Blackburn Rovers

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Hosts Blackburn Rovers will face Ipswich Town once again on Tuesday, 2 December (19:45 GMT), following the controversial decision to replay the match after it was suspended in the 79th minute due to heavy rainfall.

Before the game was called off, Ipswich defender Jacob Greaves was dismissed early into the second half for a tackle on forward Yuki Ohashi as the Japanese drove towards goal, and Todd Cantwell later converted a penalty for Rovers to take a 1-0 lead.

The English Football League confirmed the match would be replayed in full the following Thursday, prompting a strong reaction from Blackburn boss Valerien Ismael.

Greaves was required to serve his suspension; however, Cantwell's goal will not stand for the upcoming replay.

Blackburn's draw with Stoke should give Rovers confidence, according to former assistant manager Neil McDonald.

The point edged them out of the Championship's relegation zone and up to 21st place.

"I think they'll gain confidence from the draw against Stoke," McDonald, Sam Allardyce's number two at Ewood Park between 2008-10, told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"Stoke are fifth in the league so that should give them [Rovers] confidence and they've got to try to kick on from there as much as they possibly can.

"Whether it's away or at home, whether it's one point, whether it's three points to keep that momentum going - that's what [Valerien Ismael] has to do after the international break."

Asked if he is worried about Blackburn facing a relegation fight, McDonald said: "I think you always are because after a certain amount of games - they've played [eight] - you normally have 10 or 11, 12 games and that's where you're going to be [in the league] unless you put a real good run together or you have an absolute nightmare and you drop off.

"So, that almost tells you. Are Blackburn going to be on the edge all the time? That remains to be seen."

You can hear more from McDonald on Blackburn Rovers on BBC Sounds.

Gary Hunt
BBC Radio Lancashire

Image source, Rex Features

Blackburn Rovers needed a late goal from Augustus Kargbo to earn a point against Stoke City, who had threatened to take all three in a tight but entertaining Championship encounter at Ewood Park.

In the first half the visitors dominated possession and produced some neat football but it was Rovers who had the better chances, particularly through Andri Gudjonnsen, who squandered the best of them shortly before half-time.

It was goalless at the break but early in the second period Stoke moved the ball with more conviction and found their breakthrough on 49 minutes when Million Manhoef darted into space and slotted low past Balazs Toth.

It was a moment of quality in a game that up to that point had failed to deliver the cutting edge required.

Blackburn's response was initially subdued, their build-up play hampered by sloppy passing and the visitors well-organised back line, but the introduction of Kargbo and Yuki Ohashi injected much-needed urgency. Rovers began to play higher up the pitch, forcing mistakes and penning Stoke deeper into their own half.

Their efforts finally paid dividends eight minutes from time.

Cantwell's persistence enabled him to find Kargbo unmarked inside the six-yard box and the substitute guided an effort into the bottom corner to level things up.

The goal awakened the home crowd and set up a frantic finish in which Rovers looked the likelier to snatch victory, with Kargbo hitting a post and then heading wide from close range with just the keeper to beat.

Stoke were on the ropes in the closing minutes, surviving a flurry of corners and a late blocked effort from Sean McLoughlin.

In truth, the draw felt about right. Stoke's slick passing earned them their lead but Blackburn's energy and substitutions deserved reward.

Both managers will see positives - Blackburn's resilience and work rate and Stoke's fluent passing were highlights of a game neither side deserved to lose.

Blackburn manager Valerien Ismael says results have not reflected how his team have performed this season but that a win can change everything.

Rovers held high flying Stoke to a 1-1 draw after Augustus Kargbo's goal cancelled out Million Manhoef's opener.

But the result still leaves the club 21st in the Championship, which Ismael says is a false position.

"I think the table doesn't reflect our performance," he told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"We have one game less, we are in a transition with new players and we need a win like this to change momentum. The belief can come quickly."

Ismael also said he was pleased with the refereeing display with no controversial decisions.

"I wanted a normal game today, with no (controversial) referee decisions. It was good today, we can talk about football. It was an entertaining game and what we love.

"We have a break, I will see my family and recharge the battery. It will be good to have a breather - mentally it has been a challenging week."

Blackburn Rovers defender Lewis Miller says recent decisions that have gone against the club are "hard to overlook" as they target a first home win against Stoke City on Saturday (12:30 BST).

Rovers felt frustrated in their last match at Ewood Park when they were not awarded a penalty for a sliding tackle on Todd Cantwell during their 2-1 loss to Swansea.

