Above: Blackburn Rovers celebrating after Coan’s opening goal puts The Blues 1-0 ahead. Photo: Impetus 71- Kya Banks
By Freya Hiscott (12/03/24)
Blackburn Rovers welcomed Lewes to Ewood Park on Monday evening for round 12 of the Barclay’s Championship. After both teams put up a hard fight it was the home side, Blackburn Rovers, who left with all three points winning 2-1.
There were only two changes to Blackburn Rovers starting line-up after their previous 2-2 draw with Durham in their last Championship fixture. Simon Parker’s side saw the return of midfielder Chloe Williams in place of Katie Bradley and U21’s goalkeeper Grace Pilling made the team sheet as a substitute. Scott Booth’s Lewes lined up as they did in their last Championship fixture, when they won 2-1 against Sheffield United.
Blackburn Rovers had a strong start with Hannah Coan opening up the scoring in the sixth minute leading Simon Parker’s side to a 1-0 advantage. Coan successfully slotted the ball into the bottom right of the net from close range, assisted by Tyler Toland’s cross from a corner.
Blackburn Rovers maintained the upper hand but Lewes were quick to breakthrough their defence and attempt a shot. Midfielder Amelia Hazard took a shot from outside the box but it was just too high to reach the target.
Minutes later, Hannah Silcock looked to increase Blackburn Rovers advantage, with a shot from the centre of the box, but Lewes’s defensive line stood firm.
The Blues continued to create numerous chances before the interval, including a header by Jade Richards from close range but Lewes’s goalkeeper, Sophie Whitehouse was quick in preventing them from advancing.
As the first half was closing in, Hannah Silcock won a free kick in the defensive half, but lewes’s clinical set pieces forced the score to stay 1-0 allowing The Rooks to still be in the game.
Swiftly after this the first half concluded and the score remained 1-0 to the home side, Blackburn Rovers.
Above: Hannah Silcock, player of the match attempting to retrieve the ball back into the hands of The Blues. Photo: Impetus 71- Kya Banks
As the second-half begun Blackburn Rovers continued in the ascendancy and it was not long before Shepherd doubled the lead for The Blues, moments before the hour mark. An assist from Megan Hornby allowed Shepherd to guide the ball into the bottom right corner of the net from very close range.
This stimulated Lewes to come back stronger and within minutes of Shepherd increasing the score, The Rooks were back on the offensive looking to get a goal back. Attempts from Maria Farrugia and Aimee Claypole looked promising but The Blues goalkeeper, Alexandra Brooks was quick at preventing the ball from getting past.
With the game heading for what looked like a comfortable 2-0 win for the home side, The Rooks responded with only 25 minutes left as Hollie Olding headed the ball past Brooks into the bottom left corner, assisted by a perfectly executed cross from Farrugia.
Shortly after Lewes’s goal, the rest of the match was stop-start due to an injury and a myriad of substitutions. However, a few chances were created by both teams including a close opportunity for Lewes to grab a late draw. Chelsea Ferguson took a right footed shot from the centre of the box from a set piece, but the shot went wide of the left hand post.
Despite Lewes creating several excellent chances it was the hosts, Blackburn Rovers who victoriously took home all three points. The result 2-1 lifted The Blues into the top half of the Championship table above Durham, as they now sit in 6th place. The visitors, Lewes remain in the relegation zone, three points away from safety with only five games to go.
Blackburn Rovers are set to face Birmingham City next, a team which are currently four points ahead and lying in the 5th position. Next up for Lewes is a tough home game against Watford as both teams will be battling it out in order to escape relegation.
Blackburn Rovers: Brooks (GK), Coan, Toland, Richards (C), Williams, Hornby, Shepherd, Silcock, Hutchings, Robertson, Maxwell, (Chandarana 69′), (Walters 81′), (Thomas 81′), (Seed 90+4′)
Substitutes not used: Pilling, Taylor, Doyle, Dahou
Scorers: Coan 6′, Shepherd 55′
Bookings: Hornby 90+7
Lewes: Whitehouse (GK), Cleverly (C), Hazard, Hack, Hamilton, Farrugia, Blades, Olding, Hand, Heuchan, Claypole, (Ferguson 80′), (Godfrey 80′), (Riglar 88′), (Grey 88′)
Substitutes not used: Moore, Garrad, Brasero-Carreira
Scorers: Olding 65′
Bookings: Hack 39′
Referee: Declan Brown
Attendance: TBC
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