Blackburn Rovers boss Valerien Ismael will fear repeat of ‘wrong’ decision vs Middlesbrough this weekend

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Blackburn Rovers are in a desperate run of form heading into the clash with Middlesbrough at Ewood Park this Friday, with Valerien Ismael winless in his five games in charge thus far.

That run includes just one draw, with the pressure already mounting. The play-off picture continues to shift and alter by the week during the run-in for the top six.

Valerien Ismael and Blackburn know something must change swiftly for them to make it into the play-offs and arrest their slide down the division. That has to start now, given that they face four other sides in the play-off mix.

Their fixtures appear to be difficult as it is, but especially when welcoming a resurgent Boro side under Michael Carrick’s tutelage on Friday. Middlesbrough have won four and drawn one of their last six in the Championship.

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Valerien Ismael has made tactical changes against Middlesbrough previously

When a manager is under pressure or results are not going their way, there is a temptation to make tactical changes and switch personnel. Given Ismael’s high-intensity, counter-pressing style, there is very little he can do other than to continue persisting with his methods through the teething pains.

However, he has tactically tinkered previously and it didn’t work, with Ismael facing Carrick in a 3-2 defeat as Watford manager a couple of years back. The Frenchman is largely wedded to his style but could be tempted by changes such has been their form.

If the evidence of last time is anything to go by, though, then he should not be thinking about too many alterations. Speaking in October 2023 post-match after a 3-2 defeat at the hands of Carrick, via Teesside Live, Ismael said: “I’m not happy with myself.

“Today is on me, the first half particularly. I decided to change the shape and change something tactically. It didn’t work out like I expected, especially when the opponents score a goal early.

“That raised the doubt and the confidence of the players goes low, and I can’t blame the players for that. It’s clear we changed something — it didn’t work out and the opponents punished us. We didn’t control the midfield and the opponents had momentum.

“Nonetheless, we came back into the game. With the ball we were good — but out of possession, it was difficult. That was particularly the case in the first half, due to my decision to change something. 

 “We had a big chance to equalise before half time, and then we changed again in the second half and I was pleased with how that worked out.

“We looked powerful when we came out from the changing room for the second half. We got level and we had other opportunities to score. But at the moment our opponents are really clinical and punish us, either when we make mistakes or just because they are more ruthless in taking their chances than us.

“I made the wrong call in the first half. It’s my decision. When you make a change and it works out you say the manager made a great decision. Today was not a good decision.”

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
7	MiddlesbroughMiddlesbrough	39	16	9	14	59	49	10	57
8	Bristol CityBristol City	39	14	15	10	49	42	7	57
9	WatfordWatford	39	15	8	16	47	51	-4	53
10	NorwichNorwich	39	13	13	13	61	54	7	52
11	BlackburnBlackburn	39	15	7	17	42	41	1	52
12	Sheffield WednesdaySheffield Wednesday	39	14	10	15	54	60	-6	52
13	MillwallMillwall	39	13	12	14	37	40	-3	51
14	PrestonPreston	38	10	17	11	39	44	-5	47

A switch could be the shock factor needed against Carrick, but it could also be what undoes Ismael again. Carrick and Boro are strongest in attack and midfield, which does not change depending on their opponent.

Boro have been particularly inconsistent on their travels, though. Carrick’s men have the eighth-best record in the league but that includes just six wins and nine defeats; Blackburn can take some optimism from that but Carrick has nothing to fear.

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Middlesbrough’s firepower should fire them into the play-offs

Only Norwich City and Leeds United have scored more goals than Middlesbrough, who have numerous threats in their attack to choose from. Kelechi Iheanacho is off the mark now and the likes of Ben Doak and Finn Azaz are among the best players in the Championship.

There was always likely to be something of an adjustment period for this Boro given the new faces of Iheanacho, Morgan Whittaker, and Samuel Iling-Junior in January.

Now, things look to be clicking again for Carrick and co. and it’s a promising element of their game that allows them to win during a gunfight. Carrick got the better of Ismael in 2023 thanks to a 3-2 win and you wouldn’t be that surprised if similar occured on Friday night.