Blackburn Rovers capped off their pre-season with a well-earned victory over Stockport County on Friday night.
John Eustace’s team elevated their performance to close out their pre-season with a 1-0 win over Stockport County, secured by a penalty from Tyrhys Dolan.
Blackburn Rovers should have been ahead earlier, as Makhtar Gueye and Dolan missed some clear chances in the first half. Despite the narrow scoreline, the performance was a significant improvement from their previous match against Wigan Athletic.
With the final pre-season fixture complete, Rovers’ next challenge will be their opening league game against Derby County.
Here’s a round-up of the key talking points from Edgeley Park.
Gueye and Ohashi’s first outings
Blackburn Rovers fans got to see their new signings for a half each and the first impressions were positive.
We’ll start with Gueye, who could’ve scored with his first two touches in a Rovers shirt. He collected the ball from a Ryan Hedges cutback, set himself but curled the shot just wide.
What is apparent with Gueye is he will be a focal point at the top end of the pitch. He is a big, strong lad, who can tussle with defenders and hold the ball up.
There were a few moments of nice one-touch centre-forward play where he brought his team-mates into the game. I think he is more of the target man style than Gallagher. He perhaps won’t have the same athleticism to run the channels but he’s a more than capable runner nonetheless.
It’s impossible to make sweeping conclusions on 45 minutes of football but I think he might end the season with quite the highlight reel. It looks like he might score some unbelievable goals but perhaps miss a few as well.
He had four presentable chances in 45 minutes, two of which he should’ve scored. He’s clearly going to be box office which is an exciting prospect, especially if he can adapt to English football quickly.
Ohashi was also bright and linked play really well. There were a few one-touch balls around the corner for on-running team-mates that opened Stockport up.
He’s a bit of a poacher in the box; his movement is clever and subtle. The reports from his early training sessions are very positive too.
The test for both will be how they adapt to the speed and physicality of the Championship. But on this evidence, there appears to be something to work with for both players.
Control but Lacking Clinical Edge
Rovers were solid defensively against Stockport, with Aynsley Pears making just one save, a header from Will Collar early in the second half.
They managed the game’s tempo much better than in their match against Wigan. Despite creating numerous chances in the first half, their finishing needs improvement for the league. Gueye missed two particularly good opportunities, but his debut can be forgiven. Dolan also should have scored from 10 yards but redeemed himself with a penalty.
On the positive side, Rovers showed good fluidity in their play down both flanks. Ryan Hedges and Harry Pickering linked well on the left, while the connection between Joe Rankin-Costello and Callum Brittain continues to develop.
Overall, the display was promising, though Eustace remained cautious in his praise, emphasizing that pre-season performances, aside from fitness, are not heavily weighted.
Dolan’s New Role
In the last two friendlies, Dolan has taken on a role similar to that of Sam Szmodics, playing behind the striker, and has looked effective.
With Rovers’ star player likely to leave, Dolan has adapted well to this position. Eustace could have moved Rankin-Costello inside, shifted Hedges to the right, and placed Dolan on the left, but it seems Dolan’s new role could be a regular feature.
Dolan expressed a desire to continue in this position moving forward, which is promising. While he has previously excelled off the left, Rovers could benefit from his pace in a central role. Though Dolan is not as lightning-fast as he once was, he possesses good technical skills, quick feet, and can score goals. If he is used more centrally, his goal tally could increase.
This positional shift might also open up the left flank for a quicker winger. It’s possible that the funds from Szmodics’ potential departure could be used to bring in a pacey wide player rather than a direct replacement for the number 10 role.
Travis and Tronstad Partnership
Lewis Travis was in top form against Stockport, demonstrating why he and Sondre Tronstad are likely to be the first-choice midfield duo.
Tronstad’s strengths are clear—he excels at breaking up play and maintaining the flow with his impressive deep passing. Travis brings more energy and can press higher up the pitch, which was evident in Friday’s match.
While there may be games where Rovers require a more creative passer, possibly someone like John Buckley or a new signing, Travis and Tronstad provide a solid foundation in midfield. Their reliability and solidity in front of the defense will be key.
The attacking quartet will need to take on the creative responsibilities, with Callum Brittain providing width on the right flank.
Captaincy to Be Decided
Lewis Travis wore the captain’s armband on Friday, which seemed like a sign of intent from Eustace, though the coach downplayed its significance afterward.
Eustace informed The Lancashire Telegraph that no final decision has been made regarding the captaincy. The armband has been shared among players during pre-season, but this was the second consecutive time Travis wore it.
While my initial assumption was that Hyam would keep the armband from last season, Travis now appears to be a leading candidate as the decision approaches.