Jewell: Blackburn Opener Big Test for Youngsters Friday, 17th Aug 2012 09:41 Blues boss Paul Jewell admits that Saturday’s opening Championship game of the season at home to Blackburn Rovers will be a “huge test” for his young side (KO 3pm). The Town manager was pleased with his team’s performance as they beat League Two Bristol Rovers in the Capital One Cup on Tuesday but expects a far greater challenge to be presented by the recently relegated Lancastrians.
Jewell felt Tuesday’s match was a good way to start the season: “I think it was important to get a win and not only did we get a win but we got a decent performance.
“We were in control of the game for the majority of it. In the first half, we passed the ball a little bit slowly, but in the second we upped the tempo and we created a lot of opportunities.
“We know that come Saturday it will be more difficult and Blackburn will come at us a bit more than Bristol Rovers did.”
Despite the win and encouraging display, Jewell wants to see more from his side against Blackburn: “We need to improve all over the pitch. Every team wants to peak for its first game of the season.
“We’ve got to move the ball quicker, we’ve got to take our chances and do all the usual things like stop opportunities coming in to our box.
“I think it will be a huge test for us on Saturday. I think Blackburn are favourites to go back up, it’s a really tough league.
“But it’s a game that we’re looking forward to. We’ve got a lot of young players around the squad, one or two who might be making their debuts and are excited to be a part of the great game.”
On-loan Tottenham man Massimo Luongo will be making a league bow — Scott Loach and Luke Chambers will be playing their first league games for Town — having impressed in pre-season and against the Pirates.
The Blues boss says it’s important to remember that the Australian is still very much a novice: “He’ll be making his debut on Saturday. It’s a big game for him. He’s done really well in the pre-season games for us.
“He’s only 19 and we’ve got to be careful not to expect too much of him, but he’s very assured, he’s very calm on the ball, he’s young, hungry and really looking forward to the game on Saturday.
“It’s going to be a big test for him and one or two others as well, but whatever the outcome they’ll be better for the experience.”
Jewell has virtually a full strength squad to pick from with summer signing Elliott Hewitt the only absentee as he recovers from the hip impingement operations he underwent while still a Macclesfield player. The Wales U21 international is now running and is expected to return to action in September.
The Town manager is unlikely to stray too far from the XI which started on Tuesday. Loach will be in goal, Carlos Edwards and Aaron Cresswell in the full-back roles and Chambers and Tommy Smith at the centre of the defence.
Jewell will probably switch to his 4-2-3-1 formation from the 4-4-2 he fielded on Tuesday with Josh Carson coming in on the left of midfield, Lee Martin moving into his role behind lone striker Michael Chopra and Jason Scotland dropping to the bench.
Jay Emmanuel-Thomas will be on the right of midfield with Luongo and either Luke Hyam or Andy Drury alongside him. Hyam may well get the nod with Drury only just back from his calf injury.
The likes of Joe Whight and Byron Lawrence are likely to be on the bench, which this season returns to seven players.
For Blackburn, former England man Danny Murphy is over a foot injury and is expected to skipper his new club on his debut, but striker Leon Best (knee), keeper Mark Bunn (hip), left-back Martin Olsson (groin) and striker Ruben Rochina (hamstring) are all out.
Manager Steve Kean is happy with his travelling party despite those absentees: "We aren't doing too badly, we've not got too many injured.
"We've got Mark Bunn who is getting over his hip operation and he was going really well but he's just had a little bit of a setback, so he's not going to be available,
"Martin Olsson still hasn't resumed full training after his groin operation in the summer and even if he can get back onto the grass next week he'll still find himself four to six weeks behind everyone else in their fitness levels, so it is going to be a little bit of time to get him up to speed.
"Ruben Rochina has just had his first day back after having a sizeable tear in his hamstring so it is unlikely he'll be available, whilst Leon Best is, of course, out long term.
"But the good news is that Danny Murphy has trained all week after missing a couple of weeks with a foot injury, so he should be fine for Saturday."
Kean has expressed his annoyance at Blackburn ‘global advisor’ Shebby Singh’s recent reference to Morten Gamst Pedersen as a "pensioner". Singh has since apologised for making the comment and also for stating that the manager would be sacked if he lost three consecutive matches.
The Rovers boss said: "Personal criticism of this nature is never acceptable and the players are shocked that someone from within their club has seen fit to make such comments.
"Whilst accepting that anyone can have an opinion on football, someone in such a position of responsibility should be more mindful of the comments he makes, particularly when you consider what a valuable member of the team Morten is and the great contribution he has made and continues to make to Blackburn Rovers and Norway."
Town have had the upper hand on Rovers over the years, winning 16 games (13 in the league) between the teams, losing 11 (10) and drawing 14 (13).