It followed the EFL's decision to replay their previous home match against Ipswich after it was abandoned in the 79th minute due to heavy rainfall - a decision Blackburn boss Valerien Ismael labelled as "disgraceful."

Rovers were 1-0 up in the match with the Tractor Boys a man down after Jacob Greaves' second-half dismissal.

"It's always going to linger in the back of your mind, decisions like that, because they influence our results and where you are on the table and it's hard to overlook those things," Miller told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"But you kind of just have to put them aside, go on to the next one. It's a long season, there's a lot of games to try and get back into it and that's what we are going to have to try and do."

Valerien Ismael says social media abuse in football is "dangerous" and there needs to be more education about it.

The Blackburn boss spoke out to BBC Radio Lancashire after Augustus Kargbo came in for online abuse following his mistake which led to Swansea's second goal in their 2-1 Championship win at Ewood Park on Tuesday. It was Rovers' fourth straight home defeat in all competitions this season.

"The reaction on social media is a big problem generally. Players and managers get abused," the Frenchman said.

"Social media should have been a tool to keep human beings stay connected, but it's being used as a weapon against each other.

"It's football, you lose, you win. Good or bad, everything will pass at some point. It's dangerous behaviour from people, it's about education."

Ismael stressed he was speaking generally about online abuse, not specifically about Kargbo's situation, and added: "We are not listening to anything outside, we're completely out of social media, it's generally a massive problem in football.

"It's unacceptable. To have extreme reactions when things are not going in your direction is not something I can cope with."

Ahead of the visit of third-placed Stoke to third-bottom Rovers on Saturday (15:00 BST), Ismael insisted: "Everyone needs to step up, take more responsibility, to avoid mistakes and make sure we give ourselves the chance to win games.

"We have to stay calm, we have a long way to go. We show great moments in games, now we need that consistency.

"It would be good to finally have a home win, it will help mentally, it's been a tough week. It will help get confidence back and have a breather (during the international break) before the next game."

Ismael also revealed he has spoken with Makhtar Gueye after he was left out of the squad to face Swansea, adding: "We try to mix it up to keep everyone involved."

Adam Forshaw is continuing to step up his recovery from injury and might be able to return after the international break, while Moussa Baradji might be back after the one in November.

Image source, Opta

Stoke could return to the top-two of the Championship, for a few hours at least, with victory at Blackburn on Saturday lunchtime (12:30 BST).

The Potters had to settle for a goalless draw at unbeaten leaders Middlesbrough on Tuesday night, and slipped to third behind Coventry, after a third straight game without a win.

Mark Robins' hopes will be high, however, as City have a a fine record against Rovers of late, especially at Ewood Park.

Third-bottom Blackburn have also lost all four home games this season in all competitions and have lost three of their past four games overall, scoring only twice.

• Blackburn Rovers have lost five of their past seven league games against Stoke City (W2), though have scored exactly three goals in both of those victories.

• Stoke City have lost just one of their past 10 away league games against Blackburn Rovers since 2009 (W6 D3), keeping seven clean sheets during that time.

• Since winning four consecutive league games in April, Blackburn Rovers have only won two of their past eight games in the Championship (D1 L5), losing each of the last two.

• Stoke won their first three matches of the Championship season, yet have won just one of their five matches in the competition since then (D2 L2), while scoring just twice across the five fixtures.

• Blackburn boss Valerien Ismael won his first league game against Stoke in February 2021 (2-0 in charge of Barnsley), but is winless in four league matches against them since (D1 L3).

Andy Bayes
BBC Radio Lancashire Sport Editor

Image source, Rex Features

Four home games (not including the abandoned match against Ipswich), and it's four defeats for Blackburn Rovers.

It's the third game in succession (including the Ipswich washout) that head coach Valerien Ismael has been left angry, frustrated and bemoaning the luck of his team with decisions by officials or authorities.

Ismael must be furious that his team have nothing to show for their efforts, though a lot of it has been self-inflicted.

They led Birmingham in August after 90 minutes and somehow managed to lose, a first-half sending-off against Norwich was a big factor in their next defeat and they surrendered a lead against Swansea by conceding two goals that could have been avoided.

Goncalo Franco's volley on the stroke of half-time was a moment of real quality, but Ismael felt there was a lack of pressure on the ball in the build-up. That was a continuing theme from Saturday's 3-0 defeat at Charlton.

