The Tigers’ unbeaten start to the Championship season was emphatically ended against a Rovers side who had lost their first three games in all competitions
Blackburn Rovers chief Valerian Ismael says it was part of his strategy to quieten the MKM Stadium crowd early on in their 3-0 win at Hull City on Saturday, and also look to take advantage of the Tigers’ defensive issues that have occurred in the past two games.
Rovers were quick out of the blocks and punctured any early momentum amongst the home supporters, who had arrived at the game full of anticipation after the thrilling 3-2 win a few days earlier over Oxford United.
In that game, Joe Gelhardt lit the blue touch paper with a goal after just a few seconds, so the Rovers chief was keen not to see a repeat.
While City had a flurry of chances after 15 minutes or so, it was his Rovers team who assumed control from the moment Ryan Hedges cleverly turned in the opening goal before the game had reached the 20-minute mark.
Two quick-fire goals at the start of the second half took the game away from a City side who were well below par, having been ravaged by a sickness bug ahead of the lunchtime contest.
“It’s exactly like the game plan to make sure that we’re not letting City come into the game,” the Frenchman told Hull Live. “If you let them come, then it will be difficult, and we saw straight away we have to be on the front foot, so very aggressive, and we have to keep the ball.
“We knew that to defend, they have some difficulty, but for that you need to be good on the ball and then to keep the ball to create the space you need. We made it especially from the middle of the first half until the end of the game; we made it perfectly.
“Defensively, if you are not pressing high, they will come quickly into your box. We see this especially on the left side, so they cross quickly.
“McBurnie is very difficult to defend. He’s a tough, tough striker with a lot of experience, and Palmer as well. If you let him be closer to your box, it will be difficult. As long as the player gets the ball 80 metres away from our goal, I’m fine with that because it gives us a chance at least to press. This is the situation we identify. Let them play away from our goal, then it’s fine.
“As soon as they are coming, they will be dangerous, so we have to make sure that in the transition we are able to get into the last third to force them to defend.
“I don’t want to give away our secrets, we want to attack. We want to penetrate the last third, how we play, it’s difficult to defend for any defence, and I think the first goal shows how we want to attack and penetrate the last line.”
Ismael also praised Sean McLoughlin on his first return to the MKM Stadium after leaving for Ewood Park in the summer. The Irishman tussled with McBurnie straight from the kick-off, but kept him largely under lock and key thereafter, before the pair enjoyed an embrace after the final whistle.
“We are very pleased to have him; he has shone from day one,” Ismael said of the former Tigers’ stalwart. “He’s a leader within the team, a quiet leader. He is solid in his performance, very, very strong.
“Week after week, he has become an important player for the club. He’s in his prime, and we are very pleased to have him, and he made another forceful performance.”
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