Blackburn Rovers

Andy Bayes
Sports editor, BBC Radio Lancashire

Image source, Getty Images

If there's such a thing as a 'new manager bounce', this was as good an example as you're likely to see.

This was a meeting of a side harbouring play-off ambitions against one that was struggling to lift the ever-increasing gloom, to create chances, never mind goals. The result – an away win, the visitors scoring three times in a game for only the second time this season.

This was the Championship at its unpredictable best in all its glory.

After 11 days searching for a new head coach, Rovers settled on Michael O'Neill and his unique way of being able to job share club and country management. Add in the return of Phil Jones to the club where he made his name and Steven Davis, another up-and-coming young coach, and things felt immediately different at Loftus Road. Like a dark cloud had been lifted.

The assumption was that O'Neill might take a watching brief. It couldn't have been further from the truth. He was quick to rightly heap praise on coach Damien Johnson for the groundwork, which included a change of formation to select two strikers and bring back that familiar old friend, 4-4-2.

After the initial scruffy start, the goals scored at Loftus Road were of the highest order.

January capture Mathias Jorgensen helped himself to a first-half brace; the creation of the first was sensational. The quality of the ball in from the right by Ryoya Morishita was exquisite. Steered to perfection in between the defenders and the goalkeeper, the sort of service that strikers crave.

After a well-taken leveller from Koki Saito, the character will have been tested. Would Rovers go into their shell and feel sorry for themselves, or would they take the bull by the horns?

Sondre Tronstad is the type who would tackle a bull; in this case, it was actually Saito who he dispossessed before sending Jorgensen through for a little dink past Joe Walsh. How they go about replacing Tronstad when he leaves the club in the summer is anyone's guess. He's been the heartbeat of the team.

Without being overly greedy, the first half could have been even better. Referee Stephen Martin deemed Walsh's challenge on Andri Gudjohnsen to be a fair one and turned down a penalty appeal. Whether it's 'soft' or not, or he was playing for it, I thought they had a case.

Rangers' Isaac Hayden was also more than a shade fortunate to only see yellow for a late lunge on Tronstad.

O'Neill and his new-look staff made a half-time change with Lewis Miller on at right-back. Within five minutes he was involved in the build-up for Tronstad to cross for a totally unmarked Morishita to head home, but within four minutes Miller hit the deck, off the ball. Replays showed it was an Achilles tendon injury.

In World Cup year, you cross your fingers for the best for the big Aussie. If it's a rupture, he's looking at a worst-case scenario of a year in rehab.

So three points in the bag, the new boss off to a flier. The bottom three a distant memory, but one swallow doesn't make a summer. This has to be the springboard for a sustained upturn in fortunes.

It's also no coincidence that the spine of the team being close to full tilt again can only serve to improve matters further. Hayden Carter's been immense since his return. The full 101 minutes played by him is a breakthrough moment.

With a couple more slices of luck on the injury front, Rovers could be heading for happier times.

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New Blackburn Rovers head coach Michael O'Neill says he is concerned about the injury suffered by Lewis Miller in his side's win at Queens Park Rangers.

Australia defender Miller was stretched off early into the second half, just minutes after coming on in the 3-1 victory.

It appears that the 25-year-old, who has played every game since his arrival from Hibernian, has damaged his achilles.

"It does look like a serious injury and he's in a boot, so we can only wish that it's not as serious as it looks," O'Neill told the club's website, external.

"He's in a lot of pain and had to be stretchered off despite nobody being near him. It looks like an achilles situation and we hope that there's good news and it's not as severe as maybe we fear."

Image source, Getty Images

New Blackburn boss Michael O'Neill praised his players' desire after they marked his arrival with a 3-1 victory at QPR to clamber out of the bottom three.

O'Neill's new side recorded an away victory for the first time since November, with Mathias Jorgensen's first-half double sandwiching Koki Saito's response for the home side before Ryoya Morishita sealed the points with a header early in the second period.

"It was a great result for us – this is a difficult place to come," O'Neill told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"The work was done by (caretaker manager) Damien Johnson, he prepared the team and picked the team and did a fantastic job. The credit really lies with him.

"We got a great response from the players and I thought the level of performance merited three points. Our reaction to going level was good and the desire was the biggest thing.

"It's a positive step but we have to make sure we take another positive step next week against Preston."

Andy Gray
BBC Sport NI Journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Northern Ireland's opening Nations League game in Georgia in September will be played behind closed doors.

Northern Ireland were drawn with Hungary, Ukraine and Georgia in League B2.

