HarryfromBath assesses the mood in the opposition camp ahead of Saturday’s game at Ewood Park by delving into their forums.

“Let’s take stock here. We had an awful start to the season before the Charlton game. We beat them and have come away with a point from a tough game at Hull. We would have taken the last two results regardless of the start we have had - one game at a time, lads?”

“Three games unbeaten now after a difficult start to the season.” Rovers’ 1-1 draw at Hull on Saturday followed their first win of the league campaign, a 3-0 victory over Charlton and a 2-2 draw at QPR. Fans believe that the team is now finding its rhythm after a frustrating start to the season.

“We need a run of runs, especially as Jordan Rhodes is on a roll.” Blackburn currently lie 18th in the table but Rovers are confident that they will progress up the table now that their midfield is starting to click and their talismanic striker is running into form. “Recent signs have been encouraging.”

“I look at our available talent and this is an odds-and-ends bunch. There are a few talented players to go with the majority of journeymen and nickel-and-dimers that Gary Bowyer has pulled together”, “I have seen us promoted twice in my lifetime and this team is nowhere near either side.”

Expectations are not high with their squad seen as mid-table at best. “We lost three players that would walk into any side in the division and replaced them with rejects”, “If someone offered me a mid-table finish and the clearance of the FFP restrictions at the end of the season, I would take it.”

The Financial Fair Play Embargo

Rovers had to operate under FFP restrictions during a summer transfer window which saw Rudy Gestede (to Villa), Tom Cairney (to Fulham) and Josh King (to Bournemouth) leave the club. Fans felt that the club was hamstrung in its ability to plan in addition to having lost three high-calibre players.

“This is a mid-table and not a relegation squad. The losing three players argument is only adequate for people adjusting their expectations down from the play-offs”, “This argument lets Bowyer off the hook. King barely played last season and Cairney was shunted out of position and out to the wing.”

“The prospect of misery without end is getting me down. I’m sick and tired of it but much more than that I’m sick and tired of the Venky’s never seeming to learn or care. In fact, I’m just sick and tired of them.” Some just see this as a legacy of wider mismanagement by the club’s owners.

Gary Bowyer

“It’s easy to blame one man - the manager - and demand a new one. I seem to remember our owners thought like that for a while too.” Fans are backing Bowyer, although they have reservations about the team’s cautious style of play early in the campaign and his refusal to rest poor performers.

“Be bold, Bowyer, be bold”, “I wish, but there is little chance of that”, “I don’t hate him but he just frustrates me. Frustration is harder to deal with”, “He has been determined to stick with our poorest players but has got hugely lucky with their injuries. Hopefully he won’t try to bring them back in.”

“Bowyer can be reluctant to make substitutions. He didn’t want to tamper with a winning team at QPR when certain players were dead on their feet. He is a reactive manager rather than a proactive manager”, “He reminds me of Nigel Clough, decent with kids but tactically naïve and unambitious.”

Formation

“Fans have wanted a more swashbuckling style yet we have only reached for it as a last resort despite our tactic of sitting deep not working for over a year”, “We are definitely playing a more expansive game this season. It is much quicker and livelier with the right players in there.”

Rovers have played a 4-4-2 system, alternating slightly when Jordan Rhodes’s strike partner has dropped off to link with midfield. Fans felt the team lacked balance during their poor start to the season with midfielder Jason Lowe sitting too deep and the team habitually playing the ball long.

“The side is starting to look more settled”, “A consistent team selection steadies the ship.”

Rovers’ starting XI against Hull (above) has changed little from recent games. Danny Guthrie and Corry Evans have added dynamism in the centre while the team have pressed opponents more energetically.

“Our central midfielders were terrific today”, “The midfield has been biting in the tackle superbly and turning possession over frequently in the opposition half”, “Guthrie and Evans look really sharp and their forward passing and link-up play has really impressed me.”

“Hopefully Gary will stick with the high defensive line and pressing game that looked so good at QPR. Screw it if it leaves space in behind. We have a very pacey defensive line and can’t defend anyway so we might as well get the opposition as far away from the goal and take the risk on the counter.”

