Why Blackburn's 1st half sustained dominance left QPR flattered by the HT score-line.
Some good concepts used by Tony Mowbray to stifle QPR, particularly their pressing structures.
Blackburn Rovers beat QPR 1-0 at Saturday Lunchtime in an important game between two sides keen to cement a playoff place. Despite the tight score line, it was never a true reflection on the game itself, with Rovers much the deserving side of the three points.
I’ve had a look at how Rovers created such sustained dominance in the 1st and why they should have blown QPR away by the HT whistle.
Blackburn’s press.
I’ve banged the drum for quite a while now about our issues with playing against aggressive, high pressing teams and on Saturday was another one of those days. An absence to Lyndon Dykes through injury was naturally a big blow, losing a dimension to go direct over the press when needs be, but Warburton opting to play not one but two false 9s as an attacking ‘out-ball’ was rather confusing. So for Rangers, playing through Blackburn was rather a predictable route for Mowbray’s side to contain.
As shown above from build-up, Blackburn’s press was man orientated. Dolan, Rovers recognised central attacker would lead the line as the front of their press. As Rovers used the 3-4-3 system, very similar to QPR’s 3-5-2, they could use m2m marking to squeeze higher and force Rangers long. Sam Gallagher and Reda Khadra in particular isolated the wide CBs to restrict building out from the back and as Stefan Johansen was playing as more of an unorthodox no.10, one of the CBs would step up into the 2nd midfield line to prevent access for him to get on the ball.
Whilst Blackburn showed aggression in their high press when Rangers built up from Goal kicks and the defence, but also showed great counter pressing structures to retain the ball after losing possession.
And as shown by Blackburn’s pressing structure all afternoon, they were successful in creating chances through turnovers…
Rovers overloading and isolating the left channel.
Blackburn lined up as previously mentioned in a 3-4-3 which meant that they could use the “double wide” to their advantage by using Khadra (LW) and Pickering (LWB) when overloading the left hand side. But also on occasions they’d isolate the likes of Khadra and even Dolan when they rotated their fluid front three to attack 1v1 against Albert Adomah who is a winger playing in the WB role and has his issues defensively 1v1.
One noticeable ploy from Blackburn was leaving the wide forwards high without the ball in order to create better transitions from turning over the ball. This allowed Gallagher and Khadra to isolate themselves against Dunne.
Blackburn also showed their ability to overload the left channel with combinations and positionings.
Defensive shape in transition.
With Blackburn emphasising turnovers and attacking in transition, Rangers had to show stability against quick counter attacks which are usually a weakness of their game. With the fluid attack of Dolan, Gallagher and Khadra they created two of their best chances in the game from capitalising on QPR’s unstable defensive shape.
One area Rovers looked to capitalise in was between the wide CBs and the WBs when QPR were quite open in possession.
A lack of an out-ball up top.
As mentioned earlier, Warburton lined QPR up as a 3-5-2 with two false 9s in Chair and Willock, a replicate of Wednesday’s line-up vs Blackpool. Whilst it “worked” on Wednesday in the result, the success with playing direct with channel balls only ever was successful once, when George Thomas was brought on.
The success rate proved similar on Saturday, playing against a side with a much more successful and aggressive press, forcing QPR long every time and conceding possession to Rovers consistently with Chair and Willock playing against three physically dominant CBs.
A disappointing and 2nd best 1st half performance by QPR. The setup was too one dimensional from the off, not helped by the absence to Dykes. Blackburn’s basic pressing structure was able to create sustained dominance and if they’d have taken their chances they could have easily have been 2/3-0 up and realistically game over by HT.
Impressed with Mowbray and his setup by using Dolan as a 9 rather than changing shape and integrating Buckley. Dolan a huge threat for Rovers off the ball with his energy and discipline/maturity.
Despite Rangers looking leggy in the game, Warburton didn’t set his side up to be flexible in their approach against Blackburn and failed to play through the press all game. A big learning curve for Warburton heading into the run in.