The second goal just can't happen at this level. Substitute Augustus Kargbo was culpable potentially three times. A poor touch, a loss of possession, and for one of the quickest players on the pitch, there was a real lack of intensity to sprint back to make an attempt to stop the counter-attack.

Now, to the real talking point of the match. From high in the Jack Walker Stand, my first instinct was a penalty or potentially a free-kick for a foul on Todd Cantwell. My first instinct at West Brom on the opening day was that Yuki Ohashi should have been awarded a spot-kick, and Saturday's handball at Charlton also looked like a penalty.

You can understand the frustration for the players and management, but, putting those decisions aside, the league table tells its own story. Two victories and five defeats in seven matches. Six goals scored and 10 conceded.

The early signs are that goals may be an issue. If Cantwell isn't scoring, who is? Is whoever is asked to play in the number nine position being given the service to score goals? I don't leave games feeling that Ohashi should have done better or Andri Gudjohnsen could have had a hat-trick. Makhtar Gueye looks surplus to requirements. It's an area of concern.

The centre of defence has had four different partnerships in eight games. They'll be hoping to find the right combination and stick to it if Hayden Carter can stay fit.

On the plus side, the centre of midfield has seen Taylor Gardner-Hickman and Sondre Tronstad look the best pairing, and Ryan Alebiosu has made a very positive start at right-back.

In the past couple of games, the influence of Lewis Travis, Dom Hyam and Danny Batth - who have 1,800 Championship appearances between them - has been missed, but it doesn't really help anyone thinking that way.

Ismael told me last night that the bedding-in process for his new players from overseas has come to an end and he expects results.

"I think we gave enough time to everyone to settle, to adapt to the transition, to come to a new country, a new league," he said.

"We didn't rush players. We gave them time and assessed them, but now I think it's time to assess the performance, and now it's game-to-game with the performance.

"We have an almost full squad at the minute in all positions. So we need that competition."

Rovers host Stoke on Saturday lunchtime before the international break - they'll be desperate to end this wait for a home victory before the majority of the other sides play.

"I can't believe it's not a penalty. When you have skilful players like Todd Cantwell on the park you expect them to do something special. He's driven into the box, he does a great Cruyff turn, the defender hasn't a clue where he is, he slides... for me it's a penalty.

"The officials are 15 yards away and can see it. You can see why sometimes managers pull their hair out because decisions like that can change games and Blackburn had the upper hand at that time.

"I think they have been short-changed a number of times already this season."

BBC Radio Lancashire sports editor Andy Bayes and former Rovers striker Kevin Gallacher reflect on the 2-1 home defeat by Swansea and in particular the decision by ref Leigh Doughty not to award the home side a penalty for Cameron Burgess' sliding challenge on Cantwell as the hosts chased an equaliser late on.

Click here for more Rovers content via BBC Sounds.

Alan Kelly is urging Blackburn Rovers to not "feel sorry for themselves" but to "replicate the performance" against Ipswich Town before the game was abandoned.

Rovers were leading 1-0 against 10 men with 10 minutes remaining when the Championship game was stopped due to heavy rain on 20 September.

Rovers suffered a 3-0 defeat by Charlton last time out - a fourth loss from their opening six Championship matches - and Valerien Ismael's side now languish 20th in the table.

Former Blackburn goalkeeper Kelly is worried they might be treating the Ipswich game as a win without having the points on the board. The rearranged game takes place on 8 October.

He told BBC Radio Lancashire: "What's worrying about that is, is that being portrayed to the players? Like, 'Oh, we've already won.' What it should be is, 'Listen, the standard has to be what got us in the place to nearly win the game against Ipswich.'

"You have to match that now again; you can't feel sorry for yourselves," he added.

"You can't say, 'Oh well, it's unjust' or whatever. Whatever the reasons are about, you have to go out there and replicate the performance. Don't forget that Ipswich were down to 10 men as well, you know, so there's that element to the game as well.

"I think you're looking for performance rather than excuses, and they need a performance [against Hull]."

You can listen to more from Kelly on Blackburn Rovers on BBC Sounds.

Blackburn Rovers boss Valerien Ismael will not get angry with his players despite Saturday's 3-0 loss at Charlton making it four defeats from their opening six Championship matches.

The reverse at The Valley came two days after the EFL ordered Rovers' abandoned game with Ipswich to be replayed in full even though Ismael's side were leading 1-0 against 10 men with 10 minutes remaining.