Hull City 1 - 1 Blackburn

“Yes, we need wins desperately, but today was a good point”, “A good point away to a team who will be in the top six at the end of the season”, “A point is good but it still leaves us dangerously above the relegation zone. Wins and lots of them are required to get us in a secure position.”

“Thank God Jordan Rhodes was not sold to Middlesbrough.” Rhodes rescued a point with a late headed equaliser after Abel Hernandez had put the Tigers ahead on the 76th minute. Fans felt that the score fairly reflected the game. “We held our own at Hull who presented a tough challenge.”

One concern was flagged up. “What the hell were we doing allowing a free header eight yards out three minutes into injury time?”, “I know, but that’s us though, isn’t it?” “There’s no hiding that we are vulnerable at the back”, “We are terribly suspect at the back and Hull could have killed us off.”

Blackburn 3 - 0 Charlton Athletic

“Charlton are the worst side I have seen at Ewood Park in years. I’m just enjoying the win. I had forgotten what it felt like.” Two goals from Rhodes and a late Tom Lawrence strike saw Rovers cruise to their first win of the league campaign in what was a poor quality game against weak opponents.

“It was good to see us bossing the midfield”, “We played some decent football through midfield instead of hitting it long”, “They did a steady job of hassling the opposition off the ball and keeping us ticking over in attack”, “They did well but some of their tracking back was non-existent.”

“We lacked urgency and quality in the first half and out defensive organisation was appalling. The goal on half-time changed the mood on and off the pitch and we dominated the second half, playing some good football”, “Thank God for the win but one swallow a summer doth not make.”

QPR 2 - 2 Blackburn

“This is not a drill. We are leading a game”, “We were superb in the first half, played with confidence and should have been out of sight. Once Rangers equalised straight after the break our confidence just drained away. Everyone suddenly looked edgy in possession. We needed a leader on the pitch.”

“A back-and-forth game.” Shane Duffy’s close range finish put Rovers ahead on 14 minutes only for Rangers to equalise with a Charlie Austin strike after the restart. Jordan Rhodes restored the visitors’ lead after an hour before Nedum Onuoha headed the hosts’ second equaliser with 11 minutes left.

“We were well-balanced and knitted together well”, “It was the best central midfield display I have seen from us for years”, “QPR were defensively all over the place and had no confidence in their keeper. Another team with an over-promoted coach as a manager, they will learn the hard way.”

Defence

“We made the same old defensive mistakes at Hull, farting around with the ball and passing into dangerous areas. Players were going for balls which weren’t theirs whilst leaving either their man or space totally free. It isn’t going to magically improve. There just isn’t any organisation at the back.”

“We do look a lot safer with Jason Steele in goal.” The 25-year-old ex-Middlesbrough keeper “made a string of fine saves against QPR”, “We look better for having him in our side. His kicking is very good while David Raya’s is not”, “Steele has fully justified his recall after being dropped.”

“Steele is proven at this level and was frozen out at Boro”, “He’s a steady and experienced option at this moment in time”, “His distribution is very good”, “I am very impressed with his kicking. He seems to find Koita every time and he is winning the ball and flicking it on to Rhodes.”

“Adam Henley has gone back to being afraid of his own shadow and refusing to ever cross the ball.” The 21-year-old youth product and right-back “is infuriating. He has the pace to bomb up and down but is afraid of the halfway line”, “He looks too lightweight and outmuscled too often.”

“Henley does get caught out of position sometimes but never stops trying”, “He supported attacks well at QPR but was caught out a few times when they upped their game after the break”, “He does not often get beat one-on-one defending but the occasional overlap is not enough going forward.”

“It’s no coincidence we’re a better attacking unit with Marcus Olsson in the team.” Most Rovers want to see 27-year-old ex-Halmstads man start at left-back. “Marcus gives us some good pace down the left side”, “His pace got him behind the Hull defence on more than one occasion near the end.”

The Sweden international switched to the left wing late on against Hull. “Olsson provides something different to our wingers, using his pace to get to the byline so his crosses come in from a more dangerous angle”, “He offers more in attack but was caught out of position for Hull’s goal.”

