle McFadzean who both picked up knocks in training, with Sam Gallagher the fourth to be absent due to illness.
Of the beleaguered squad, John Eustace decided to make three changes from the side that drew 0-0 with Middlesbrough, pre-break. Joe Rankin-Costello returned from the injury table to line up in central midfield alongside Sondre Tronstad. Ben Chrisene and Tyrhys Dolan also made their way into the starting side as the aforementioned Buckley, Gallagher and Sigurðsson were all withdrawn. There was another boost for Rovers as Hayden Carter was deemed fit enough to be on the bench, having not yet played under Eustace, since picking up an injury in the 1-1 draw with Huddersfield Town.
As Ewood Park began to fill with hope that Rovers could potentially match the result of Bristol City against Leicester City, earlier in the day and cause another upset to the top of the table, Sammie Szmodics got the game underway, under the guise of the Sky Sports cameras after Stuart Attwell’s opening whistle.
It took just three minutes for the bookings to materialise in the game, as Leif Davis was booked for a late tackle on Ryan Hedges.
Four minutes later, both left-backs on the field were booked as Harry Pickering matched his counterpart’s feat as the defender was cautioned for tugging on the shirt of Chelsea loanee, Omari Hutchinson.
Ipswich were up in arms after six minutes as they were calling for a penalty after Callum Brittain and Nathan Broadhead collided in the Rovers penalty area. Despite it looking as though the Rovers full-back had dragged the former Wigan Athletic winger to the floor, referee Stuart Attwell waved play on.
After just nine minutes had gone, the 4,233 travelling fans boomed into delight as they managed to take an early lead that saw them move to the top of the table – albeit potentially temporarily given Watford were still to host Leeds later in the day. Conor Chaplin started the move by spinning past his man inside his own half before driving forwards and picking out Leif Davis on the opposite flank with a fantastic outside of the foot pass. The defender controlled the ball with perfection before returning the ball into Chaplin’s path who had made a free run inside the box, behind the Rovers midfield. The ex-Portsmouth attacker needed no second invitation with the returned ball as he swept the ball low towards the bottom left-hand corner, however Aynsley Pears somehow failed to keep the relatively simple effort out as he fumbled it into the back of his own net, as the team in orange took a 1-0 lead inside 10 minutes.
Despite going behind, Rovers gradually grew into the game after the first quarter of an hour and they thought they’d pegged Ipswich back and drawn themselves level after 27 minutes when Ben Chrisene burst forwards, however the flag was up to keep the visitors ahead. Scott Wharton’s direct ball forwards caught Chrisene’s run as the Aston Villa loanee looked to chip the ball over Václav Hladký, but his dink proved to be veering off target before George Edmundson smashed the ball into the back of his own net, which was probably on purpose as he had seen the flag.
Frustrations continued to mount for Rovers as five minutes later, the home ends were again celebrating as Joe Rankin-Costello wheeled away in celebration of his second league goal of the campaign, before the same linesman again ruled Rovers out of an equaliser in more controversial fashion. After Ryan Hedges’ switch picked out Tyrhys Dolan’s onside run, the winger cut the ball back for Rankin-Costello to strike as his low effort deflected in off the sliding Luke Woolfenden, before nestling into the top right-hand corner, however the goal was again ruled out. Although the official reasoning seemed to be offside after Sammie Szmodics was between goalkeeper and defenders, the league’s top scorer was clearly not blocking the sight of the Ipswich goalkeeper, nor was he impacting the defenders as the animosity towards the match officials increased the frustrations from the terraces.
Just before three minutes of time were added onto the end of the first period, Tyrhys Dolan was booked after taking down Sam Morsy, whilst in the first minute, a member of Rovers’ staff – assistant Keith Downing – was also booked for some over-elaborate protestations, moments before the half-time whistle was met with a chorus of boos from the home fans, mainly towards the match officials rather than the players.
John Eustace would have been quick to want to calm his players down despite the injustice they would have felt at the break. The Head Coach would have been happy with how his side retaliated after going behind so early as they managed to craft a few chances that left Ipswich on the ropes momentarily. Eustace would have wanted his side to remain composed and come out flying in the second-half using the Blackburn End and the rest of the Rovers support to their advantage.
Kieran McKenna would have been pleased with his team’s flying start, but would have not been getting carried away despite his side sitting top of the division. The ex-Manchester United first-team coach would have used all of his experience from working with top talent to compose his team and to remind them of the threat that Rovers were able to pose if they managed to rile themselves up. He would have also been quick to recap the reverse fixture which saw Rovers come back from behind multiple times to draw level, despite the Tractor Boys coming out 4-3 winners.