"It was the first time we were not really present in the way we play, especially with the ball, we lost the ball too easily," the Frenchman told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"Maybe the decision in midweek affected the players at some point because I was really missing something.

"But we are focused on the next game - at the minute it's not the right time to put massive pressure on the players and to be angry, it's still a process and a transition and we still have players who have just arrived at the club."

Blackburn are assessing a foot injury to right-back Ryan Alebiosu which forced him off at half-time against Charlton before confirming their squad to face Swansea on Tuesday.

"We'll have an assessment this afternoon (Monday) and we will take the final decision. So we'll have to wait now to see if his participation is in danger or not," Ismael added.

"It won't be something long for sure. It's just because the game is coming so soon. I think if the next game had been next Saturday there wouldn't be any problem."

Rovers continue to be without defender Hayden Carter as well as midfielders Moussa Baradji and Jake Garrett.

Image source, Opta

Blackburn return to Ewood Park on Tuesday hoping to finally end their home duck as Swansea are the visitors (19:45 BST).

Rovers lost their first three games of the season in all competitions in front of their own fans, but were leading 1-0 against Ipswich in the closing stages when the game was abandoned on 20 September, and will have to replay the full 90 minutes.

Valerien Ismael's side are seeking to bounce back from a 3-0 defeat at Charlton on Saturday while the Swans were pegged back to draw 1-1 at home to Millwall.

The Welsh side have a pretty dismal record at Ewood Park, with just one win in the past 53 years, but would be right back in the play-off pack should they pick up all three points on Tuesday.

• Blackburn have lost just two of their 24 previous home league games against Swansea (W17 D5), going down 1-2 in 1971-72 and 0-1 in 2023-24.

• Swansea have won three of their past four Championship games against Blackburn (L1), more than their previous nine beforehand (W2 D4 L3).

• Blackburn have lost both of their past two home league games, last losing three in a row in March 2019, while they have only lost their opening three at home in a league campaign in 1956-57 and 1996-97.

• Swansea have lost three of their past four away league outings (W1), failing to score in all three defeats.

• Blackburn's Valerien Ismael has won just one of his five previous Championship games against Swansea (D1 L3), a 1-0 win with Watford in October 2023.

Andy Bayes
BBC Radio Lancashire sports editor

Image source, Rex Features

For Blackburn Rovers – you can file this match under the 'bad day at the office' or 'not at the races' column. Straight away it's about the reaction to it.

For whatever reason, these matches happen in the Championship and often without warning.

Rovers might not have the number of wins they'd like on the board so far, but they've been in every game.

The opening day at West Brom might not have been particularly great, but with the score at one-nil, there was always a chance of getting back into it.

In general, football fans don't spare a thought for the predicament of other teams, but I'd imagine a fair few were glad it wasn't their team on the end of the EFL verdict this week to replay a game against Ipswich.

A goal to the good, a one player advantage and somewhere like 16 minutes to hold out (give or take a couple of minutes of stoppage time). The talk pre-match was about the determination to show that frustration at The Valley.

That looked highly unlikely to happen for large parts of the game.

Credit goes to Charlton Athletic. They played well; they have an excellent record on home soil. They won individual battles all over the pitch; they looked sharper and quicker and had far more invention in their play. A look at the BBC stats tells us that they had almost three times more touches in the opposition penalty area than Rovers did.

The biggest concern watching from high in the stand was that in order to try and score a goal, bodies were needed forward. They looked too deep all afternoon.

Distances looked out, the midfield pretty much camped in, and when they did get in the opposition's final third – the creativity on the day just didn't match their opponents. Thomas Kaminski made two saves in the Addicks goal; he'll certainly have busier days.

Rovers boss Valerien Ismael told me after the game: "It's been a tough week."

He was adamant that his team should have been awarded a penalty with the score at 1-0.

He added: "I think it's terrible the referee didn't see that [for handball by Lloyd Jones], because it can be a game-changer.

"What's embarrassing is that our captain is allowed to speak to the referee and he has winked at him and laughed at him. This is unacceptable. He made a mistake, but at least treat our player properly and not laugh at our players."

Referee Anthony Backhouse or the governing body is highly unlikely to make any sort of response to that.

Granted, had a penalty been awarded and subsequently converted, then naturally it would have put a different complexion on the game.

But as a contest, this was Charlton's day. They were the better side and more than deserved maximum points.

