Ipswich Town v Blackburn Rovers
Saturday 14th January 2017 – 15:00
Portman Road
Opening Thought - Jamma
Saturday’s FA Cup tie against Lincoln was supposed to provide us with some respite from a frustrating league campaign. With the top six a distant prospect, it was an opportunity to reverse the trend of our horrendous recent run in the competition, and inject some life back into our season. There also seemed to be some optimism amongst the supporters, as a late flurry of ticket sales saw a better-than-average attendance of over 16,000 (even if this figure was skewed somewhat by the incredible following of 4,838 from Lincolnshire). But as I listened to the positive predictions coming in on BBC Suffolk’s ‘Life’s a Pitch’ pre-match show, I asked myself ‘Can I really see us winning this 3-0?’. I hate to admit it, but I thought we were more likely to be edged out by the odd goal than record a comfortable win. The media obviously saw it the same way, with Football Focus featuring the game as one of the more likely sources of an upset. Within 7 minutes of kick-off, that was looking a distinct possibility, as Theo Robinson sent the packed-out Cobbold Stand wild with a clinical finish. If this early setback was a wake-up call, the Blues’ quick-fire response, through a fine solo run and finish from Tom Lawrence, should have been the catalyst for us to go on and exert our authority. So it was understandably one of Mick McCarthy’s main gripes that we weren’t able to build on the equaliser. It was the Imps instead who continued to apply the pressure, and they had already fired a couple of warning shots before Robinson grabbed his second, capitalising on a shaky defensive header from Christophe Berra similar to the one by Adam Webster that had led to QPR’s winner earlier in the week. Also like at Loftus Road, Lawrence came up with another exquisite long-range strike to give us a lifeline. But come the final whistle, Lincoln could consider themselves very unfortunate to have only secured a replay, Josh Emmanuel’s lung-busting run and last-ditch challenge on Alex Woodyard preventing what would have been a deserved victory.
While it’s credit to McCarthy that he was honest enough to admit that Lincoln were unlucky not to go through, he will not have won over any fans by again emphasising how well the opposition played. Yes, Mick, they may be a ‘good side’, playing with plenty of confidence, but let’s not forget that they still play three divisions below us. It’s got to the point where our manager is seemingly intent on deflecting attention anywhere but on his own side’s performance. When pushed further on the disappointment of Saturday’s result, he merely pointed out that there had been other third-round upsets, before comparing the two teams’ confidence levels and saying that maybe it wasn’t such a big shock (he may have a point there…). I have tried to cut him some slack while others have been calling for McCarthy’s head, but it is head-in-the-sand comments like these – almost bordering on the Jose Mourinho in refusing to accept blame – that try the patience of the most understanding of supporters. I’m sure I’m not the only one who predicted, pretty much word-for-word, that Mick would answer the question of why he didn’t introduce any substitutes with ‘It wasn’t the game for Ben Morris’. Bringing on Jonathan Douglas after the episode at Loftus Road may well have been the last straw for many Town fans, but McCarthy didn’t miss the chance to have a little dig at the supporters by saying as much. Not for the first time in 2016/17, it is hard to see where we go from here, other than a home clash with Blackburn, who will doubtless be ‘no mugs’.
As for me, I am heading off to Australia for two weeks, for some summer sun and a change of sport with the Australian Open tennis. I will be leaving the ‘Opening thought’ in the very capable hands of Herforder for the next three/four games. Hopefully, by the time I take up the reins again for the visit of Reading, the team and the club will have turned some kind of corner…
The Opposition – Blackburn Rovers
The club was founded in 1875 and, on 28 September 1878, Blackburn Rovers became one of 23 clubs to form the Lancashire Football Association.
Blackburn were an early F.A. Cup winner, with a 2–1 victory over the Scottish team Queen's Park on 29 March 1884, and then repeated the feat over the next two seasons for 3 consecutive cup wins. They won the trophy for a fourth & fifth time in 1890 & 1891 respectively.
Blackburn Rovers were founder members of the Football League in 1888.
Blackburn Rovers struggled during the early years of the 20th century, before a gradual improvement in results began. During the first three decades of the 20th century, Blackburn Rovers were still considered a top side in the English league. They were First Division champions in 1911–12 and 1913–14, and F.A. Cup winners in 1927–28.
Blackburn Rovers maintained a respectable mid-table position in the First Division until they were finally relegated from the top flight (for the first time since the foundation of the league) in the 1935–36 season.
When the league resumed after the war, Blackburn Rovers were relegated in their second season (1947–48). The club remained in the second division for the following ten years. After promotion in 1958, they again returned to the mid-table position they had occupied in the earlier part of the century.
They were again relegated from the First Division in 1966 and began a 26-year exile from the top division.
During the 1970s, Blackburn Rovers bounced between the Second and Third Divisions, winning the Third Division title in 1975, but never mounted a challenge for promotion to the First Division, despite the efforts of successive managers to put the club back on track.
Following the Jack Walker takeover, Rovers finished 19th in the Second Division at the end of the 1990–91 season, and the new owner had made millions of pounds available to spend on new players and appointed Kenny Dalglish as manager in October 1991. Blackburn secured promotion to the new FA Premier League at the end of the 1991–92 season as play-off winners, ending 26 years outside the top flight.
Rovers made headlines in the summer of 1992 by paying an English record fee of £3.5million for the 22-year-old Southampton and England centre-forward Alan Shearer. After finishing fourth in 1992–93 and runners-up in 1993–94, they went on to win the Premier League title in 1994–95.
