Latest news with #MakhtarGueye
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Four positives for Blackburn Rovers to build on after play-off near miss
We take a closer look at the positives Rovers can build on next season after another near miss in the play-off race. DEFENISVE RESILIENCE Rovers conceded 48 goals in the league this season (1.04 per game) and only five sides in the division shipped fewer. Those were Burnley (16), Leeds (30), Sheffield United (36), Sunderland (44) and West Brom (47). Moreover, Rovers were one of only three sides in the second tier who didn't lose any of the games in which they took the lead along with Leeds and Burnley. Only three other clubs in the EFL achieved that feat - Charlton and Stevenage in League One and Port Vale en route to automatic promotion from League Two. One of John Eustace's first priorities when he arrived at Ewood Park was to tighten up the defence and he built on that work over the summer. Valerien Ismael had a tough start in the hot seat but Rovers managed to combine their stubborn defending with the new head coach's style of play during the last five games of the campaign, only conceding three times. The side took 14 out of a possible 18 points from their final six games and that form certainly bodes well for next term. SETTLED IN Yuki Ohashi and Makhtar Gueye both had their first tastes of English football at Ewood Park this season. Ohashi hit the ground running, scoring in his first three appearances for the club, while Gueye had to wait until December for his first league goal. The pair ended up with a combined 18 goals and nine assists, which represents a solid platform to build on next season. Ohashi will benefit from the summer break, having already been playing in the J League for several months when his move to Lancashire was finalised. Gueye has also spoken about the transition to Championship football and why it took time to build up his confidence, although the towering forward has shown in spells how effective he can be at this level. Gueye celebrates a goal (Image: PA) Todd Cantwell is another player who headed to Ewood Park last summer and his quality is clear to see, although the playmaker had some tougher spells when the team were struggling to pick up points. Cantwell already had plenty of Championship experience from his spells at Norwich and Bournemouth but will still benefit from a full pre-season with the squad, having joined late in the last summer window. Augustus Kargbo has also had a bit of time to settle into life in Lancashire following his January switch from Cesena, although the 25-year-old's playing time was limited by injury. LOAN MARKET Rovers had mixed success in the loan market this season but Owen Beck's performances were a major plus. The club utilised its relationship with Liverpool once again to land Beck, who enjoyed an impressive campaign before injury struck. Beck had been thrown in at the deep end at the start of the campaign, with his debut coming in a fierce East Lancashire derby at Turf Moor, but he did an admirable job up against Luca Koleosho. The Welshman managed to get on the scoresheet against Luton in December as Rovers made it six successive victories in the Championship. It was a blow to lose the full-back for the final weeks of the campaign as Rovers battled for a play-off spot. Lewis Baker also had a positive impact during the first half of the campaign before he was recalled by Stoke following Mark Robins' appointment. Baker netted against Cardiff and got a run of games under his belt alongside Sondre Tronstad while Lewis Travis was out injured. The midfielder kicked on at Stoke in the second half of the campaign, scoring a further six goals as the Potters avoided relegation. Amario Cozier-Duberry also spent the second on loan at Ewood Park from Brighton, playing 23 times and scoring once, but saw his momentum hampered by injuries. Dion Sanderson, Cauley Woodrow and Emmanuel Dennis all arrived on loan in the January window, although the trio saw their playing time limited. The Dennis deal came with risk, having not played any competitive football during the first half of the campaign, and unfortunately the striker picked up an injury as he was starting to build up his sharpness. ACADEMY SUCCESS It was yet another productive campaign for the Academy with Leo Duru, Kristi Montgomery, Igor Tyjon and Harley O'Grady-Macken all making their senior debuts. Several other youngsters made the bench for the first time, while some gained valuable experience out on loan. Regardless of who is in the dugout, it is clear that the club still views the Academy as an important part of its long-term strategy – and why wouldn't they after all the success stories in recent years? Rovers have already secured the futures of O'Grady-Macken, Matty Litherland, Brandon Powell and George Pratt this summer. The club also tied down England youth international Harvey Higgins to a scholarship deal despite strong interest from a top Premier League club and he could be one to watch for the future.
BBC News
09-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Rams' early rampage keeps survival hopes alive
Derby came into this one desperately needing a result to end their losing games since John Eustace came in as manager, and three losses in that time, meant the visit of the club he left to join the Rams was no longer just about bragging rights, hopes of Championship survival were now also on the Park was a cauldron of noise before kick-off. The build up to this one had been fiery to say the least, with both sets of fans dishing out plenty of fighting talk via social media and in the stadium prior to 3,000-plus travelling Blackburn Rovers fans turning up with inflatable snakes to taunt their former boss was the catalyst for the way the atmosphere would play out for the remainder of the up with a back five allowed Derby to be more creative and provide more of an attacking threat down the channels, something which had been lacking in previous boy did it prove effective. Just seven minutes in, the Rams found themselves in dreamland.A combination of poor defensive play from Blackburn, paired with fight, determination and desire from Derby, saw goals come like buses for the goals at home since Boxing Day, and just like that two had come along at once, taking the roof off Pride Park in the getting a goal back before half-time, through the hard-to-handle Makhtar Gueye, Blackburn struggled to create enough to trouble the Derby final whistle felt like it took centuries to arrive, and the additional seven minutes of added time wasn't news that was welcomed by the home being punished several times late on throughout the season, it felt like history may repeat itself for the Rams as the players began to understandably nails, sweaty palms, and screams of "CLEAR IT!" took over Pride Park for seven long minutes. And, eventually, ecstasy.A win that was not only needed to build confidence and end a terrible run of form, but one that felt crucial, knowing all the other teams in the bottom five had were up to 22nd in the table from 24th, and closed the gap to safety to only four points. The survival dream, which felt crushed last weekend after defeat at Boro, felt alive once more.A man of the match performance from Harrison Armstrong in the defensive midfield role, in which he oozed class from minute one to 90, and a welcome return to the starting XI for Kane Wilson, who carried bags full of attacking threat all afternoon, were two big positives to take forward into midweek for the match will see another tale of a manager returning to their former club - this time Frank Lampard returns to Pride Park for the first time since his tenure at Derby in the 2018-19 now need to take some momentum and confidence forward into next week, which ends with a huge game at the bottom of the table away at Plymouth Argyle next can often catch Amelia Warren, external as a guest on BBC Radio Derby.
BBC News
30-01-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Burnley fan given ban for racially abusing Blackburn Rovers player at derby
A Burnley fan has been banned from football matches after racially abusing a Blackburn Rovers player at the East Lancashire derby. Neil Jeffrey was heard shouting a racist slur towards striker Makhtar Gueye who had just been given a red card during the Championship match at Turf Moor in August, Lancashire Police incident, which happened in the Jimmy McIlroy stand was reported to Burnley Football Club, who informed the 61-year-old was given a three-year football banning order, fined £400, ordered to pay prosecution costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £160. Jeffrey, of Roe Greave Road, Oswaldtwistle, appeared at Blackburn Magistrates' Court where he pleaded guilty to Racially Aggravated Public Byron Worrall said this behaviour had "no place in society" and officers would continue to work with football clubs to put people before the Football Club said they had "a zero-tolerance policy" regarding discrimination of any sort and would continue to enforce and support all efforts to "eradicate" that kind of behaviour."The club moved swiftly to assist in identifying the individual and stand together with the police and football authorities to make matches a safer place for all supporters," a spokesman added. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram.
