The Blackburn Rovers faced off against Ipswich Town, and the player ratings from The Lancashire Telegraph provide an insightful overview of how each player performed during the match. A score of six is considered standard, with any variation from that indicating either a standout performance or room for improvement.
Balazs Toth - 7
Toth was instrumental in minimizing the damage on the scoreboard by making several impressive saves throughout the game. While some may question his positioning for the second goal, he certainly wasn’t the primary cause of the team’s struggles.
Tom Atcheson - 6
Atcheson kicked off the match with energy and was arguably the best player for Rovers in the first half. However, as the minutes wore on, fatigue set in, yet he managed to avoid further issues despite being on a yellow card.
Sean McLoughlin - 4
McLoughlin had a rough start, struggling particularly against Hirst and losing track of O'Shea, leading to the second goal. Though he showed some recovery in the second half, his initial performance left much to be desired.
Eiran Chasin - 5
Chasin’s own goal marked a disastrous beginning. Although he might have been better off letting the ball pass, he did manage to redeem himself somewhat with a solid block later in the game, though he was lucky not to give away a penalty.
Taylor Gardner-Hickman - 5
Gardner-Hickman put forth his best effort while playing as a right-wing-back, a position that doesn't align with his natural skills. His performance improved in the latter part of the match, demonstrating adaptability.
Axel Henriksson - 4
Playing deeper in midfield, Henriksson struggled to make an impact. He rarely touched the ball and has yet to prove he possesses the technical ability needed for Championship-level play.
Sondre Tronstad - 5
Tronstad delivered a few wayward passes but lacked support from his teammates, which hampered his effectiveness on the field.
Moussa Baradji - 5
Baradji failed to make a significant mark on the game, missing a clear opportunity to score when he didn’t hit the target on a promising shot.
Dion De Neve - 4
Some might wonder if De Neve could have done more to assist Cashin during the first goal. While he gave his all, the quality of his contributions wasn’t sufficient, allowing Burns to get ahead of him for the third goal.
Yuki Ohashi - 5
Ohashi worked diligently in the attacking role but didn’t get many chances to strike at goal. He was fouled by Furlong, which raised questions about a potential penalty that he should have received.
Todd Cantwell - 5
Cantwell found himself in the unenviable position of becoming the 'villain' of the match due to his connections with Norwich, and unfortunately, he was unable to make a meaningful impact.
Substitutes:
Mathias Jorgensen (45') - 6
Jorgensen appeared lively whenever Rovers could provide him with space to maneuver, showcasing moments of promise.
Adam Forshaw (90') - N/A
Forshaw came on during stoppage time when the score was already 3-0, limiting his impact.
Aodhan Doherty - N/A
Doherty entered the game simply to help relieve Ohashi from running around for an additional five minutes.
Unused substitutes: Michalski, O'Riordan, Ribeiro, Pickering, Pratt, Powell, Doherty.
