After Blackburn Rovers’ winless run was extended to nine league games, following Ipswich Town’s controversial 1-0 win at Ewood Park which saw the newly-promoted side lead the Sky Bet Championship, John Eustace reflected on a frustrating tea-time kick-off, which was broadcast live on Sky Sports on Good Friday.
“It’s really frustrating to come away from today’s game with no points, despite scoring three goals, because we limited a really good team to maybe one, half decent effort in the first-half and in the second, they didn’t really cause us any major issues. We’re disappointed to lose, but I’m proud of the group’s effort today. We prepared really well for today and to not have three of the players who trained with us this week, was a blow.
“As a result, we had to alter things slightly, yesterday from our original plan, however the level of performance throughout the game, despite that, was outstanding. I thought we started the game a little bit nervous and conceding inside eight minutes was disappointing, however after 10-15 minutes, once we grew into the game, we played some good stuff and scored a good goal that was disappointingly disallowed. In the second-half, we were very dominant, played some fantastic football and limited a very good team to next to nothing.
“I thought Joe’s (Rankin-Costello) goal was completely fine and ridiculous to chalk off. Sammie (Szmodics) is not impeding the goalkeeper (Václav Hladký) and it’s disappointing because the referee can see that, as well. To disallow it, was harsh, but there’s nothing we can do about it now. Ben’s (Chrisene) opportunity was touch and go, that could have easily been onside and then the third one from Scott’s (Wharton) header; I thought that was a fair challenge. His arms are down and their goalkeeper has dropped it and Andy (Moran) has had a wonderful finish chalked off, but on another day, we could have scored a couple of goals or the disallowed ones would have counted. The level of performance was excellent, and they continued to show that level of commitment as the whole squad was used once again, which was pleasing. We just have to keep believing and continuing to do the right things and hopefully a bit of luck will go our way, sooner rather than later.
“The decisions are important, but it doesn’t matter if they’re at this point in the season, or in the early stages, we just want to gain as many points as possible. The most important thing is that we don’t get too disappointed and down about things. The fans were absolutely outstanding today and they were that 12th man for us today, and unfortunately, we weren’t able to get the goal we all wanted. That level is support is what’s needed for the final seven games of the campaign. The players are committed, you can see that, so we just have to keep going together as a collective.
“After the first 15 minutes, going a goal down, it would have been easy for us to feel sorry for ourselves and stop doing the right thing, but I thought we grew into the first-half and showed some real positives signs and in the second-half, we dominated a really good team. Defensively, we were very solid and were very aggressive in our actions which was pleasing. There was a lot of good work that came out in the game from the last 10 days of training, but again, the most positive thing is that some players who weren’t expecting to play today, came in and I thought their levels of performance was excellent.
“We have to focus on the positives from tonight and it’s important to continue doing what we’ve been doing ahead of Easter Monday’s game at Sunderland. We haven’t changed much in the way of wholesale; it’s just been small tweaks here and there. If you look at the performance at Middlesbrough before the break, it was a very good display and we’ve continued that today. The performances are there and you can see the commitment and desire from the group, but the only thing missing has been that clinical edge to put the ball in the back of the net more consistently. We just have to keep going and stay together, both on the pitch and in the stands. We have to believe that we’ll score goals, like I know we can. I think we’re creating a lot of chances, whilst limiting the opposition to very few chances, which is the right thing; we just have to keep going.
“Sunderland will be a very tough place to go. They have huge, fantastic crowds, but we’re looking forward to going there and trying to get three points in their huge arena.
“Kyle McFadzean, John Buckley and Sam Gallagher were the three who missed out today. We’ll have to assess them tomorrow. Gally is dealing with an illness that he’s had for a few days and he was a big miss today. John took a knock towards the end of the week, in training. Kyle is also unavailable as is Siggy (Arnór Sigurðsson), who’s out for the rest of the season.
“We went from having a really good, solid amount of work during the first-half of the international break, we ended it with a handful of players on the sidelines and unavailable for tonight’s game which was disappointing, however it’s about the squad, as I keep saying and the level of performance that the players showed today was unbelievable.
“Sammie Szmodics played two games last week for the Republic of Ireland and played 90 minutes today, which is phenomenal, and it not only shows his level of commitment to the football club, but also what a good lad he is.
“I’m hoping everyone came through today unscathed. I haven’t checked into the treatment room yet, but we’ll have that report ready tomorrow morning and we’ll be able to assess the squad ahead of Easter Monday.”
