Second-half goals from Danny Graham, from the penalty spot, and sub Joe Nuttall saw Blackburn to a 2-0 victory over the Blues at Ewood Park. Callum Elder felled Adam Armstrong for the spot-kick converted by Graham on 65, then Nuttall added the second nine minutes later with his first touch seconds after coming on.

Alan Judge, who joined Town from Brentford for a nominal fee earlier in the week, was handed his Blues debut against Rovers, a club where he has had two spells.

Jack Lankester, celebrating his 19th birthday today, dropped to the bench as manager Paul Lambert, a former Rovers boss, named an otherwise unchanged team.

As for last weekend’s 1-0 home defeat of Rotherham, the Blues lined-up in a 4-4-1-1 system, with Judge on the right side of midfield.

Skipper Luke Chambers continued at the centre of the defence wearing a strapping on the wrist he injured against the Millers.

Former Town captain and coach Tony Mowbray made three changes to his Blackburn team with Jack Rodwell, Corry Evans and Bradley Dack returning to the XI and Ryan Nyambe, Richie Smallwood and Ben Brereton dropping to the bench having started the 4-2 midweek after-extra-time FA Cup defeat to Newcastle.

There was a big scare for the Blues in the seventh minute when Cole Skuse was uncharacteristically caught in possession not far outside his area. Lewis Travis eventually worked the ball to Graham in space inside the box but fortunately for the Blues the former Swansea striker’s shot at goal was diverted wide by Chambers.

Town, wearing their all orange away kit, began to pass the ball around confidently, despite a bumpy-looking pitch, with new boy Judge very much involved. However, they weren’t able to carve out an opportunity to test David Raya in the Rovers goal.

The home side spurned another chance to go in front in the 22nd minute when skipper Elliott Bennett was found breaking into the area on the Rovers right with a low Bradley Dack ball from the other flank. Luckily for Town, the one-time Norwich winger or right-back blazed well over the bar.

Blackburn had another opportunity in the 24th minute, Dack hitting a 25-yard freekick towards goal which scuffed off the wall and went behind.

Rovers went even closer following the resultant corner. Corry Evans hit a low shot through a crowd of players from distance which Rodwell turned on to the inside of Gerken’s left post. The loose ball ran across the six-yard box but the keeper dived on it just ahead of Dack.

The Lancastrians had by now got up a head of steam and the Blues were struggling to get out of their own half.

In the 25th minute Dack chased a ball into the left of the Town box and tried to lift it over the advancing Gerken, however, he scuffed his effort and James Collins cleared.

Four minutes later, Armstrong struck a shot from the edge of the box which Gerken pushed wide of his right post.

The pressure eventually subsided and the Blues began to get their passing going again and started to get on top, Judge and Sears having swapped flanks.

And in the 39th minute, with the home fans starting to become frustrated their their side, they might have gone in front.

Keane was played in on goal and beat the advancing Raya to the ball but took it too wide to the right to slip into the net. The on-loan Hull City man waited for team-mates to lay it back to but eventually tried to sneak a shot in at the near post and the ball was bundled behind.

A minute later, from a Judge freekick, Collins got his head to the ball but was unable to divert it towards goal.

The Blues found themselves back under pressure as the half moved into one minute of injury time with Blackburn winning a succession of corners and throws, but Town were able to hold out to go in with the scoreline 0-0 at the break.

Blackburn will feel they had had enough chances to have gone in ahead, Graham failing to take advantage of Skuse’s early error and then a number of players coming close during their dominant spell midway through the half.

Town just about kept the scoreline blank during that period and might have gone in ahead themselves had Keane not taken the ball quite as wide when rounding Raya and had a team-mate been placed for him to cut back towards.

At times the Blues had long spells of possession but equally there were moments when they had surrendered possession and had looked like the scratch side that to a great extent they are given the turnaround in personnel with five of the six January signings starting.

Blackburn swapped on-loan Southampton man Harrison Reed, who had suffered a knock in the midweek game against Newcastle, for Joe Rothwell ahead of the second half.

The home side began the second period as they left off the first, winning a number of set pieces. However, with Town able to prevent Gerken’s goal from being threatened.