Once both teams re-emerged from their respective dressing rooms, it was the visitors who got the game underway as they looked to retain their lead and keep the three points that kept them on the division’s summit, come full-time.
With 47 minutes gone, Conor Chaplin was looking to double his goal tally as he cut inside and tried to sneak the ball inside Pears’ near-post, but the goalkeeper managed to keep it out and his side in the game.
On the hour mark, Rovers found their rhythm as they pushed forwards with Dolan finding Szmodics, but the attacker’s shot deflected over the bar for a succession of corners.
Amidst the set-pieces, both sides dipped into their benches with Rovers moving first in the 62nd minute to introduce Brighton and Hove Albion duo, Yasin Ayari and Andrew Moran for Joe Rankin-Costello and Ben Chrisene.
Two minutes later, Ipswich brough on Ali Al-Hamadi, Jeremy Sarmiento and Kayden Jackson as Kieffer Moore, Nathan Broadhead and Conor Chaplin all departed.
With 67 minutes gone, Harry Pickering’s delivery was met by the head of Scott Wharton who forced Václav Hladký into a save down to his right.
Three minutes later, a fourth Ipswich change was in the offing as Harry Clarke – the first goalscorer in the reverse fixture at Portman Road – was brough on for the booked Leif Davis.
Moments after the change another Rovers corner was floated in from the right as Václav Hladký and Scott Wharton again leapt to contest the ball, after the pair collided the ball broke loose and fell to Andrew Moran who executed a pinpoint half-volley that rattled in off the crossbar, but again Stuart Attwell decided to give the decision the way of the visitors.
In the 77th minute, Ipswich were almost exclusively playing on the counter as Kayden Jackson broke free and found Ali Al-Hamadi, but the Iraqi attacker’s finish didn’t seal the victory as he skied his effort over the crossbar.
Moments later, Rovers won a free-kick on the flanks which was delivered and cleared out as far as Szmodics who saw two consecutive efforts blocked.
In the 79th minute, some overconfidence from Ipswich saw them play the ball back to the feet of their goalkeeper who took way too much time than Szmodics offered as the attacker nicked the ball off the Czech’s feet. Although Szmodics was off-balance and managed to get half a shot away, the goalkeeper recovered fantastically to stick out an arm and somehow tip the ball past the post to save his own blushes.
Another booking was out in the 81st minute as Portman Road match winner, Massimo Luongo saw yellow after partaking in an off-the-ball tussle with Hedges.
Rovers’ third change of the game came in the stoppage after the foul as Ryan Hedges was soon withdrawn as Semir Telalović came on to try and boost Rovers’ attacking options.
In the 84th minute, Kayden Jackson was booked for dissent.
Four minutes later, the visitors hit Rovers on the break once more as Sarmiento found Jackson looked who looked to curl the ball into the inside of the far-post, but dragged his daisy-cutter well wide.
After five added minutes were added onto the end of the game, both teams again dipped to their bench as Rovers ramped up a late rally that ended with a few corners; Hayden Carter appeared to be utilised as an auxiliary centre-forward off the bench as he replaced Harry Pickering, whilst Cameron Burgess was introduced to clear the incoming set-piece, as Omari Hutchinson departed.
As Rovers looked to try and scramble the ball back into the box, Stuart Attwell soon brough the contest to an end and was greeted with boos from all three home stands who were left less than impressed with his officiating on the day.
With the other results on Good Friday, Rovers have, by no means, left themselves in a position where they can sip martinis on the beach and relax. With seven games left in the season – three of which are against teams in the top four – they need to hope that they can either rely on other results continuing to go in their favour or pick up that all elusive win from somewhere that would allay the fears of a second drop into League One in seven years.
Speaking of the drop, Rovers have fallen two places in the table, to 19th place as they sit on 42 points and a negative goal-difference of -19, sitting three points ahead of Huddersfield Town in 22nd place.
Rovers have a quick turnaround over the Easter weekend as they are back in action on Easter Monday for some April Fools action on Monday 1st April at 3pm, as they travel up north to face Sunderland at 3pm. Following that tie, comes the first of three games against the Premier League-chasing sides, as Southampton make the trip north to Lancashire on Saturday 6th April for the 3pm tie. Once those ties are complete, Rovers are again on the road as they travel to the West Country to face Bristol City at Ashton Gate on Wednesday 10th April at 7:45pm.
