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It’s been five days since Blackburn Rovers and Ipswich Town’s Championship clash was abandoned in the 80th minute due to heavy rainfall, and we are still without an outcome.
Rovers were leading 1-0 at Ewood Park when referee Stephen Martin made the decision to stop play, and Todd Cantwell believes Blackburn should be given the win, with the Tractor Boys down to 10 players.
However, the EFL board is still making a decision. Previously, Blackpool and Huddersfield Town shared the points in 2015 after their game was abandoned following a pitch invasion, while a match between Fulham and Derby County was abandoned in 1983 – the Rams were awarded a 1-0 victory.
Valerien Ismael has disagreed with the referee report, and now the Blackburn Rovers manager has spoken out for the first time since Saturday.
Valerien Ismael wants Blackburn Rovers victory after Ipswich Town situation
A victory for Rovers would have sent them up to 11th in the Championship table, but instead they remain in the bottom half, and just a point above the relegation zone.
Ismael believes there is only one way to settle the game, he said (via Rovers TV): “Oh yes. It’s clear that when you are 1-0 up, down to ten men for the opponent, we’ve got the momentum… yes on one hand they can score a goal, but on the other hand we have the possibility to score as well.
“We faced this situation against Norwich, we were down to ten but we were pushing, the feeling then was we can score, but we conceded a goal and we lost 2-0.
“I think for us we’ve got the right to want the three points in that situation because I think it’s the fair thing to do, especially when the opponent is down to ten.
“11 v 11 is another situation, but this situation was clear, we were in a clear advantage. The statistics, the data, everything shows that we were on the front foot since the red card.”
The Blackburn boss continued: “It was chaotic after the game. We had to accept the decision. The referee abandoned the game. So we go from there.
“We are waiting now for the decision. We made our points on the situation. We prepared our case to say, at that point, we were the pushing team, we were on the front foot.
“So we expected that we get the reward because I think this is the fair thing to do. But apart from that, one thing from my side has to be really clear. I saw a report from the EFL at the end of the game and I never agreed to stop the game.
“So I had no choice because the referee made clear that he had to abandon the game. The pitch was unplayable and he said sorry and the EFL will make the decision.
“So I never had to agree to anything because the decision was made. So I think this is a clear point to make from our position. We never agreed anything.”
Valerien Ismael must park his frustrations ahead of Charlton Athletic clash
The fallout from the abandonment will continue into the final days of the week, but for Blackburn, they must now turn their focus to Saturday’s game against Charlton Athletic.
The threat of the bottom three will feel very real to Ismael, and while three points would have taken them away from that danger, Rovers must go forward thinking that those points are not secured.
Charlton have had a strong start to the season, and their last-minute winner against Sheffield United is proof that they can cause damage to Rovers if they are not at their best.
Andri Gudjohnsen has explained why he joined Blackburn, and Saturday could be the perfect opportunity to give the Iceland international his first start as Ismael looks for a reaction to last weekend.