Blackburn Rovers are under the microscope after suffering two 2-1 defeats in a short period, first to Preston North End and then to Sheffield United. The Lancashire Evening Post and The Star have reported on the fallout from those games, focusing on the opposition's perspective. Rovers currently sit 18th in the Championship with five points from six games, having scored seven goals and conceded nine.
How did Preston's Lang impact the derby?
Callum Lang was the decisive figure in Preston North End's 2-1 victory over Blackburn Rovers last Saturday. According to the Lancashire Evening Post, the forward scored both of his side's goals, marking his first strikes since his club-record February transfer. Lang told BBC Radio Lancashire the result was a massive confidence boost for his team after a tough start to the season. He acknowledged he is still adapting his game at Preston. "I probably find it tough sometimes playing back-to-goal," Lang said to the Lancashire Post, adding he is working on a few tweaks in training. His double at Ewood Park handed Rovers their third loss of the campaign, a result that contributed to their current league position of 18th.
What is Sheffield United's predicted lineup?
Ahead of Tuesday's meeting, The Star reported that Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder was considering a shape switch for the trip to Ewood Park. The outlet predicted a starting eleven that included goalkeeper Michael Cooper and defenders Hamza Choudhury, Japhet Tanganga, and Liam Kitching. Wilder had stated all options were on the table following a weekend defeat. The predicted lineup was built around a defence seeking greater solidity after conceding five goals in two matches. Tom Cannon's performance in a prior League Cup win at Blackburn was noted as a potential factor in Wilder's thinking. United's eventual 2-1 victory moved them up the table, leaving Rovers six points behind league leaders West Ham.
What did Wilder say after beating Rovers?
Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder emphasised the primacy of winning after his team's 2-1 victory at Ewood Park on Tuesday. As reported by The Star, United came from behind with goals from Tom Cannon and Sydie Peck after Kristi Montgomery had put Blackburn ahead. Wilder told BBC Radio Sheffield that securing three points was always the biggest thing, regardless of performance. "The win is always the biggest thing," Wilder said. He referenced a game last season where his side dominated but lost, illustrating that results are most important. The win gave United nine points from six games, a marked improvement on their start last term. For Rovers, the defeat was part of a LLDLW form streak and left them with a negative two goal difference.
Blackburn Rovers must now regroup quickly for their next Championship fixture, a home match against Millwall on September 12. You can view the full upcoming schedule on our fixtures page. Millwall currently sit 8th in the table, presenting another challenging test for Jon Dahl Tomasson's side as they look to climb from 18th place.
