Gary Bowyer hails complete Blackburn display
Saturday 3 October 2015 20:27, UK
Blackburn boss Gary Bowyer described the 2-0 Sky Bet Championship victory over Ipswich at Ewood Park as the 'most complete' of his tenure.
The damage was done by the hosts in the first 16 minutes as Jordan Rhodes again ensured his former club endured a miserable afternoon by netting twice.
His first goal - in the 12th minute - came from the spot after Hope Akpan was brought down, and his header four minutes later was the sixth time in the last six games he has scored against Ipswich.
Such a fast start set Rovers up for a superb afternoon which was full of energy and Rhodes would have netted more but for the woodwork and a brilliant Dean Gerken save.
But they ran out comfortable winners, notching a third successive home clean sheet while bringing to an end Ipswich's 21-game scoring run in the league.
Bowyer was understandably delighted with the manner of the performance, which extended the club's unbeaten run to four games.
He said: "I think it's probably the most complete performance since we've been in charge.
"We came out of the traps ever so well, scored two goals very quickly and continued to play some excellent stuff.
"We got to half-time and knew with the firepower Ipswich have got, that we were going to be under the cosh in the second half and that proved to be the case.
"We still created some great chances but the resilience we showed, to come out of that game with a clean sheet - Ipswich are going to be right up there this season - it's very, very difficult to pick out any one individual. It was the most complete team performance."
Although he stressed the quality of performance level showed by the whole team, Bowyer also praised his star striker Rhodes, who has now scored in four consecutive games at Ewood Park against Ipswich and celebrated his recall to the Scotland squad with goals that make him the joint top scorer in the Championship.
Bowyer continued: "Rightly so, he's going to get the plaudits for two goals again. The header is a fantastic header and he's the calmest lad on the planet when it comes to taking penalties. He's in a very good, rich vein of form."
For Ipswich, it was an afternoon to forget as their woeful record at Ewood Park stretches further. They have not been victorious at Blackburn in the league since 1991 and have won just one of their last seven in all competitions.
Manager Mick McCarthy bemoaned the way his side are defending but also gave credit to Blackburn, and in particular, the 'outstanding' Rhodes.
He said: "It's become a bit of a bad habit of ours, giving teams goal starts and two-goal starts and it's got to stop.
"I can't just give you one answer why we are defending the way we are and I've been at pains to put that right this week - but we just didn't start well.
"I have to say they started well. They played like us when we were in our pomp last season, playing 4-4-2, people blocking things and stopping us playing. They did it better than we did.
"He (Rhodes) was outstanding, his all-round performance. He messed us around, bumped us, nudged us, blocked things. His goals won the game but his all-round performance was outstanding."