The match is the third competitive game in succession in which the Blues have met a side named Rovers, almost certainly for the first time in the club’s history. Having ended last season with a 3-2 win at Doncaster Rovers, they opened this campaign with the 3-1 Capital One Cup victory over Bristol Rovers.
Town and Blackburn last met in the Premier League in the 2001/02 season when the Portman Road match in the September ended 1-1 with Alun Armstrong on target for the Blues and Matt Jansen for the visitors. A late Marcus Stewart goal was controversially ruled out by referee Graham Poll.
At Ewood Park in the following March, Andy Cole and Damien Duff netted for the home side and Stewart for the Blues as Town went down 2-1 on their way to relegation.
No player will be facing his old club, although former Blues striker David Lowe is now working at Rovers’ academy having previously been on Paul Jewell’s staff at Wigan and Derby.
Saturday's ticket prices are at the now reduced Grade C rates with a lower Sir Bobby Robson Stand or Sir Alf Ramsey Stand adult ticket at £20. More details here.
Meanwhile the club have confirmed that My Way will be the club anthem after the recent fans' vote and will be played before kick-off.
Saturday’s referee is Darren Drysdale from Lincolnshire, who showed 100 yellow and five red cards in 43 games last season. His most recent Town match was the 1-1 draw at Southampton in March in which he booked only Daryl Murphy and former Blue Dan Harding.
Town squad from: Loach, Lee-Barrett, Edwards, Cresswell, Ainsley, Whight, Smith, Chambers, Delaney, Luongo, Drury, Hyam, Martin, Emmanuel-Thomas, Carson, Stevenson, Lawrence, Chopra, Scotland, Murray, Ellington.
Blackburn squad from: Robinson, Kean, Orr, Givet, Dann, Henley, Hanley, Ribeiro, Lowe, Fabio Nunes, Dunn, Formica, Petrovic, Pedersen, Murphy, Markus Olsson, Paulo Jorge, Etuhu, Vukcevic, Edinho, Nuno Gomes, Goodwillie, Kazim-Richards.
Photo: Action Images
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SuperReuser added 09:50 - Aug 17
I hate to say it but their squad looks bloomin strong. Would love to get the season started with a win though. COYB! | | |
irishtim added 09:51 - Aug 17
Lets hope we get the 3 points to set us up nicely. | | |
Bleedingblue added 10:22 - Aug 17
Luckily football isn't played on paper. 2-1 town! | | |
eaii added 10:23 - Aug 17
Looking at the Squads on paper this looks a little like David versus Goliath, I think Jewells bigger test than not getting thumped by Blackburn is getting tight fisted Clegg to spend some money because Clegg might think it is ok to get hammered before we decide to spend but I as a fan dont! If we have not got enough money sack Clegg and perhaps his 300,000 pound salary can go towards paying more players wages. I will do Cleggs job for free (because I would love to)! | | |
markvenus1 added 10:37 - Aug 17
scotland has to play, his performance last night was sublime | | |
charsfield added 10:40 - Aug 17
blackburn would have a sick squad if this was 2002, but i think we'll be alright | | |
Baillie_Bear added 10:41 - Aug 17
A good crowd on Saturday is a must. If we can get behind the boys we have a chance of something special this season. PJ will have to deliver something this year or I fear he may be axed from the grey man ME. COYB!!!! | | |
DanLyles added 10:42 - Aug 17
Robinson, Dann, Etuhu, Murphy and Kazim-Richards is quite a spine at Championship level. I cannot believe that Formica wasn't snapped up by a Prem club, this guy is so talented and will pose a threat cutting in from the wing. Two of Rovers goals in their last pre-season friendly against Cork came from crosses so I hope we have ironed out those errors. It will be very interesting to see how Luongo and Hyam's extra yard of pace and youthful exuberance fair against the older heads of Murphy and Etuhu. I don't think this Blackburn team is any more talented than the West Ham team we disposed of. However, we do look a bit susceptible to talented wide players so both Edwards and Cresswell will need to be at the top of their game against Formica, Nunes, Pedersen or whoever plays on the wing. | | |
TrickyBlue added 11:17 - Aug 17
I am trying to decide whether tomorrow is worth the 30 quid for the train, 20 for the ticket and 30 for a few drinks and a bit of food! Should be a good game. I can see us either sneaking it or getting tore apart! COYB!!!!!!! | | |
legoman added 11:23 - Aug 17
I agree danlyles. But I fear both Edwards and Cresswell are weak links. PS Formica is not easily snapped. | | |
alfromcol added 11:35 - Aug 17
TrickyBlue: I can see us either sneaking it or getting tore apart! Nothing like keeping your options open. | | |
Bergholtblue added 12:03 - Aug 17
I'm with trickyblue on this. I can see either winning, drawing or losing this one! | | |
oscarwhiting added 12:38 - Aug 17
Bergholtblue lol. Well this is game that i have no idea what the score will be, blackburn have done well in the transfer window this season but i think this could be our year COYB | | |
BudapestByBlimp added 12:47 - Aug 17
Agree with an earlier comment, Formica is their dangerman, can't believe he's still there. Rovers to win 2-1. | | |
