Blackburn bid to shed the bully boys tag

Blackburn 4 Charlton 1

Since Hughes took over at Ewood Park just under 14 months ago, there have not been many kind words spoken or written about a Rovers team who have been looked upon by some as nothing more than bullies and thugs.

Hughes concedes to a touch of paranoia with regard to the press his players have received, occasionally becoming more obsessed with the views of the critics than the performance of his own team.

But at long last it would appear there is a wind of change blowing through the club and they are finally shedding their unpalatable image, certainly on the evidence presented against Charlton.

An Addicks team that went into the match on the back of five straight away victories in the Barclays Premiership, conceding just three goals in the process, was comprehensively dismantled from start to finish.

Blackburn played accomplished, incisive football, with veteran campaigner Tugay at the heart of everything that was good about Rovers’ biggest victory since December 2003.

Hughes is adamant there will be no flirting with relegation this season, as they did last term. So surely the only way is up, with Blackburn just three points off sixth place at present?

“We won’t be involved in any relegation situation,” insisted Hughes. “That’s not an issue this season. We are looking for bigger and better things.

“We’ve earned headlines for the wrong reasons for too long. Maybe our general play has not warranted any credit being given to it, but here I think it did.

“We’ve made a good side look ordinary, and now we are looking a very accomplished team.

“Certainly, we set high standards and targets, and we’re on track for where we want to be at this stage of the season.”

Craig Bellamy, scorer of the fourth goal in the 90th minute to put an emphatic seal on the win, was more direct in his assessment in comparison to his fellow Welshman.

“We are pushing for Europe, and don’t get me wrong it’s a big ask, but this will go a long way towards us getting there,” said Bellamy

The key for Rovers, if they are to realise such aims, is keeping 35-year-old Tugay fit and healthy as he was an inspiration, deservedly winning the man-of-the-match award.

“Tugay continues to be a major player for us,” reflected Hughes. “He sets the tempo. At times he can take the sting out of a game, and at others quicken it up and get momentum going.

“He is having an exceptional season up until this point, but then he has been excellent since I walked through the door. I think everybody can see he is playing with a smile on his face and we are reaping the benefits of it at the moment.”

It is now five straight home wins in all competitions for Blackburn, who made the ideal start inside two minutes when Brett Emerton curled a stunning strike beyond goalkeeper Stephan Andersen.

Paul Dickov headed home number two in the 18th minute before Bryan Hughes pulled one back nine minutes from the break, only for Morten Gamst Pedersen to restore the two-goal cushion in the 58th minute ahead of Bellamy’s exclamation point.

Charlton have suffered back-to-back defeats and manager Alan Curbishley may ring the changes for the next game after the international break at home to Manchester United.

“If we perform against them like we did here then we will be in trouble,” assessed Curbishley. “We were left wanting defensively, not just as a back four or five, but in all areas.

“There were some things that went on that have no place in our side, and that is something I have to eradicate.”

Opta Fact: Craig Bellamy has scored four goals in six games against Charlton.

Opta Fact: Blackburn have scored more goals in the last three matches than they mustered in their opening eight Premiership fixtures.