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

JWM added 23:58 - Apr 5 Blueboy I am satisfied with the way things are given the context of the situation. It's a pity that the more deluded amongst us can not or simply will not see the bigger picture!
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blueboy1981 added 00:03 - Apr 6 ........ I guess it's a question of who it really is seeing the bigger picture ??
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JWM added 00:12 - Apr 6 Well it's not you obviously!
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Jimmy86 added 05:47 - Apr 6 blueboy1981 I agree with what you say, can't ask for anything more than a prolific goal scorer, which Rhodes clearly is, but what I was saying is there are other areas of his game, that the Blackburn fans appear to be quite critical of, that he is lacking. JWM, whilst progress has clearly been made this season, it's obvious that whilst punching above our weight we have not performed at crucial times and this has shot us in the foot. Many fans are realistic about this and realise progress has been made from last season, but that reason alone is not enough to blindly follow and accept anything thats put in front of you. Some fans want a little more, bearing in mind we have been in the play off's or there abouts

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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 06:04 - Apr 6 Mick will have to re-build next season: Cresswell will go to a lowly PL team (and good luck to him), Taylor will leave if anyone will have him, and there are question marks over several others (e.g. Ebanks-Blake). So we have to hope Mick can continue the improvements shown this season. If he can perform minor miracles again, we might just be challenging the budgies for a promotion place next year. Now that would be exciting!

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Jimmy86 added 06:35 - Apr 6 Steve ITFC Sweden, If Taylor does go, which now looks increasingly likely, then Mick will have to bring in someone as good as him, if not better, to justify getting rid of him. We always have looked a better side with taylor in the team. He tries to make things happen and looks to take people on. He is a forward thinking, creative player and it looks to be personal as to why he is ommited. He at least deserved a run in the team after birmingham at home

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cossy81 added 07:44 - Apr 6 Don't want to do MM a disservice here but doesn't he look at Readings fixtures ( still got to play Wigan,Leicester and Burnley ) and think if we push on here and match or better the Reading result they may get at Charlton that we have a good chance for the playoffs instead of the cautious approach he always adopts!
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warktheline added 09:52 - Apr 6 Agree with you cossy81. Can SEB play 90 mins? We need him firing up top. Asking to much of Murphy at moment.....in any case, he's not a prolific scorer. Would like to see in midfield, Hyam sitting in front of back four, Wordy and Skuse paired together in central positions and Wee JW given a free role behind SEB or Nouble and Murphy switching wide, left and right.With the system employed at moment, even if we made play -off, don't think we have enough about us to trouble teams over 2 legs. Come on Mick, throw the kitchen sink, even if it back-fires, at least it will be exciting.

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warktheline added 09:59 - Apr 6 ....I would also start with Mings instead of Chambers. Sounds harsh, but Mings is full of energy, just what we need to up the tempo.
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Michael11 added 11:06 - Apr 6 Every time Jordan Rhodes scores, it fills me with anger. Seeing him score against us every time he plays makes it worse!!
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blueherts added 11:39 - Apr 6 Mings !! wow , that would be four left sided players in the back 4 I would play him at LB and push Cresswell to LM ! We have NOTHING TO LOSE now so unlikely though it is we have to go and win games and not go out 'not to lose' I am in the 'foot in both camps' re this season Season on Season we have improved our league position( hopefully!) It is good to at least be in the 'business end' of the table . Williams has been the talisman and and he is a class player I do however agree that MM does have a problem playing certain players in correct positions Lets face it - Top 10 will be progress , Top 8 very good and Top 6 excellent Leicester have shown everyone the way this year and been by far the best team - had luck with injuries but as we know you need luck I would be keen to see if MM gives it one more year and a real push for the Play offs I hope so , but he will need backing which may come as I am sure Cresswell will go Midfield has to be addressed and then I would think we would be ok for push next year with Didsy coming back Any team would do well with Williams in the middle and as long as Palace keep winning we will benefit , but just hope we take the chances he serves up Our bad luck was losing Dids Good Luck to Leicester City and at least we wont see Nugent next season Maybe they will take Rhodes !! A win on Tuesday is a must but gotta play to win !

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essextractorboy93 added 11:42 - Apr 6 After such a long trip up there it was desperately disappointing to see us not perform at all. We kept the ball well in the first half for some spells but that's pretty much the only positive apart from Williams looking lively. Very poor second half. Need Reading to slip up and we are back in the hunt for the play-offs, we need a big reaction on Tuesday at Huddersfield. COYB!