NI will start their campaign in Georgia on 25 September, however it will be played without supports after the Georgian FA were hit with sanctions after multiple breaches of Uefa regulations and crowd disorder from a game against Armenia last year.

Patrick Nelson, the chief executive at the Irish FA, said it was "naturally disappointing".

"We will be liaising closely with all relevant stakeholders in the lead-up to the game," he said.

"While it is naturally disappointing that our supporters will be unable to attend and back the team in person, the priority remains the safety and security of everyone involved."

Northern Ireland fans spokesperson Gary McAllister said they were only informed of the issue by Football Supporters Europe, and a number of fans had booked flights to Georgia when the fixtures were released in the morning because they did not know the game would likely be behind closed doors.

"Our criticism of this would be that no one advised us of this," McAllister said.

"I know that some fans have already booked their travel for Georgia. I think there has to be better processes in place to advise people, but I would also argue that punishing the innocent because of the guilty is entirely wrong.

"Northern Ireland fans are being punished for the actions of Georgian fans. I think that is an issue that needs to be revisited by Uefa."

When contacted by BBC Sport, and Irish FA spokesperson said: "We recognise our fans' frustration on this matter.

"We were not informed about this ahead of the fixtures being announced and have raised the matter with Uefa."

Uefa has been contacted for comment.

Northern Ireland Nations League fixtures:

25 September: Georgia v Northern Ireland

28 September: Northern Ireland v Hungary

2 October: Ukraine v Northern Ireland

5 October: Northern Ireland v Georgia

14 November: Northern Ireland v Ukraine

17 November: Hungary v Northern Ireland

Image source, Getty Images

Michael O'Neill is the new Blackburn Rovers head coach after being appointed on a short-term deal until the end of the season.

The 56-year-old will continue to lead Northern Ireland for their World Cup play-off tie against Italy next month while also trying to steer Blackburn away from the Championship relegation zone.

Is this the right appointment and will O'Neill's dual role work?

We asked Rovers fans for their views and here are some of their opinions:

Luke: Really unsure about this dual role as a manager. I feel in the current situation, deep in a relegation battle, we need all his focus on just Rovers.

Simon: What concerns me is if you give a manager a contract to the season end, what incentive is there for him to keep them up? I like the look of the backroom team.

Steven: This is how far as a club we have sunk. No disrespect to Michael but come on a part-time appointment? We can no longer attract top people to our club because the investment from the owners is minimal and their communication is non-existent. All we can hope for is that soon they will sell us to someone who will care.

Neil: He did the same at Stoke and kept them up and even took them to the top end of the table. The part-time moniker sounds like he's only going to be there three days out of seven, which is far from the truth. All it means is during international breaks he'll be with Northern Ireland when we wouldn't have a game anyway and that's where his coaching staff take over.

Roverite95: Which club would appoint a part-time manager in the midst of a relegation battle? Shambles!!!

Lesley: Keeping us up is the main priority, sort out the defence on set-plays and get the respect of the players, and stress the importance of game management, especially in the last 15 minutes.

Ed: Pep Guardiola wouldn't keep Rovers up. Apparently the Rovers job is part-time now.

Chris: We'll only be able to judge at the end of the season but we've got to get behind him and his backroom staff for the rest of the season. Bringing Phil Jones on board could be a masterstoke.

Iain: This is such a risk to have someone with a split focus in charge as we battle to beat the drop, but I am somewhat encouraged by the new first-team coaches joining as well. I don't think fans are surprised though and we have all had enough of the ownership now. No decision surprises us anymore.

Finley: It's definitely a 50/50 appointment, especially with the Northern Ireland job as well. But to be honest I think he can definitely do the job and I'm sure he'll keep us up and we can progress and, who knows, play-offs next season?

Andy Gray
BBC Sport NI Journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Northern Ireland fans spokesperson Gary McAllister says Michael O'Neill's appointment as Blackburn Rovers manager "hasn't been very well received" by supporters.

O'Neill will take joint-charge of Championship side Blackburn and Northern Ireland until the end of the season after a short-term deal was agreed.

Blackburn are currently in the relegation places, while Northern Ireland face a World Cup play-off semi-final in Italy on 26 March as they look to reach the finals for the first time in 40 years.

McAllister, who is the chair of of the Amalgamation of Official Northern Ireland Supporters' Clubs, said O'Neill's appointment at Ewood Park came as "something of a surprise".

"Over the last couple of days there has been some speculation, but it quickly grew legs and now there has been an announcement.

