Worrying Ewood tale of two halves as Red menace looms

WHAT a difference a goal makes. The first half against Blackburn last Saturday was truly woeful. We were lethargic, too narrow, outfought and outpaced.

Although we improved in the second half, Blackburn could think themselves very unlucky not to be 3-1 up before Ivanovic struck the winner. But that winning goal re-classified the match into one of grit and determination – a manifestation of our never-say-die attitude and another example of the old adage “class will out”. Well that’s what the papers said anyway.

But although the result produced enough of a high among supporters to dismiss the first half, we can’t always rely on our opposition to miss gilt-edged chances as Blackburn did.