Ince on the brink as Rovers drown their sorrows
Unless you happen to play for Blackburn Rovers, that is. As if life was not farcical enough at Ewood Park under Ince, Blackburn’s team boarded a flight to the Irish capital for their Christmas knees-up just hours after a catastrophic defeat at Wigan.
Around the same time as their plane was touching down in Dublin, around 3,000 dejected Rovers supporters who made the short journey to Wigan were conducting their own inquests into a dire performance which is likely to spell the end of Ince’s brief six-month reign.
Having lit up Old Trafford, Wembley and San Siro during his playing career, Ince looked like a man who did not have a friend in the world at the JJB stadium.
Stood inside his technical area with the rain lashing down and another defeat all but confirmed, the Blackburn manager was being told by his own supporters “you’re getting sacked in the morning.”
They were wrong. Ince was not sacked yesterday but that was mainly due tothe chairman, John Williams, having more pressing matters to attend to, like the wedding of his eldest son.
With Stoke City arriving at Ewood Park on Saturday, Ince will plead with the Blackburn board this week for one last chance, yet the shocking manner in which his side rolled over against Wigan suggests he will be wasting his breath.
This was supposed to be the game where Ince’s players showed the world they were prepared to roll their sleeves up for the beleaguered manager and show they are prepared to fight for him.
Instead they raised the white flag after an inept performance which turned this north-west derby into a slaughter.
Two-nil down after 12 minutes, Blackburn were fortunate not to suffer an even heavier defeat. Ince was defiant afterwards but he still gave the impression of a dead man walking.
“It’s nothing to do with me,” said Ince, when asked about his future. “I have more to worry about than my future. I have to try and lift 20 players in time for next week.
“It doesn’t matter about Paul Ince, what matters is these players, trying to get them three points.
“Whatever will be, will be. At the moment, I’m just disappointed for my players, for the fans.
“I’ve always been fighting all my life. I’ve fought from the first day I walked into the Premier League and will continue to do so.
“Steve Bruce told me beforehand there were times at Birmingham when they were baying for his blood. He came through it and proved what a fantastic manager he is.
“It’s a learning curve for managers. But whatever will be, will be. I just have to come in and make sure they keep believing and hopefully on Saturday we pick up three points.”
Blackburn have taken just three points from the last 33 available and are without a clean sheet in 11. In contrast, Wigan have moved quietly up to ninth after a third straight home win.
Ince’s position completely overshadowed a thoroughly professional performance, inspired by South American winger Antonio Valencia, by Bruce’s team.
Valencia scored to make it 2-0 after Emile Heskey had broken the deadlock before Lee Cattermole, who was also denied by the woodwork, capped an impressive display with his side’s third goal.
Bruce had one last piece of advice for Ince. “You go home at night and think: ‘Which way can I turn it round and what can I do?’ You can listen to advice but you’ve got to do it your way, stick to your beliefs,” said Bruce.
Ince, however, is unlikely to be given that chance.
REFEREE: Howard Webb (South Yorkshire) 7: Did well to keep his cards in his pocket as tempers flared after the break and Blackburn grew desperate.
MATCH RATING: *** The outcome was decided after 12 minutes. Blackburn deserved everything they got.
Tony Curtis-style haircut; new shirt in the style of Blackburn Rovers showing that magic word “Wembley”; our snapshot this week provides two clues that this is a player of nearly 50 years ago.
The last occasion that Rovers reached an FA Cup final was 1960, and in their team was a tough-tackling right-back called Dave Whelan. Whelan, a Yorkshireman, had joined Blackburn in the 1956-59 season.
But after 43 minutes of the final against Wolverhampton Wanderers he broke his leg, becoming another victim of what was known as the “Wembley Hoodoo.” The injury effectively finished Whelan’s top flight career.
With £400 compensation Whelan bought a small grocery store which he eventually sold to supermarket giant Morrisons before reinvesting the money into a sports store specialising in fishing equipment in Wigan in 1978.
That grew to become the JJB sports retailing empire. Whelan bought Third Division Wigan Athletic in 1995 and 1,452 fans turned up for his first game. Whelan sold the rest of his shares in JJB in 2007.
Paul Ince is one of several Alex Ferguson’s proteges to have fallen from grace this season.
Feted as a possible replacement for Ferguson after establishing Sunderland in the top flight but results tailed off dramatically after this season’s Tyne-Wear derby success. Walked away after repeated clashes with the Stadium of Light hierarchy.
Forged a formidable reputation with Blackburn and looked set to enhance his credentials at City. But off-field upheaval upset his plans, the new owners bought players for — rather than with — their manager and there are now whispers over his future after one win in eight games.
The Bhoys might be top of the Scottish Premier League but they failed dismally in Europe and were denied a stab at the UEFA Cup with a capitulation against Aalborg. Fans have started to talk of Strachan’s departure after three-and-a-half years.
Even in the depths of League Two, things are no better for United’s graduates. Rotherham started the season in flying form as they overturned a 17-point deficit imposed by the FA for financial irregularities, but they are now winless in seven matches...
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