Olsson replaced Tommy Spurr early in the draw at Loftus Road when the 27-year-old former Doncaster man suffered a blow to the cheek. “If Spurr still plays ahead of Olsson, I’m done with Bowyer”, “Pedestrian”, “Too slow”, “I’d be happy never to see Spurr in a Rovers shirt again.”

“Spurr is an honest plodder with his secret weapon of being able to fling the ball 30 yards to the opposition”, “His long throw is a weapon but is also a chance to get countered as our cumbersome left-back is then miles out of position”, “He offers nothing down the left other than his long throw.”

“I would much prefer Matthew Kilgallon, a leader who can read danger, to Duffy or Hanley at centre-back.” The 31-year-old ex-Sunderland man has hardly featured this season. “The defence needs him. They’re doing their own thing, not pushing up of dropping off together. There’s no communication.”

“Shane Duffy can easily be dragged out of defence and leave us wide open. He has done this a few times this season.” The 23-year-old ex-Everton centre-back “was pulled out of position at QPR and ran without looking at the ball”, “He looked better at Hull, and played some exquisite long passes.”

“How many times this season have we to resort to playing Duffy up front?”, “From what I have seen, Duffy has had two thirds of our attacking chances.” He is seen as a useful attacking option. “Big and clumsy in both boxes, the paradox is that his attacking headers look like defending headers.”

Grant Hanley

“Hanley is one of our most improved players this season”, “He was outstanding at QPR after having a disaster at Fulham [in a 2-1 defeat]”, “When on form you can see why he is captain. He does a fairly good job commanding out there. He and Duffy were immense in the air all through the QPR game.”

“Despite the vast number of games he has had, Hanley is always one red mist moment away from being a liability.” The 23-year-old centre-back and youth product “can be brainless”, “characteristic numpty moments”, “He was back to his kamikaze worst at Hull, especially in the second half.”

“Hanley is calamitous at times and he brings that on himself by thinking that he is better than he actually is. He was caught in possession at Hull a few times and his heading, which is normally a great strength, was weak. He should concentrate on defending pure and simple.”

Central Midfield

“Gary Bowyer, stop playing two defensive midfielders in an ineffective system.” Many had worried that 24-year-old youth product Jason Lowe would return to the team, however, he has now been ruled out for a lengthy spell having required a second operation on a foot injury.

“I genuinely see no place for him starting in the centre”, “He has no football brain. It’s like having a Jack Russell in the midfield.”

“Lowe has poor form and very limited ability”, “He isn’t supposed to be the footballer in the side. He is supposed to protect the back four but that is where I have a problem with him. Covering ground is great but he’s a good 10 feet away when opponents play the killer ball to open us up.”

“Hope Akpan can do the same defensive duties as Lowe in midfield but seems more forward looking and attack-minded.” The 24-year-old summer arrival from Reading “looks comfortable on the ball, has a bit of pace and is not frightened of making a tackle”, “He is a physical presence in the middle.”

“Akpan is mobile and forward looking in his approach. He could develop into the box-to-box midfield player Rovers have lacked for so long”, “He looked a colossus when he came on”, “He provides some old-fashioned muscle to midfield”, “He never stops working and covers every blade of grass.”

Danny Guthrie

“Danny Guthrie adds more guile to the midfield”, “He is much better at picking up the ball deep and playing a probing pass”, “He looks like he is able to pull the strings in midfield”, “He plays intelligent balls which open opposition defences”, “Excellent hunting the ball down and moving it quickly.”

The 28-year-old also arrived from Reading this summer but left the game at Hull with a thigh injury after eight minutes and is set to miss out against the Blues. “If Guthrie is out long-term things will be pretty grim. We need someone who can pass the ball in the centre”, “He is the keystone and we have no replacement for him.”

“Guthrie is neat and tidy but can be one-paced and lack creativity against good opponents”, “He rarely gives the ball away and is always available to take the ball off the defence”, “There has been some nice interplay with him and Evans. They pass and move together with an air of confidence.”

Corry Evans

“Against QPR, Evans’s pressing was outstanding and he works well in combination with Guthrie dropping off. Finding a good partnership like this is like gold dust and we should stick with this until there is a reason not to”, “Let’s just try and play that same midfield for a while.”

