CONSISTENT CAPTAIN
THIS was the last chance the Ewood Park faithful had to see their side in action before the voting closes for player of the year and, while the two-goal Danny Graham was rightly named man of the match, the performance Grant Hanley produced would have done little to alter the feeling that the skipper will romp to the award.
In a season when Rovers have been unable to string together a consistent set of results the captain has been their constant. Once again on Saturday he was head and shoulders above most.
If many of his team-mates had hit the same levels as Hanley then Paul Lambert’s side would not be facing a sorry fight to finish fourth from bottom.
OWN WORST ENEMY
HANLEY has played a leading role in Rovers boasting one of the better defensive records in the Championship. Conceding 45 goals in 44 games, and keeping 13 clean sheets along the way, is not too shabby.
But of those 45 goals how many were out of the top drawer? How many did not come directly from errors?
Rovers remain their own worst enemy with the two they let in on Saturday being cases in point.
The Robins were able to slalom their way through a defence that, by the time Aaron Wilbraham netted to turn the game on its head, was all over the place.
Credit where it’s due, Rovers fought back to earn a point, but they should never have put themselves in that position in the first place.
GIVE YOUTH A CHANCE
FROM the second half on there was little to cheer for a set of supporters who have now failed to see their side win any of their last four home matches.
But the Rovers fans did rise to their feet to give a standing ovation after one of their own walked off the field 63 minutes into his home debut.
Connor Mahoney, who was warming to the task just before he was brought off, has been one of the few positives of this miserable end to the campaign.
And, with safety now mathematically assured, there should be no reason why one or two more youngsters cannot be introduced before the season is out.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel