Just got back from Ewood Park - Excellent performance very unlucky not to win

From one to eleven the team were excellent but it was a game of missed chances for the reds, I'm afraid thats what £8 million quid of talent gets you, Rhodes did nothing for the rest of the match he was in the pockets of our defence, but one piece of fanastic individual skill and it was in the back of the net, all you could do was applaud the bloke.

We missed 4 or 5 excellent chances and should have gone in at half time 2 or 3 in front.

Blackburn's second goal was a good move down the left, pin point cross and bang back of the net, good night Vienna, and that was the story of the game, the stats were 61% possesion for us but we did not have the quality in front of goal compared to them. We outplayed them for long periods of the match. Stones, Davies, Mellis and Gouldbourne in particular were fantastic, Stones went of injured but God knows why Hill took Davies off for Harewood because Davies was superb today, that was the only blot on Hills copybook in taking Davies off - was he injured, if not why sub him ????????

Fight, passion, desire, pride for the shirt and excellent going forward but sadly couldn't finish the chances we created.

Hills after match interview was comedy gold, listen to it if you can.

We will play worse than that and win this season, Blackburn could not live with our attacking play at times.

Just under 13,000 there with a good thousand from Barnsley who gave excellent vocal backing throughout and what a fantastic display of supporters flags !!!!!

The players and staff came over and thanked the fans at the final whistle and they left to a standing ovation

All in all very encouraging performance particularly being away from home against a team who have spent more on Rhodes than our annual turnover, they were littered with big money players on over £25k a week, but it was they who looked inferior for long periods.

Very proud of Hill and the team tonight, and if Stones carries on playing like that then it won't be long till Chelsea and Man Utd will be coming in for him if the rumours are true.

Hill should have his own show !!!!

 

Gutted that we lost but you can't help but feel positive about it. We have played the best 2 teams in the division in 3 days and could easily have had 6pts. Been a good night. Popped into the Blues Bar before game, it was packed, Barnsley need to get one sorted, they will have taken some coin tonight.

 

Adam Brammer from Barnsley Player said Davies was "unusually quiet". I suspect from the comments of fans at the game that you mainly seem to feel thats grossly unfair?

 

Why did Hill take Davies and Dagnall off ???? Harewood was dog sh*t

If they were both injured fair enough, did they run out of steam ??? those 2 were big threats and thorns in Blackburns side. Harewood was very poor, can't compete and can't make the ball stick, wasted a brilliant chance when he should have squared and instea blasted well wide.

Yes I saw the Blues Bar, again our marketing team at Oakwell is a joke, we need new staff who are in the modern world and in touch with its supporters, facilities at Blackburn were superb.

 

Davies was superb throughout, Adam Brammer wasn't at the same match as me !!!

Hill took him off, God knows why

 

Re: Davies was superb throughout, Adam Brammer wasn't at the same match as me !!!

Got to agree, just got back and feel like we've been mugged tonight but like you say we can't afford to play so well and not take our chances because you will get punished. I honestly feel that had Davies stayed on we would have won the game because he would not have made such a balls up of that chance. An excellent performance but gutted about the result. Well done Hill, Flicker and the team.

 

Re: Davies was superb throughout, Adam Brammer wasn't at the same match as me !!!

Second half whenever we got the ball to Davies he had his back to goal and that's not his game. Personally I thought the time was right for a change. We needed someone who could bully their defenders and forage for scraps. Sadly harewood did neither. His hunger seems to have vanished. Sods law too that his first chance was exactly the sort of thing Davies routinely buries.

 

Re: Davies was superb throughout, Adam Brammer wasn't at the same match as me !!!

Etuhu's "tackle" on Stones changed the game...

1)Probably cost us the 1st goal as Stone's was limping and didnt really compete for the header back across goal.
2)Took away our threat down that side, thought Stone's was seeing a lot of the ball up to that point. Seemed to be struggling with the knock after that.

What a player he is going to be tho... Was fantastic tonight up to being arguably taken out of the game

 

Re: Davies was superb throughout, Adam Brammer wasn't at the same match as me !!!

Apparently Stretch got a picture of that tackle and it looks like a leg breaker.

 

Re: Davies was superb throughout, Adam Brammer wasn't at the same match as me !!!

the striker was holding his arm so he could not jump,

 

You are a changed man.

 

Didnt go to the game, but from reports it sounds like if we can maintain some consistency we will beat teams of far less a standard than Blackburn. Good to see Flicker have also learnt from last season's mistakes and improved as a manager/coach.

 

Yes - excellent performance - shame about the outcome. Shame we can't score but Blackburn had done their homework on Davies, and knowing that playing on the left he always cuts inside to shoot with his right - they covered it and smothered him. Deadwood was obviously sent on to add some sparkle up front but to do that you need to be committed - and he isn't. Didn't win a single header and then just ambled about. His missed opportunity should have been buried. 1st half we were outplaying the league leaders(again) and the Rovers fans were already calling for Keane's head(again) and those around us were complaining particularly about Danny Murphy ("£40 grand a week for that shi-ite"). But it was mainly the Reds playing well that nullified them. I said - if this is the top of the League, then we can win the League!! But then de-ja vu - our best young player (Stonesy), gets taken out brutally on the half way line and that changed the game. He should have come off but we were lacking in defenders on the bench and the system with Crainey again playing in front of the back four - was excellent(as was Crainey)
Full marks to Hillflicker again- I keep telling my fellow fans - stick with him he'll get it right - we play good football and even Holloway admitted on Saturday that Keef had impressed him with our setup.
The endeavour is there(Deadwood and Etuhu apart), don't lose the fact that we've already played 5 teams who are fancied for promotion and we can hold our heads up. The standing ovation from the always noisy Reds fans at the end is evidence
As my owd fella is nearly 90 I have to take him in the hospitality and Blackburn's was superb! For £51 each we got parking next to the ground, 3 course meal with choice (I had Lancashire hotpot - not as good as Betty's but hey!), seats nr the halfway line & programme team sheets etc. A bargain for me as I remember 3 years ago when I was on crutches going to the Pigs @ the Lane and it cost me £125 each then!!!
Keep the faith - after Birmingham(another promotion favourite) we have 2 home games v Ipswich & Peterboro (currently bottom 2 in the league) - we should win those and keep us mid-table.
Rumours are that Chelsea are considering a deal for Stonsey but we all hope he stays with us obviously until we can't keep him

 

[HR][/HR] I have to agree that Barnsley played excellently Last night. My only gripe is that Dagnall and Davies was subbed. Dagnall was outstanding especiaclly his defensive work rate tracking back and pressuring the ball was fabulous. Davies looked to me to lack enndeavour tonight. We need to be able mto sub like for like when we are on the front foot rather than playing for a draw. It all went to pot when Harewood came on and Etuhu cam on for daggers. Perkins was the right sub as Stone was carrying a knock so craine had to move to covers Stones postion.
After the subs where made we where lacking we didnt seem able to penertrate there defence. Harewood needs a kick up the back side and nneds to be told to his work rate is poor.

 

I can't believe how positive that is!