"When you look at the reaction online from fans, I don't think it has gone down particularly well. I think you have to be honest."

'Far from ideal'

McAllister said he would rather focus on the Italy game in Bergamo, rather than O'Neill's future as Northern Ireland manager, but did say the "timing was far from ideal" with just six weeks until the play-off.

"I'm not surprised by the reaction we have seen from fans, and the timing is far from ideal," he added.

"I want us all to focus on the Italy game, it will be a massive challenge for us but it's a real opportunity to get to the World Cup for the first time in 40 years.

"But looking at the reaction of fans, it has not been well received unfortunately."

When asked if the atmosphere would be impacted for the game in Italy, McAllister said he did not think it would make a difference.

"Northern Ireland fans are very loyal to our team. We'll be travelling in numbers," he said.

"We'll be united behind our team, as we always are.

"Whoever the manager of our team was in the past, future or even today, we are always 100% behind the team."

McAllister also offered his reaction to the "disappointing" news that Northern Ireland's Nations League opener in Georgia.

Image source, Getty Images

Blackburn Rovers have named Northern Ireland boss Michael O'Neill as their new head coach, initially on a short-term basis.

The former Stoke City manager will also continue to lead Northern Ireland as they prepare to face Italy in the World Cup play-offs next month.

Blackburn are in the relegation zone and have won just one of their past 10 league games.

So, is O'Neill the right man? Can he keep Rovers in the Championship and will a job share really work?

Blackburn fans can have their say here and check back later for some of your responses.

Blackburn Rovers will hope to escape the bottom three as they make the trip to Queens Park Rangers on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

Rovers, who are currently without a manager, have only one win across their past 10 league games and are kept in the danger zone by goal difference.

That victory came against basement side Sheffield Wednesday but the Hoops will prove a much tougher task, with the hosts keen on staying in contention for the play-off places.

• Following their 1-0 win in November, QPR are looking to complete their first league double over Blackburn since 1970-71.

• Blackburn have lost three of their last four league games against QPR (W1), as many as they had in their previous 21 (W12 D6).

• Only three sides (Coventry, Ipswich and Birmingham) have scored more home goals than Queens Park Rangers in the Championship this season (28).

• Blackburn have won just two of their last 16 league games (D7 L7), a run which started with a 1-0 defeat to QPR at the end of November.

• Nicolas Madsen has twice as many assists (6) and has created twice as many chances (50) than any other QPR player in the Championship this season.

Image source, Getty Images

Blackburn caretaker boss Damien Johnson felt his side were unlucky to fall to a 2-0 defeat to Norwich at Carrow Road.

Blackburn held out in a dour game until Norwich scored in the 73rd minute and they have slipped back into the relegation zone on goal difference.

Jonnson told BBC Radio Lancashire: "Obviously I'm very disappointed with the result. Overall, for 70, 75 minutes or whatever it was, there wasn't a lot on it.

"I thought we were in the game and we had some opportunities, second-half opportunities, first-half, in terms of our crosses, territory and momentum. We obviously knew Norwich would have some moments as well.

"I think we were punished for just for two moments, a poor header and then just a slip, which can happen, so overall, disappointed.

"We nullified them for large parts. You can't think they had many clear-cut chances and I don't remember Balazs [Toth] making too many saves. So, of course, it's frustrating. But in football, you're playing against good sides and you can get punished as we were today."

The next Blackburn Rovers boss is taking over a "good group of people," says interim head coach Damien Johnson.

The former Rovers midfielder has been placed in charge following the sacking of Valerien Ismael on Monday and oversaw a 1-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday on Tuesday which lifted them out of the Championship's relegation zone.

"It's really important we get the right appointment and trust the club to do that," Johnson told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"Whoever, in my opinion, is lucky enough to come into the role will inherit a fantastic group of players, that's for sure. There are some fantastic people that work here, and that's right across the sites, the academy, the STC (senior training centre) and Ewood Park."

The former Northern Ireland international is first-team technical coach and head of player development at Ewood Park and says while enjoying his time in charge, has no firm idea of how long it will last with Blackburn visiting Norwich on Saturday (12:31 GMT).

"I'm just preparing the team for Norwich. I know there's a process going on and so I will just trust the club. I've been taking it on a day-by-day basis and I'm happy to keep going until told otherwise," he added.

"It can seem daunting at times but because of the support I've had, people have made it a smooth adjustment for me and I've not felt any pressure - for me it's about putting the club first and if someone's appointed tomorrow I'll wish them all the best."