Two home games to come this week and potentially a rearranged one around the corner too for Rovers; they'll see a fair amount of Ewood Park this month.

Three points on Tuesday against Swansea will quickly draw a line through this one.

Image source, Rex Features

Blackburn manager Valerien Ismael was unhappy with referee Anthony Backhouse's reaction to his captain Todd Cantwell's penalty appeal in the defeat at Charlton.

Cantwell's cross struck the arm of Lloyd Jones but Mr Backhouse turned down shouts for a spot-kick from Cantwell and his teammates.

Ismael told BBC Radio Lancashire: "We had some good moments at the beginning but we were not consistent and the performance was not that good, I don't know why.

"We conceded a goal at a setpiece but the good thing was that it was only one goal at half time.

"Then came the moment we were looking at and I think it's terrible the referee didn't see that [handball by Jones], because it can be a game-changer.

"What's embarrassing is that our captain is allowed to speak to the referee and he has winked at him and laughed at him. This is unacceptable. He made a mistake, but at least treat our player properly and not laugh at our players.

"It's been a tough week but we have a quick turnaround with a game on Tuesday."

Blackburn Rovers will look to end a disappointing week on a high when they make the trip to Charlton Athletic on Saturday (15:00 BST).

Having led a 10-man Ipswich Town 1-0 after 79 minutes, heavy rainfall saw the game abandoned and the English Football League settle on a replay.

It's left Blackburn feeling hard done by after dominating following the dismissal but they will need to get over their ordeal quickly when they visit a side who, while not prolific scorers themselves, make finding the net a troublesome task.

• Charlton have won just one of their last six home league games against Blackburn (D2 L3), with this their first since a 2-0 defeat in February 2020.

• Blackburn have won six of their last nine league games against Charlton (D1 L2), though those two defeats in that run have come in the last three meetings.

• Charlton have lost just one of their last 18 home league games (W13 D4), going down 1-0 against Leicester last month.

• Having won just one of a run of 10 away league games between December and March last season (D1 L8), Blackburn have now won four of their last six on the road (D1 L1).

• Only Sheffield United (1) have scored fewer goals than Charlton (4) in the Championship this season. However, only Stoke and Middlesbrough (4) have conceded fewer than the Addicks (5).

A potential move to take the Championship play-offs down to eighth place would damage the competition's credibility, according to former Huddersfield, Stoke and Middlesbrough defender Tommy Smith.

The EFL board is set to discuss proposals to increase the number of teams in the end-of-season play-offs from four to six but Smith, who was promoted to the Premier League with Huddersfield via the play-offs in 2017 is not a fan of the idea.

"It's not for me - I think it suits teams who don't really have a chance to get in the top six," he told the BBC's EFL podcast 72+.

"From a credibility point of view the top six is there to be aimed at and you have to earn your place in it."

The play-offs were first introduced for the 1986-87 season where sides finishing third down to fifth were involved along with the team third-from-bottom in the top flight.

After two seasons the format was changed to be played out between teams finishing third to sixth in the second tier.

"To finish eighth in the Championship and potentially get promoted to the Premier League it just doesn't sit right with me," added Smith.

"Notoriously over the past years getting into the top six is tough and when you get in there after a long hard season it feels brilliant, so to make it a top eight it dilutes it."

Replaying the full game between Blackburn and Ipswich would be "hard to bear" for Rovers, says BBC Radio Lancashire pundit Jimmy Bell.

Saturday's Championship clash with the Tractor Boys was abandoned 10 minutes from time because of heavy rain at Ewood Park with Rovers leading 1-0 and Town down to 10.

A decision has yet to be made on whether the result will stand or if a replay will take place.

Bell told BBC Radio Lancashire: "Was it the right decision (to abandon it)? I would have to say yes.

"It's not fair. I think Blackburn would have gone on and won that game which would propel them right up the league and two points outside the play-offs.

"It's a hard one to take for the Blackburn fans, (but) it's very difficult."

Asked whether Blackburn may be awarded the win, the former Accrington assistant manager added: "I don't think that will happen. For me, as it stands, I think it can only be replayed.

"I would be amazed if the result stood. In the integrity of football, if it did stand, that possibly might be the right decision but the rules and regulations would only be pointing one way and that would be replayed and it would be 11 v 11 and a minimum of 90 minutes, which is hard to bear."

You can listen to more on BBC Sounds.