cromwellblue added 13:10 - Aug 17
Good to see such positive comments before a ball is kicked in anger!! It seems many are yet to grasp the harsh reality of our situation. The club remains heavily in debt albeit to the owner (and for those who read a link posted a few days ago, you will understand the implications of that). It is unlikely that Mr Evan will have the massive funds to plough into the club that you all desire and with financial fair play rules pending there is not the room for vast expense that you all cry out for Truth is that this year promotion is highly unlikey but you need to see the bigger picture. Only 3 of the 24 clubs can get promoted. Of the reming 21 there are 3 headed for relegation leaving 17 who next year will be bound by the new financial rules. By adopting the stance on wages now we will reap the benefits next year. As the other clubs have to re-organise there squads we can sit smugly with a squad meeting the rules and with a year of experience together. @eaii - your comment re Cleggs 300K, that would cover the squads wages for 2-3 weeks hardly a pool with which to acquire dominance in the division A few posts here also about the strength of squads on paper. Well do you forget last year our squad list looked quite healthy with plenty of talent and experience. That didn't work out to well! Cast yor mind back to the Burley days, he assembled a squad with no stars but a team ethic. In any team sport it only works if the team is better than the sum of it's parts. Also show some praise for a manager that admits his mistakes of the past. Don't recall Ferguson or Wenger ever saying "I got it wrong" So while on paper thing may not look as strong as you'd like I think this teams will perforem better than you expect. It has the talent & ability to score goal we just need to improve at keeping them out. Break the habit of a lifetime guys, stop the constant whining. We have no devine right to anything. Support your club, live in hope - you may just be surprised | | |
FenboyBlue added 13:24 - Aug 17
It's really good that we're playing Blackburn first. There's always a very good chance that big teams coming down from Premiership are slow & rusty to adjust to the Championship for a few games. Let's exploit the situation and smash 'n' grab. | | |
Cattee11 added 13:25 - Aug 17
I hate to be negative, but this signing that Jewell was confident about signing before tomorrow is where? | | |
Keaneish added 13:28 - Aug 17
My way? Yes! Right decision! Now all we need is a passionate home support, a very rich history of European glory and a winning mentality and we'll have our very own Kop! | | |
DiamondGezzer added 13:53 - Aug 17
Fenboyblue :- Agree. Also, I'd like to think that the amount of new players they have, might just take a while to gel. Hope so ! | | |
AndyUK61873 added 14:28 - Aug 17
i hate to say it, but looking at the teams, I can see this being a bad bad day for us, visions of that 7-1 drubbing by P'Boro are coming flooding back | | |
TrickyBlue added 14:40 - Aug 17
Will tickets for the lower bobby robson stand be available for tomorrow's match at the turnstiles? | | |
mark1969 added 14:59 - Aug 17
Andyuk do not be such a pessimist . Its the first game, drink , sing loud and proud get a tan and be happy its a new season. Tricky i hope so i will be in the que as well ! C,mon PJ do not let us down today i have been checking every 30 mins for the new signing . Where are you lets be havin you !!! OOPS wrong thing to say Delia has the rights to that ! PJ deliver as you were so convinced go and lend Clegg the pen and lets get mystery man signed up pronto !! Andyuk to level things up 5-0 Town !! | | |
jogalot added 15:42 - Aug 17
Robinson was poor last season, Dann was awful, perhaps etuhu, Murphy and Kazim will be up for it but if you don't beat us, you really are in a bad way. Rovers have no fight, the manager has no clue about signings, team selection or tactics. All you need it to attack, put a bit of pressure on our defence and you'll score. Perhaps to some of you on paper Rovers seem good but any team with fight and determination and fitness will see Rovers collapse under the pressure. . Like most fans of Rovers, I want Rovers to lose tomorrow in the hope that Kean will be sacked and Venkys will sell up. Our club is being asset stripped and there's nothing we can do about it. Completely crazy? You bet - not me but the regime running our once proud club. | | |
DanLyles added 17:02 - Aug 17
Wow jogalot, you Rovers fans really have had enough of Kean and Venkys haven't you???!!! I suppose only winning one league game (against the scum, well done) since mid March and losing all the rest is going to severely affect the sides confidence. However, playing against weaker opposition in the Championship and bringing in players (two central midfielders and two strikers) who were nothing to do with that bad run should alter things. Town are playing some lovely passing football atm (mainly because of Luongo) but we too are vulnerable when teams get at us, especially down the flanks. | | |
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