Kenny Dalglish moved upstairs to the position of Director of Football at the end of the Premier League-winning season, and handed over the reins to his assistant Ray Harford. Blackburn Rovers made a poor start to the 1995–96 season, and found themselves in the bottom half for most of the first half of the season. A terrible start to the 1996–97 Premier League campaign saw Harford resign in late October with the club bottom of the division. Relegation looked a real possibility, just two seasons after winning the league. At the end of the 1998/99 season, Blackburn were relegated back to Division One.
Jack Walker died just after the start of the 2000–01 season, and the club dedicated its promotion challenge in memory of their benefactor. Fittingly, they returned to the Premier League after a much-improved season, finishing second behind Fulham.
In 2001–02, Blackburn won their first ever League Cup by beating Tottenham Hotspur 2–1 at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.
In November 2010, the Indian company V H Group bought Blackburn Rovers under the name of Venky's London Limited for £23 million. The new owners sacked manager Sam Allardyce and replaced him with first team coach Steve Kean, initially on a temporary basis.
In December 2011, it was announced that Blackburn Rovers had posted an annual pre-tax loss of £18.6m for the year ending 30 June 2011. Despite this, the owners of Blackburn Rovers provided assurances over the continued funding of the club, even if they were relegated.
On 7 May 2012, the club was relegated to the Championship after being defeated at home by Wigan Athletic in the penultimate game of the season, ending 11 years of being in the English Premier League.
In the 2013/14 season, Blackburn finished in 8th place in the Championship, one place ahead of us in the table.
Last season, Blackburn finished a disappointing 15th place on 55 points.
The Gaffer – Owen Coyle
Past Match - Video Highlights - Trev
A look back to few years ago with a nice win and 3 goals too
Media Watch - K L Blue
Christophe Berra on replay
http://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/ip ... 89094.html
Fans message to MM RE: Lincoln replay
http://www.sudburymercury.co.uk/sport/p ... y_1_484322
Zach Ward on MM
http://www.haverhillecho.co.uk/sport/fo ... -1-7764487
Ipswich Last 5 Matches currently in 15th place with 31 points
Ipswich Town 2-2 Lincoln City
QPR 2-1 Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town 2-1 Bristol City
Ipswich Town 0-2 Fulham FC
Wigan Athletic 2-3 Ipswich Town
Blackburn Last 5 Matches - Currently in 22nd place with 24 points
QPR 1-2 Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers 1-0 Newcastle Utd
Huddersfield 1-1 Blackburn Rovers
Barnsley 2-0 Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers 2-3 Reading FC
Fixtures of Interest
LEEDS VS DERBY (FRIDAY)
BRENTFORD VS NEWCASTLE
WOLVES VS ASTON VILLA
SHEFF. WED VS HUDDERSFIELD
Marko's Caption Contest
THE DON CUP.
Scores:
Tangtastic 5pts
GoldnBlack 4pts
Derickipsw (whopsie) & Blueblood (post match) 3pts
Bluemike 2pts
League table
Gold&Black 45
DerickIpsw 41
Herforder 40
Nicscreamer 38
Blueblood 34
Frosty 32
Bluemike 32
Ando 31
Quasar 25
Tangfastic 22
Watership Down 17
Patthegimp 17
IpswichtownNo1 14
Number 9 12
Shed on Tour 12
Ashfordblue 6
LoudNProud 5;
Supershred 3
Longjohn 1
Foxy Lady 1
Barmy Billy 1
ItfcTrev76 1
Have a go at this:-
Match Referee – James Linington
Final Thought - Bluemike
The local press are asking the question, just what is Mick Mccarthy's tipping point ? When will we reach that point of no return ? If it isn't being outplayed & embarrassed at home by Lincoln City in the cup then god knows when we will ever reach the point of no return. I suppose defeat in the replay at Sincil Bank next week will also be acceptable to Marcus Evans given that his tolerance level knows no bounds. Listening to Mick's interviews after games are becoming more and more ludicrous with every passing game, I found it hard to comprehend the comments about why Jonathon Douglas was not brought on against Lincoln, Mick wasted no time in having a dig at the fans and while I do agree with him if I am honest you just can't be heard to be saying it out loud when you are the manager, I feel the relationship is getting worse and worse while the pressure of playing at home has become like the weight of the world on McCarthy's shoulders, it will only get worse from here on in.
The game itslef was actually quite enjoyable but for all the wrong reasons, being outplayed, outfought and outbattled by Non League Lincoln City, the 5000 fans who filled Portman Road's Cobbold Stand were a credit to their club and to Non League Football but lets be honest, it was only Ipswich Town they were playing so hardly a shock was it. All I can say is thank God for Tom Lawrence, the guy is on fire and where others seem to not give a damn Tom is carrying the team on almost single handed. I did read the article that we can only lose Lawrence IF we agree to such a ting, even if Leicester and Lawrence himself want to sell him this window they can't without our agreement to it, so we hold all the aces but having a player here who has been deprived a move would be counter productive for sure, let's hope this situation does not materialise.
Next up is Blackburn Rovers in what is a very important game for us as a win for Town would see us a good 10 points ahead of the bottom Three and that would take a lot of making up for those clubs down there. However be warned, any team that can turn Newcastle over twice in a matter of weeks and not concede a single goal in either fixture have to be respected, struggling they might be but they have proved they can get results and we are certainly no Newcastle !!! I have virtually given up trying to predict what we will do as I just never know what Town will show up, what we must not lose sight of is the fact that we actually played well against Bristol City & QPR so hope springs eternal, sod it then, Town win for me. COYB'S!
IPSWICH TOWN 2 BLACKBURN ROVERS 1
so its a 1-3 win for Blackburn
quality Don Cup caption effort there, Wolfie......, proper laugh out loud at that one. 