Blackburn have also confirmed their 25-man squad for the remainder of the season with long-term injured midfielder Ryan Hedges and defender George Pratt left out.

Image source, Shutterstock

Robbie Savage says links to the vacant Blackburn job are "pure speculation" and that he "can't wait to see through" his project at National League side Forest Green.

The 51-year-old former Wales international midfielder played 100 games for Blackburn from 2005 to 2008 before a move to Derby and was among the bookmakers' favourites to replace Valerien Ismael as boss at Ewood Park.

The Frenchman departed after less than 12 months at the helm on Monday with Blackburn in the Championship relegation zone, although a 1-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday under interim boss Damien Johnson lifted them out of the bottom three on Tuesday night.

Savage took over at The New Lawn last July, having led Macclesfield to promotion to National League North the previous season in his first season as a head coach.

After being relegated from League Two in 2024 and losing the 2024-25 National League play-off semi-final on penalties after a third-placed finish, Forest Green are currently fourth in the National League, nine points off the top, but having played more games than the sides above them.

Savage told the club's media team, external on Thursday morning: "It's purely speculation. I loved my time (at Blackburn), brilliant football club.

"I have loved my time here. I have got a great relationship with (the board), we are on a journey and a project and it's something that I can't wait to see through.

"It'll be someone else's name tomorrow. There's nothing at all for the fans to worry about."

Image source, Opta

Norwich will seek to resume their climb away from the Championship relegation zone as they welcome fellow-strugglers Blackburn to Carrow Road on Saturday (12:31 GMT).

The Canaries are 18th, one point and three places above managerless Rovers, who climbed out of the bottom three courtesy of a 1-0 win over basement-boys Sheffield Wednesday on Tuesday.

The Canaries saw a run of three straight league wins ended by a battling 1-0 defeat at Middlesbrough on Saturday but got back to winning ways at home with a 2-1 victory over Coventry last time out.

Rovers parted company with Valerien Ismael on Monday but picked up their first victory in nine league games against the Owls, though they are winless in six on their travels since a 2-1 win at Preston in November.

• Following their 2-0 win in August, Norwich are looking to complete the league double over Blackburn for the first time since 2018/19.

• Six of Blackburn's past 10 away league games against Norwich have finished in draws (W2 L2), with both teams scoring in nine of those 10 meetings.

• Norwich have won five of their past eight league games (L3), more than they had in their first 22 this season (W4 D6 L12).

• Blackburn are winless in their past six away league games (D3 L3), having won five of their first eight on the road this term (L3).

• At 22 Norwich's Jovon Makama is the youngest player to score 10 goals in the Championship this season.

Oladapo Afolayan wants to show how much he has improved as a player after leaving Bundesliga side St Pauli to join Blackburn Rovers.

The forward has signed an 18-month contract at Ewood Park having spent the past three years with the Hamburg-based club.

"I've been over in Germany working on my craft and played at the top level there and feel I've proved a lot," Afolayan told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"You don't get to play in the Bundesliga and Second Bundesliga which is also a very difficult level without becoming a good player."

Afolayan scored 15 goals in 60 league starts for St Pauli after making the switch from Bolton Wanderers in 2023 and believes he has learned from some of the best coaches.

"I was playing in front of 30,000 fans every other week and away games playing in massive stadiums like Schalke, Dortmund, Frankfurt and Bayern (Munich) and it's been an amazing experience and my game has improved massively from some of the great coaches I've worked with over there," he added.

"You see what Fabian Hurzeler is doing at Brighton and obviously he started at St Pauli with us and he especially made me into a better player, see the game in a different way and I'm ready to come back and use everything I've learnt over there to make an impact over here," he added.

The 28-year-old was an unused substitute in Blackburn's 1-0 Championship win over Sheffield Wednesday on Tuesday night and is set to be involved again when Rovers visit Norwich on Saturday (12:31 GMT).

Andy Bayes
BBC Radio Lancshire

Image source, Getty Images

I asked Valerien Ismael on Saturday if it was unthinkable that his team would not beat Sheffield Wednesday in this rearranged game. The Rovers boss at the time agreed that it was, but ultimately he was not there to see it.

Damien Johnson took interim charge without a proper training session to go through the shape work that he wanted to see from his players, but despite making hard work of it, they achieved a third home victory of the season.

This was never going to be about pretty football or free-flowing, carefree moves. It was simply a case of putting the points on the board, climbing out of the drop zone and moving on to Norwich on Saturday.

