Former Blue Jordan Rhodes and Rudy Gestede netted second half goals condemned the Blues to a 2-0 defeat at Blackburn Rovers. After an evenly-balanced first half, Town, who are now ninth, five points off the play-offs, never looked like getting anything from the game after Rhodes had opened the scoring in the 64th minute, Gestede adding the second with 10 minutes left on the clock.

Anthony Wordsworth and Frank Nouble were recalled to the Town starting line-up with Stephen Hunt dropping to the bench and Paul Anderson out of the 18.

Nouble began on the left with Wordsworth on the right and Jonny Williams behind lone striker Daryl Murphy.

Lee Williamson hit a weak first-minute strike through to Dean Gerken but the Blues had the better of the opening minutes with Williams seeing a lot of the ball. On seven the Wales international sent over a cross which Murphy shot well over on the turn.

There was a scare for the Blues on 17 when Christophe Berra made an uncharacteristic error and surrendered possession to Gestede midway inside the Town half on the Blackburn left. Craig Conway broke forward but Smith was on hand to cut out his cross.

The home side were beginning to get on top and in the 19th minute Gerken claimed Corry Evans’s flick goalwards. Then, after Nouble had cheaply given the ball away, the Northern Irishman broke in from the right and his low shot was deflected wide.

Nouble whipped a low ball over from the left but too far in front of Murphy in the 25th minute, then three minutes later Williams sent in an even better cross but the Irishman’s header flew over.

Tom Cairney curled a 25-yard strike into Gerken’s arms just past the half-hour mark, then on 32 Gestede shot powerfully over from distance.

Five minutes later Wordsworth picked up the game’s first booking for a foul on Tommy Spurr on the Rovers left. From the freekick, Michael Keane flicked Conway’s freekick to Gerken’s left and the keeper did well to get down to scramble it away from goal.

It was Town’s turn to threaten next, Wordsworth sending Murphy away down the left with a superb pass. The striker cut it back to Aaron Cresswell, whose strike was blocked, then the loose ball fell to Williams but his shot was saved by Paul Robinson.

Blackburn felt they ought to have been awarded a penalty in the 43rd minute when Berra appeared to push Gestede over as a freekick came into the box. The home side might have had a case, although Berra himself appeared to have been inadvertently nudged into the ex-Cardiff man by Smith as a crowd of players went for the same ball.

Skuse shot over just before the fourth official’s board revealed two minutes of additional time at the end of an evenly balanced first half.

Both sides had had spells on top and a few opportunities with the Blues at their most dangerous when Williams was involved. Overall, the level scoreline was a fair reflection of the half as a whole.

Five minutes after the restart Chambers was booked somewhat harshly for blocking off Conway on the Blackburn left.

On 55 Nouble headed Williams into space inside the Town half following the second of two Blackburn corners. The on-loan Palace man took the ball on into Blackburn territory, sent the ball one side of last defender Evans and went the other himself. However, the 20-year-old went too wide and directed his shot across the face of goal. Regardless of the ultimate outcome it was quite some break.

Town were starting to look the more threatening side and on the hour Nouble hit a powerful shot from distance which Robinson pushed away. Moments later, Chambers exchanged passes with Williams on the edge of the box but the Blues’ skipper’s effort was too close to the Rovers keeper, who claimed.

At the other end, after Matthew Kilgallon had been booked for a foul on Williams, Conway shot over, Gestede having laid the ball back to him on the 18-yard line. Soon after, Williamson added his name to referee Keith Stroud’s book for pulling back Williams.

Despite the Blues having had more of the second half, the visitors went in front in the 64th minute and inevitably it was former Town man Rhodes who was on target.

Gestede cleverly turned Grant Hanley's long ball into Rhodes’s path and the striker got behind his close friend Tommy Smith before hitting a low shot to Gerken’s left and into the net. It was the Scotland international’s third goal in three games against his old club and his 50th in the league for Rovers.

Coincidentally, former Blues boss Roy Keane, the man who controversially sold Rhodes to Huddersfield for a fee which ultimately rose to just above £1 million in the summer of 2009, was watching from the stand as he ran the rule over Daryl Murphy in his capacity as Republic of Ireland assistant manager.

Blackburn went looking for a quick second, Gestede forcing a corner from which Cairney eventually shot over from the edge of the box.

Town had been unable to get back into the game after conceding and in the 73rd minute Sylvan Ebanks-Blake replaced Wordsworth, who had found it difficult to make an impression in his unfamiliar role. Ebanks-Blake took up a position in the centre of a front three with Nouble on his left and Murphy the right.

Gestede, who was giving Berra a tough afternoon, should have made it 2-0 in the 77th minute but shot over after latching onto Rhodes’s overhead kick from Spurr’s cross from the left.

But with 10 minutes remaining Gestede did increase his team’s lead. Conway sent over a freekick from close to the corner on the right and the Benin international battled through a crowd of players to nod his seventh goal of the season past Gerken.

Town had never looked like getting back in the game having gone behind and they looked even less so after Blackburn’s second. On 86 Stephen Hunt replaced Williams, who looked to have tired after a lively first hour.