“Football is all about chances and after last season Evans deserved the bench.” The 25-year-old ex-Hull man “has played well in recent games. It finally looks like his confidence is coming back”, “He is coming forward more and more with the ball which is good to see.”

“Evans seems more fluid with Guthrie beside him. He has more confidence when with a partner who is more comfortable on the ball”, “He’s getting stuck in, pressing well getting into attacking positions and even passing forward. It’s good to see the transformation and long may it continue.”

Wide Midfield

“Whatever has happened to Ben Marshall?” The 24-year-old ex-Leicester man “is as effective as fresh air at present”, “His form dipped suddenly at Leicester too. Wingers can be erratic in form but his has certainly dipped”, “The light is on but no one is at home”, “Another poor game at Hull.”

“Marshall kicks into life if he gets passed the ball in the opposition half but he isn’t bothered doing much else”, “He looked like he had given up at Hull”, “He was constantly looking for the ball against Charlton. He was not the player we saw in patches last season. It’s a shame if his form has dipped.”

Craig Conway

“Conway has been a stand-out performer in our early games this season”, “I really like him as a player”, “He is an energetic winger who tries his very best, running tirelessly”, “He doesn’t sulk but works away trying to make an impression on the game. He seems the quiet sort though.”

The 30-year-old ex-Cardiff man is constantly praised for his deliveries. “Conway’s superb crossing ensured Gestede got a great goal tally last season”, “He has got a terrific delivery but needs time and space to whip a cross in. He will also cut or pass inside and his dead-ball delivery is very good.”

“Conway’s primary ability is putting in crosses rather than through balls”, “He’s knows his game, works his socks off and is a good little gem of a player”, “We have always looked better with Conway left and Marshall right but Bowyer keeps reversing them. Leave them where they are.”

Strikers

“Nathan Delfouneso does the odd decent thing but isn’t a threat and must be really easy to mark.” The 24-year-old ex-Blackpool man “works hard but is distinctly average”, ”Well, the lad does try. He just doesn’t have that much quality”, “I can’t see him offering too much this season.”

“Delfouneso needs too much time. His pace is undoubted but he never wants the ball in to his feet in order to help the midfield join the attack”, “He is a complete an utter dud”, “He is bereft of any creative talent”, “He seems to show the effort but just doesn’t have the touch with the ball.”

“Tom Lawrence added a much needed boost to the team’s attacking mentality when he came on against Charlton”, “I love to see players who get at the heart of the opposition. Lawrence looks assured in possession and always has his head up, a good foil for Rhodes in a number 10 role.”

The 21-year-old is on loan from Leicester until January. “Lawrence has provided something we have been missing for ages, someone whose first instinct is to run directly at defenders. We haven’t had that for a while”, “He is direct, pacey and has an eye for goal”, “He looks like a better Tom Cairney.”

“I sense a cult hero in the making”, “Bengali-Fode Koita puts the effort in but even he doesn’t know what he’s going to do next”, “He isn’t going to be a goal machine but I’m happy with what he contributes”, “He’s a good out ball when we are under pressure. It keeps the opposition guessing.”

The 24-year-old summer signing from Caen “has a heavy first touch and seems to take an age to get the ball off. His physical presence gives defenders something to think about” “Koita reminds me of Christopher Samba up front but he is a good foil and does a lot of donkey work for Rhodes.”

Jordan Rhodes

“All hail Rhodes!”, “God, I love Jordan Rhodes. He is always on hand to win us points that could be deemed unmerited”, “He’s getting sharper with every game and could exceed 30 goals this season”, “We need to wrap him in cotton wool and bubble wrap. If he gets injured we’re beyond screwed.”

“Rovers’ fate is in Jordan Rhodes hands again. He is coming back to his best after an early season injury”, “We paid over the odds for him but I wouldn’t let him go for any money now. Our immediate future would look black without him. He is our modern day Shearer albeit at Championship level.”

“God help us when Rhodes leaves us. He is our only source of goals.” With five goals scored in the last four games, the 25-year-old former Blue and Huddersfield man is running into a rich vein of form. “It’s strange how he always starts the season slowly and then goes on these immense runs.”

