Ally McCoist and Jeff Stelling say there’s an obvious answer to Blackburn Rovers vs Ipswich Town replay conundrum

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Blackburn Rovers and Ipswich Town are waiting to hear the details of a potential replay, but Jeff Stelling and Ally McCoist think the decision is only going to go one way.

Blackburn and Ipswich’s Championship clash was abandoned in the 80th minute on Saturday afternoon due to a waterlogged pitch at Ewood Park following biblical rain in Lancashire.

Ipswich were down to 10 men and Todd Cantwell then won and scored a penalty to put his side 1-0 up. Blackburn captain Cantwell called for the English Football League to do the ‘fair’ thing when making a decision on a replay.

The EFL rules on abandonments state any game that fails to reach 90 minutes may be ordered to count as a completed fixture or be replayed in full or in part. Now, former Rangers ace McCoist and football broadcasting icon Stelling have given their take on the matter.

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Blackburn Rovers and Ipswich Town will have to replay the Championship clash from the start, say Jeff Stelling and Ally McCoist

Speaking on talkSPORT Breakfast on Monday morning, McCoist was asked whether a full replay would suffice, or if they could play the remaining 10 minutes, and if Jacob Greaves’ red card and Ipswich’s four other yellow cards could count.

“It’s impossible,” he said. “You’ve got to make the best of a nearly impossible situation. I watched the highlights and I saw Todd Cantwell’s penalty, saw the sending off.”

He continued: “My opinion, I think you’ve got to replay the match. I mean, it’s a real crying shame for Blackburn but what else can you do? You can’t play the last 10 minutes and say ‘you’ve only got 10 men’ because circumstances will change. You won’t get the same players, there will be players injured, players suspended.

“It’s not ideal, but I just think you have to play the match again.”

Stelling agreed with McCoist while giving sympathy to Rovers for the situation.

“I agree, it’s really unfortunate if you’re Blackburn, but if you play the last 10 minutes you can’t insist the same 10 Ipswich players would come out and the same XI Blackburn players would come out,” he said.

What have Blackburn Rovers and Ipswich Town said about the abandonment?

Both clubs have expressed they are waiting on confirmation of the EFL’s decision on the replay.

Ipswich chairman Mark Ashton said: “We’ll look at what we can do for the fans who travelled all this way and supported the team in such difficult conditions. The main thing we want to say is thank you.”

Blackburn also thanked their fans for their support and are yet to make further comment.

The second tier sides sit 17th and 18th in the Championship respectively, with Ipswich having superior goal difference.