In the closing stages Cairney shot wide, then struck one of his own players with another effort from the edge of the box just prior to referee Stroud’s final whistle.

After the even first period, it was a disappointing second half from Town, who never looked like getting anything from the match having gone behind to Rhodes’s predictable and well-worked goal.

Mick McCarthy is unlikely to be impressed with conceding the second from a set piece and that his team failed to show their recent proclivity for comebacks on this occasion.

The result and today's scorelines elsewhere see the Blues drop to ninth, five points behind Reading in the final play-off spot with six games left to play.

Blackburn: Robinson, Keane, Hanley (c), Kilgallon, Spurr, Cairney, Evans (Varney 78), Williamson (Etuhu 90), Conway, Gestede (Dunn 83), Rhodes. Unused: Eastwood, King, Taylor, Feeney.

Town: Gerken, Chambers (c), Cresswell, Berra, Smith, Skuse, Hyam (Green 90), Wordsworth (Ebanks-Blake 73), Nouble, Williams (Hunt 86), Murphy. Unused: Loach, Mings, Tabb, Richardson. Referee: Keith Stroud (Hampshire). Att: 13,281 (Town: 635).

Photo: Action Images

LankHenners added 18:13 - Apr 5 Disappointed and now we need to win Tuesday to stay in serious contention for 6th as it's starting to get very congested from 7th downwards. Sounded like we had a decent first half but a poor second half, and also that unless Williams was on the ball we could hardly make anything happen in the final third. Oh well, nothing we can do about this result now - just move on and try to win as many of the next 6 games as we can, and hope that Reading lose at least two and allow us back in. Huddersfield and Doncaster should be 6 points (we can't afford to drop points against those two), Watford could be tricky but at least a point from there, Bournemouth will be very tough as they are in form, Burnely could potentially be in "party mode" but they might still need to win and are tough to beat regardless, and Wednesday should be 3 points. Come on you Blues!

2

martleshamitfc added 18:17 - Apr 5 on the plus side Norwich lost and should be playing us again next season!
2

blueboy1981 added 18:25 - Apr 5 Wordsworth - back in the team today, but completely wasted out of position !!!!!!!!!!! ........ beyond me.
9

BriggEnd added 18:32 - Apr 5 Game over regarding the playoffs. This time next year WILL be our time !
3

oldegold added 19:01 - Apr 5 MM sent the team out to claw a point - our usual safety-first, catenaccio boring football which means we never take the game to the opposition. It has cost us time and time again and means we will be playing in the Championship next season. Dull and sterile and totally in keeping withMM's football style.
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MickMillsTash added 19:09 - Apr 5 Never thought we were going to score, failed to get anyone close to Murphy or behind their defence. Not sure a different line up would have made much difference- Noubile, Wordsworth and Cresswell could have performed better. Hyam and Skuse I thought mashalled the centre mid well, Berra was solid, Gerken made a very good save at 0-0. Williams was lively. In the first half- they should have got a penalty in the first half, Blackburn have a good defence and in Rhodes they have a goal machine 3 points at Huddersfield, a slightly easier run of games and the play off picture can change very quickly, don't give up.

5

BlueandTruesince82 added 19:22 - Apr 5 Thank **** The Budgies lost is about all I can take from today. Although genuine optimism for next season I had us midtable so to still have a sniff is not just "consolidation" but also progress. Keeping Cressie looks as important as ever but realy if we could pick up 3 or 4 decent additions we can hope to be right amongst them next year. RB and creative midfielder look really important SEB or another striker and a winger, Idealy comfortable either side.

1

TimmyH added 19:26 - Apr 5 I think this game sort of highlights the clubs predicament as regards to the midfield, the first half of the season Mick was ultra cautious playing 2 if not 3 defensive midfielders with largely Anderson either right or left to not much effect and Mick rarely shifting from 442 and depending on McG and defense for goals and a largely similar line up. The last month or so formations have changed somewhat with the 4411 or 433 being utilized but in terms of the latter only as a last resort. The biggest problem I believe other than Mick being too defensive in the midfield is largely little use of width of the pitch (who knows if he encourages this) and the lack of quality in these areas throughout the season bar the odd game from Hunt (Blackburn home game being one). So if Mick continues to play his 'starting' 4 in midfield he really needs to look at the wide men over the summer if happy with Hyam/Skuse in the centre, Anderson in my view is not up to the job and Hunt has been patchy. It's finally nice to see a creative spark in Williams who looks to take players on and be more creative but still not sure MM is playing him in the right area behind lone striker Murphy (just look at his best games all in the 433). So today was a tad mystifying why MM plays Nouble left wing and Wordsworth right side though being largely a left midfielder and not for the first time this season a 4 man midfield not working. A balancing act that eludes Mick partly down to lack of quality in the correct positions and players being played out of position, down to lack of finances? you decide. Not moaning just a bit of critical analysis.