You could put a case forward for this being the strongest squad that Rovers have had at their disposal all season.

The substitutes' bench over recent months has been made up of a goalkeeper, two senior left-backs who had no chance of going on, an out-of-favour striker who has since moved on, and a sprinkling of academy players and summer signings to make up the nine.

This time it had the club's two leading scorers (Andri Gudjohnsen and Yuki Ohashi), recent recruit Olodapo Afolayan and the ever-willing Ryan Alebiosu. Game-changers who could make an impact. Three of the four were used, with Afolayan remaining patient.

The headline change to the starting XI was the return of defender Hayden Carter, a player who has endured an injury nightmare for the past 15 months.

Last night was only his seventh Championship start in the past 66 games. He played for an hour and looked like he had never been away.

As for the match, Rovers started the better with an early goal from Eiran Cashin - striker's finish from a centre-back.

The always excellent Sondre Tronstad was denied by a brilliant Murphy Cooper save as well as the frame of the goal, and it seemed that a second goal would not be long in arriving.

The second half was different. Wednesday began to ask questions. Without a goal since Boxing Day in the Championship, they hit the woodwork.

Rovers' familiar home frailties began to surface and long throws from Svante Ingelsson were looking like a problem.

Johnson used the experience of his bench to alter things as Wednesday's youth team were sent on to try to find a leveller.

It never felt comfortable without the second goal; the home record this season would not allow it to be that way. But it is three points, which is a start.

Now full focus needs to go on a managerial decision. For the third February in succession an appointment is needed. Rovers' much maligned key decision-makers have to get this spot on, or they could face dire consequences.

Blackburn caretaker boss Damien Johnson was delighted to beat Sheffield Wednesday 1-0 after Valerien Ismael's departure and for Eiran Cashin to get his first Rovers goal.

The victory lifted Blackburn out of the bottom three on goal difference above West Brom and Johnson told BBC Radio Lancashire: "We all knew it was a big game for us tonight.

"It's not been an easy 24 hours. So the message was can we get that win? And it didn't really matter how we did it, we just needed to get it over the line.

"It wasn't pretty at times, but unbelievable credit to the players, they were fantastic.

"It's good when defenders can chip in with goals, so we're really pleased. Cash has been terrific since he's been at the club.

"It was a good little period for us, we had a couple of crosses and shots, so it was nice to convert the chance because we know how important the first goals are."

Image source, Getty Images

We asked you how you felt about Valerien Ismael's exit from Blackburn Rovers on transfer deadline day and it seems the timing has got you puzzled.

Here is what you had to say:

Elliot: When the side rallied at the back of last season, I was willing to give him a chance into this season. But it's never got going under him and I don't feel the players were ever particularly happy either.

I don't think we'd be here if Lewis Travis and Dom Hyam were still in the squad but the squad is still better than this.

Jack: Correct decision to roll the dice and get someone else in, but should have been made a month sooner.

Horrible mismanagement of senior contracts in the last few seasons has led us to where we are now, but Ismael hasn't got the best out of the players we have and some shocking substitutions have cost us points in big games.

No faith in the board to make the right appointment but we need someone who can lift heads on the pitch and in the stands now. If only we'd ended things with Tony Mowbray on better terms...

Ferg: Whatever the issues with injuries, ownership, style or system, the slide down the table and lack of belief has felt palpable and he's seemed bereft of answers.

I quite liked his honesty and frank approach but if that only translates as relegation form... sorry Val, but it was the right time to go.

Cruise: Though we can have sympathy for things that were outside Val's control (the games being called off; the injury crisis; most of our Championship experience being sold hurriedly as the September window closed and replaced with unproven overseas players), nevertheless he seemed like a yes man that did not have what it takes to eke out a win with the players he had.

Something had to be done if Venky's were serious about trying to stay in this league.

The Rovers fans I talk with and the forums I follow, the vocal majority wanted Val gone back before January, and at some point during this crisis where Venky's are being slaughtered on socials and now in national newspaper articles as "disconnected from the fans", you can't ignore that clamour.

Jack: I don't necessarily blame Ismael for the form we're in and quite liked the way he spoke as our manager.

Our absent owners and the senior staff members have a lot to answer for. They sanctioned sales for a load of senior players over summer and replaced them with cheap inexperienced targets from lower leagues in Europe. Pep Guardiola would struggle to keep us up at this point.

Steve: With a worse win ratio than Steve Kean, the writing was on the wall. But the trigger should've been pulled earlier to give another manager time to bring in some players. Unless that was the plan.