Football Dec 21, 2025

Blackburn Rovers 2-0 Millwall: Andri Gudjohnsen and Yuki Ohashi net in victory

👤
By Admin
Sports Journalist
Blackburn Rovers 2-0 Millwall: Andri Gudjohnsen and Yuki Ohashi net in victory

Blackburn registered just their second home victory of the season as they saw off Millwall 2-0 to ease their relegation concerns.

Without a win in five and with only six points at Ewood all season, Valerien Ismael's side needed a fast start that has evaded them on their own patch all season.

But they got it here, scoring twice before the break to double their goal output in the first half all season at home.

Andri Gudjohnsen set them on their way, lashing in his seventh of the campaign in the third minute, before Yuki Ohashi matched that tally in the 45th-minute when profiting from a mix-up in the Millwall defence.

And they held on with ease after that, though it was a day to forget for Alex Neil's side who should have done better for both goals as they saw their winless run stretch to three.

Blackburn's issue of failing to score first-half goals was rectified within three minutes when Ryoya Morishita laid the ball into the path of Matty Litherland whose low strike was fumbled by Max Crocombe and Gudjohnsen reacted quickest to hammer into the roof of the net.

Litherland went close to marking his first senior start with a dream goal moments later when Ohashi's cross ricocheted into his path and the 20-year-old's fierce shot stung Crocombe's palms who stood firm to repel.

The Millwall threat had been non-existent but they sounded two warnings midway through the half when Aidomo Emakhu's inviting centre was directed wide by Camiel Neghli, before a hopeful long ball gave Mihailo Ivanovic a sight of goal but his low, left-footed effort was straight at Aynsley Pears.

Rovers tightened their grip on the stroke of half-time through a calamitous mix-up in the Millwall defence when Danny McNamara headed the ball back to Crocombe who had rushed out to collect and missed it completely, leaving Ohashi with the simple task of tucking into the empty net.

Neil reacted with a triple substitution and Jake Cooper headed a corner just over soon after the restart, but Blackburn's threat remained and a glancing Ohashi header sailed narrowly wide.

Ivanovic almost conjured up something special in the 57th minute when a piece of ingenuity saw him delicately lift the ball over a defender but his cross-cum-shot was turned behind.

From the resulting corner, Caleb Taylor planted a free header wide of the far post.

That was as good as it got for Millwall and Liam Miller could have added a third late on but his low shot was wayward.

Blackburn's Valerien Ismael:

"It was important for us to get three points. We know 2025 was a tough year at home but we always kept going. It was our aim to come into the game with a big desire to play more forward, to be on the front foot, which we did in the first half and finally we had a little bit of luck as well on the second goal.

"It's always the same when you put the pressure on the back four, at some point, you force the mistake.

"In the second half, you saw straightaway Millwall changed the shape to be more stable, and it was all about for us, we spoke about to stay stable, not to be nice. Because now it's about getting the rewards.

"I think the boys did it perfectly in the second half. We were really solid, I didn't get the feeling Millwall would come back into the game, we defended set pieces well, and we gave some debuts to the Academy boys so I think it's a great day for Rovers."

Millwall's Alex Neil:

"First half I thought we were miles off what we were capable of doing. I thought we weren't sharp enough. In possession and out of possession, we made it so easy for Blackburn.

"The first goal I thought was dreadful. We jump out from full back and let him slip the ball down the side of us. We've spoken about that all week. Then the cutback, to then score off the second phase - the shot comes back and they score the next one.

"The second goal basically sums our first-half performance. When you split it into thirds you go, top third they got the better of our forwards, middle third they picked up more second balls than us in the first half, and I think in their top third, they bumped our centre backs and made it hard for us, and were just the brighter side across the pitch.

"If I could have made more subs at half-time I would have. That's how frustrated I was with the first half, especially if you look at how far our fans have travelled before Christmas and we serve up that first half. Unacceptable. I thought at least second half we competed but we lacked quality."

Tags:

football report

Share this article

Related Posts

Sarina Wiegman: England Women head coach reflects on Euro 2025 win, Hannah Hampton's impact and Thomas Tuchel

Sarina Wiegman: England Women head coach reflects on Euro 2025 win, Hannah Hampton's impact and Thomas Tuchel

As Sarina Wiegman reflects on Euro 2025, a smile spreads across her face."It's still strange. Did this really happen?" the usually-stoic England head...

Bruno Fernandes: Man Utd boss Ruben Amorim says it is 'impossible' to replace captain amid injury absence

Bruno Fernandes: Man Utd boss Ruben Amorim says it is 'impossible' to replace captain amid injury absence

Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim says it is "impossible" to replace Bruno Fernandes as the captain faces a spell on the sidelines with a musc...

Tottenham 1-2 Liverpool: Reds survive to win at nine-man Spurs after Richarlison strike follows Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike goals

Tottenham 1-2 Liverpool: Reds survive to win at nine-man Spurs after Richarlison strike follows Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike goals

Liverpool scrambled to a 2-1 win at nine-man Tottenham, somehow surviving a chaotic finale which saw Richarlison pull one back and Cristian Romero sho...

Bruno Fernandes: Man Utd boss Ruben Amorim says it is 'impossible' to replace captain amid injury absence

Bruno Fernandes: Man Utd boss Ruben Amorim says it is 'impossible' to replace captain amid injury absence

Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim says it is "impossible" to replace Bruno Fernandes as the captain faces a spell on the sidelines with a musc...

Rory McIlroy seals legendary status, Luke Littler levels above, Lions and Lionesses roar: Sport's biggest stories in 2025 defined sport in 2025

Rory McIlroy seals legendary status, Luke Littler levels above, Lions and Lionesses roar: Sport's biggest stories in 2025 defined sport in 2025

As 2025 draws to a close, Your Site looks back at the sporting stories that defined the year, including Rory McIlroy finding the missing piece to the...

Man Utd transfer news: Kobbie Mainoo must 'fight for job' - and January signings possible, says Ruben Amorim

Man Utd transfer news: Kobbie Mainoo must 'fight for job' - and January signings possible, says Ruben Amorim

Ruben Amorim says Kobbie Mainoo “needs to fight for his job” and hinted Manchester United might be able to bolster their squad in the January transfer...