4

StochesStotasBlewe added 19:47 - Apr 5 This result sums it up....................On another note, congratulations to Leicester City who thoroughly deserve their promotion today, by far the best team in this division.
10

theobald1985 added 19:49 - Apr 5 boring mick strikes again. he just has no intention of ever playing good passing attacking football-his tactics and formation today was a joke we can do much better than this
3

battyblue added 19:57 - Apr 5 Just play players in there proper positions for gods sake and if they cant do a job put someone else in who can end of.
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runaround added 20:09 - Apr 5 Poor result especially with Reading winning. Effectively we need them to lose 2 matches when we win now. It's a big ask but even if we do miss out it's a big improvement on last season. Whether MM can improve on this next year is the big question
3

Steelmonkey added 20:20 - Apr 5 Had an inkling that we would lose 2-0 today. Sounds like round pegs in square holes again. Ask players to play out of position when you have too, ie injury, suspensions etc., in my opinion it's time to recall our loans and give them the chance to show if they have improved. There is obviously no point in playing it "safe" like today to get a result, but you will never find out if you don't take the risk. MM, maybe there wasn't much between the two teams untill the goal, but if you can't stop the opposition scoring then you need options to change the play.

0

warktheline added 20:24 - Apr 5 We all have known ( even me!) since the Wigan defeat that we lack enough quality for top 6, and since all have dreamed more than believed we could gate crash the party ....that said I would take 3 points from these 2 away games before kick-off today. Today is gone, we all move on to Tuesday night.....come 9.45 that evening,all could be all to play for again. B'mouth play Reading at home and Forest and Brighton have tough games. Changing the subject, Where may would we have been if.....big IF... If Rhodes and Wickham were still in Town shirts. Bad business all round, over to you Mr. Pundit, Roy Keane and co....guess we all make mistakes and say things we live to regret, for instance; I remember Keane saying in his playing days that he would never want to become a football pundit!!!

4

TimmyH added 20:33 - Apr 5 @warktheline - Keane makes me cringe when I see him on ITV, everybody was taken back when he was linked with this club back in early 2009 but he was just plain poor as a manager and even worse as a man manager. Agree come Tuesday night things might take a twist again, it is the Championship! But it is well and truly out of our hands. What annoys me other than Wigan the play-off places are filled presently with some pretty average performing teams now. Derby - peaked QPR - peaked Reading - away results keep them ticking over.

4

Tonyitfc82 added 20:52 - Apr 5 I dont think we should blame MM here. He has done wonders with what he has. All the players he has brought in are all on free. He hasnt had any money to spend. This is the style of football MM likes to play anyway, ugly as long as we win 1-0 and I dont mind if we get propoted (whenever that is) playing ugly. Better days ahead for sure.....
3

martleshamitfc added 20:56 - Apr 5 Think Bournemouth will be the team to gate crash the play-offs, but whoever it is, surely QPR, Wigan or Derby are much better than any of the other teams trying to get 6th spot?
0

blueboy1981 added 20:57 - Apr 5 Tonyitfc82 - ........... not sure you're right there ... 0 -0 seems quite satisfactory to MM. 1 -0 ugly win ..... and we really are 'showboating'. LOL.
0

warktheline added 21:11 - Apr 5 TimmyH, I texted Alan Brazil on Talk sport when it was close to being announced, and stated it was a massive gamble taking him on and hopefully it would work, but it filled me apprehension. Sadly the rest is history....he wasn't an Ipswich type manager. I know Mick has his critics, but I believe we needed a man like him to put the club back on course. Who knows what the future holds for him and our club.....but I will always be grateful to him for the way he rapidly stabilised the club. It's glaringly obvious Mick isn't an Ipswich type manager, but as I've mentioned before its horses for courses at the moment.

5

Jimmy86 added 21:56 - Apr 5 Massive shame we lost today and other results went against us. 1 things for sure though, we have built a real resilience and will fight for that 6th place until it's mathematically impossible we cant get it. Our style of football is either something mick plays because he likes to, or because hw doesn't have enough players of a decent enough quality to play more free flowing football. Keane turned out to be a bad manager and times have moved on, 1 thing i would point out, is although keane got rid of rhodes Jim never gave him chance to prove himself at first team level after prolific loan spells. Plus I genuinely think wickham was a better prospect at that time. Find it funny why no one has ever questioned keane as to why he let him go, that would be interesting on itv. Rhodes may be a goal scorer but its interesting to see from blackburn fans that his all round game isn't up to much. Disappointing to lose, but blackburn still have prem players on their books. We go again tues night. Coyb

1

jas0999 added 21:57 - Apr 5 Poor result, ending play off hopes. Mick has done an excellent job with limited to no budget, but if we are to press on next season we need four new players. A goal keeper, a couple of creative midfielders and a striker.
3

bring_back_Wickham added 22:32 - Apr 5 We should have mick as our transfer manager to get amazing players for free and someone else to play them in their correct positions!
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JWM added 23:30 - Apr 5 And here we have all the football experts coming out again who think that they are far superior! Makes me laugh the way you all bang on about how things should have been done!
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blueboy1981 added 23:52 - Apr 5 JWM ............... wouldn't need a Manager at all - if everyone was as satisfied with everything as you - now would we ?
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blueboy1981 added 23:56 - Apr 5 Jimmy86 .......... prolific goalscorers - score goals. What more do you want ?? - that's what they're there for. We could do with Rhodes in our team right now - overall game impressive or not.
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