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TimmyH added 11:43 - Apr 6 JWM - why don't you for once add something to the forum rather than moaning about the so called 'whingers' or is it a case there is absolutely nothing to discuss about how ITFC can or could improve?
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warktheline added 12:13 - Apr 6 Point taken blueherts. I got a bit carried away. Fantasy football....
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JWM added 13:10 - Apr 6 Timmy I am very much a glass half full person and I prefer to take the positives rather than concentrate on the negatives with the benefit of hindsight! There is no denying that the manager and back room staff have completely transformed our fortunes on the pitch despite having his hands tied by lack of investment. I never thought for one moment that we would get into the playoffs this season but next season will be our time. Mick needs backing in the summer to continue the upward curve that we are on but whatever happens now till the end of the season it has been highly satisfactory. I understand the frustrations but it seems that it is whinging for the sake of it at times. Mick is building something solid here but the big question is does Evans share in the same ambition and only time will tell. So in conclusion this has been a season of transition but not a false dawn as with previous managers and a season where at no time have we been looking over our shoulders! That's progress in my book!

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Beattiesballbag added 13:15 - Apr 6 Beats me how everyone keeps saying it's an improvement on last season, SINCE his arrival last season (i'm sure the experts will correct me!) but the points we are averaging this season (under Mick) is no better than last (under Mick). In the close season he signed all the forwards he had on loan on permanent contracts, to be fair it was obvious last season they would not be good enough to take us to the top of this league . In midfield he signed another defensive player.....which might help us on occasion to hold on to the odd point, but as Brighton & Derby proved one defensive mf player is better! Unfortunately this season as with previous Managers reverts to constantly playing someone out of position at RB Did a great job stopping the rot last season & having averaged enough points to make the top six last season I suppose it's fair to say he could have done it again this season with the same system but he hasn't! The football is no better unless injury forces his hand, his points average is not as good as last year............There is nothing to suggest this close season will bring any more improvements than last, So don't build your hopes up as it will only make you more disappointed when you are looking up the table at Naaarrrwich!

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JWM added 13:29 - Apr 6 Some will never be happy I suppose and it's your perogative thank god we are not all cut from the same cloth!
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ian_marshall added 14:05 - Apr 6 Come on FULHAM next wknd!!!!
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oldelsworthyfan added 15:40 - Apr 6 Long drive back from Blackburn feeling disappointed, but not disheartened. Rhodes's well taken goal was the turning point in a game we need not have lost. Our problem all season has been the weakness of our defence on the right hand side where Chambers has done his best but is simply not a Right Back which unsettles the whole defence. (Yesterday Woody was having to cover back instead of being able to command the centre of the pitch). I'm sure MM is aware of this, but reckons he does not have a RB who would do better than Chambers at this level. That includes Hewitt. The season is not over yet! We could still win every game!

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Langdon_Blue added 15:44 - Apr 6 If we win against Huddersfield all may not be lost just yet. Brighton are away at Leicester and Reading appeared to struggle against Charlton have go to Bournemouth who beat QPR yesterday. Running out of games now but Tuesday night could give us a chance of closing the gap to two points with five games still to go. COYB's!
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richard_4_itfc added 19:22 - Apr 6 What a surprise putting Wordsworth back in! I was pleased he was back but it felt strange and inconsistent from Mick McCarthy. Mick did pick a team to win and they did well in the first half with a few chances to score but what happened in the second half!? Rhodes scored (typical against his old club) and there was none of the Town fight/comebacks seen in other games this season. That second half was poor! Town need more than ever to play hard in the remaining games (for every minute). The play offs look unlikely now but every Town player should be giving it their all in every game to the end and not going AWOL like the second half at Blackburn. COME ON YOU BLUES!!

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theobald1985 added 19:49 - Apr 6 JMW seems to view our transition into a long ball team as progress. there is nothing progressive about playing defensive minded hoof ball and always after a draw.that style is anti-football and awful to watch and will only ever take you so far. in my opinion i would rather we played a passing game on the deck and commited men forward. i dont think football changed enough after 3 points for a win was introduced it should have made teams go for the win far more.blackpool and swansea both went up playing attacking footie on the deck and both on limited budgets and if we played like that and failed at least we could say we are proud of the football we have played. if mick subjects us to this ugly football all year and does not take us up it will leave a sour taste.and before the excuses come out i might add that he has been allowed to keep cresswell and sign mcgoldrick murphy skuse ebanks blake berra and more so he has hardly had no players or his hands tied.

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blue_moon09 added 20:08 - Apr 6 Moaners are about again, funny they only surface when lose a game, last week MM was god, you part time fans are a fickle bunch zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
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TimmyH added 20:19 - Apr 6 No we're always here @blue_moon09 - congratulate the team when we do well, give criticism when we lose, we all want the same and that's the best for this club. By the way last season under MM our stats (just for you JWM) were W: 15 D: 8 L: 10 should be interesting to see what our points average per game is this season compared to last (under Mick) but I should think it's less.

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blueboy1981 added 20:53 - Apr 6 blue moon09 - ........... 'part time' hey ! ............. I just wonder how much money has departed your pocket in the direction of ITFC, and how many games you have attended over the last 40 years - compared with some of us 'so called moaners'. JUST A THOUGHT ........ !!!!! And of course your post would hold much better if you were to get your facts eight before hitting the keyboard.

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