“A slap in the face for those who saw Rhodes’s game as nothing but finishing. He created his second goal at QPR himself and had the strength to hold off the defender too”, “The strength he showed to outmuscle Onuoha was mightily impressive”, “Without our talisman, we would be nowhere.”

Rovers’ Views on ITFC and the Game

“Ipswich next - I hate playing them but fingers crossed that we can keep this unbeaten run up”, “Two teams then with great attacking players and a dodgy defence. It could be an entertaining match”, “I would be delighted with a repeat of last season's 3-2 win.”

With 57 per cent of Rovers predicting a home win and 39 per cent going for a draw, most home fans are confident of getting something from the game. A 2-1 home win and 1-1 draw are the most popular score forecasts and nobody has gone for a scoreless draw for the second Town game running.

“Ipswich have now shot their bolt after a flying start, three points for Rovers in a comfortable home win. It’s a nailed on cert”, “I don't think Ipswich are a team to be feared, but you have to be prepared to scrap and fight for every ball, every chance and every opportunity.”

“I reckon Ipswich have peaked early. We'll maintain our slow but sure progress over the last few games and Rhodes will continue his march towards 20 goals for the fourth season on the run”, “Ipswich are so defensively poor that maybe we will get away with being a bit one dimensional.”

Guthrie and Koita are injury doubts for Saturday but many home fans still believe they have enough to beat us even without them. Our recent run of results and perceived defensive weakness have been regularly highlighted although other Rovers are far more wary of the threat we pose.

“Here we go again with the easy wins. Will you be printing any money? Ignoring the disagreement I have on Ipswich having ‘far less quality’, is this ‘nailed on victory’ slightly ignoring the fact that Mick McCarthy is a good manager? What makes Ipswich’s management quality so easily ignorable?”

“Surely anyone with some semblance of balance would see Ipswich as the polar opposite of Charlton in terms of what they will offer. Charlton will scrape survival at best and Ipswich will get near the play-offs again if not succeed. That is based on their respective quality and management ability.”

Websites

The busiest Rovers message board is the BRFCC.COM Forum while additional interesting comment can be found at the quieter Roverstalk.

@HarryFromBath

Photo: Action Images

TR11BLU added 11:10 - Oct 2 Great work Harry......as usual Hate to say it but I cannot see us getting anything here. Prove me wrong Town!
4

vanmunt added 11:48 - Oct 2 Hate to say it but when the team sheet will say Hoof the ball Chambers at RB, Pickled Gherkin in goal and the midfield dynamo engine of Excuse & the evil mute bloke from Superman 2 my heart will sink... starting to lose faith, sorry. oh, great work Harry.
-4

vanmunt added 11:50 - Oct 2 Evil mute bloke from Superman 2 = Jack O'Halloran.. google it for a laugh.
1

theipswichman added 11:53 - Oct 2 Their right that our defence is poor, however I think in terms of forward players we have more quality than they do. Still concerned we won't get anything from this game, will decide when we see Micks team selection.
1

Bluebell added 11:56 - Oct 2 Thanks Harry. Great read as always. I have a suspicion we are all being far too pessimistic about this game. We beat Leeds when we thought we didn't have a chance so I am going for us winning 1.2. I know we haven't got a good record there or in our last few games this season but as long as we can keep Rhodes quiet, we have a good chance.
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carsey added 12:19 - Oct 2 I'm sorry to say but Rhodes knows our centre backs very well and he will get the better of them at least once during the game. I just hope our front men are able to create and take chances when they do because any reliance on our defence is misplaced.
2

gazzmac4 added 12:36 - Oct 2 Genius vanmunt. What a depressing little life you must lead when you lower yourself to writing such drivel as that. These are the types of games we need to be winning if we want to get out of this league however I feel it will be a 2-2. Rhodes obviously scoring and then a silly goal given away when 2-1 up in the last 5 mins. COYB's regardless of course!!
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TractorCam added 12:38 - Oct 2 Funny what a couple of games does isn't it? A few weeks ago we were all in high spirits and they were all doom and gloom, tables seem to have turned now. That can only mean a victory for us right?
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rickw added 14:21 - Oct 2 I'd settle for a draw, but we have a big squad now and can play different systems and players, what Mick decides to do will determine the outcome
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