Eleven minutes after the restart a wayward Collins pass gifted the ball to Rothwell midway inside the Town half but Matthew Pennington stabbed the ball away from the sub to Gerken as he prepared to shoot.

A minute later, the Blues’ first attack of the second half ended with Sears crossing for Collin Quaner, who looped a ball which was behind him wide of Raya’s right post.

But in the 65th minute the home side took the lead from the penalty spot. Armstrong got ahead of the rather pedestrian Elder as they chased a ball into the right of the box and the Australian left-back, on loan from Leicester, hauled down the former Newcastle man. Referee Darren England took his time before pointing to the spot.

Town’s players debated furiously with referee England - Chambers was eventually booked for scuffing the penalty spot - but it looked a correct decision and somewhat needless with Armstrong not going anywhere. Graham took the spot-kick and slammed his 10th goal of the season past Gerken.

It might have got even worse for the Blues just over a minute later, sub Rothwell smashing a powerful shot from the left which Gerken superbly tipped on to his left post.

Chambers headed over from a Judge freekick for Town, then on 67 boss Lambert switched Quaner for Lankester, the sub moving to the right, Keane forward and Judge swapping into the number 10 role. Six minutes later, Blackburn replaced Graham with Nuttall.

And with his first touch of the ball the sub all but sealed his side’s victory. Armstrong broke away down the right and crossed low for Nuttall, who slammed into the net from a matter of inches.

Nuttall was booked for a foul on Chambers, then in the 77th minute Dack shot just wide from the edge of the box on the right with Blackburn sensing that there were more goals for them in the game.

On 81 Elder crossed deep from the left to Judge breaking in at the back of the box but the new signing’s shot was blocked. Soon after, Teddy Bishop replaced Sears for Town and Smallwood took over from Evans for Rovers.

Town went close to pulling a goal back in the 85th minute when Keane made the most of some hesitancy between Raya and Bennett, the ball bouncing out to Bishop with the keeper well out of his goal.

The sub’s shot looked goalbound but Elliott somehow managed to deflect it wide, with his hand claimed Town’s players, not overly convincingly, but with his chest according to the referee. Replays suggest the Blues squad were the more correct and they ought to have been awarded the game's second penalty.

Dack curled a shot wide for Rovers as the match entered its final scheduled two minutes, then in four minutes of injury time Rothwell shot over from the left of the box.

Neither side threatened again before England’s whistle ended the match. As against Rotherham, the Blues never got going after the break having had bright spells before half-time.

Whereas they held out against the Millers, this time they were made to pay after Elder’s rash challenge on Armstrong before Nuttall made an immediate impact having come off the bench to seal it.

Even after the first goal a Town comeback looked unlikely but after the second the game looked done and dusted, as so often recently. The Blues have now conceded two or more in each of their last 13 Championship games on the road, all but their opening away game at Rotherham which ended 1-0.

Results elsewhere were kind for Town and the Blues remain seven points plus goal difference from safety ahead of next week’s trip Aston Villa, one of only 18 games left to play.

Blackburn: Raya, Bennett (c), Lenihan, Rodwell, Bell, Evans (Smallwood 82), Travis, Reed (Rothwell 46), Dack, Armstrong, Graham (Nuttall 73). Unused: Leutwiler, Nyambe, Brereton, Conway.

Town: Gerken, Pennington, Chambers (c), Collins, Elder, Skuse, Chalobah, Sears (Bishop 83), Judge, Keane, Quaner (Lankester 67). Unused: Bialkowski, Downes, Nsiala, Kenlock, Dawkins. Referee: Darren England (South Yorkshire). Att: 12,762 (Town: 562).

Photos: Pagepix

heathen66 added 18:22 - Jan 19 To go into a game with no strikers on the bench is criminal, especially when playing away we need to score at least 2 goals. Also what has Myles Kenlock ever done wrong. Always dropped by MM for an under performing Knudsen and now dropped for an inexperienced loan player. Perhaps PL thinks Hurst signed him !!!
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ShropshireBluenago09 added 18:25 - Jan 19 A dubious penalty for their 1st goal and we should have had a pen for handball. Our luck needs to change but we are running out of games
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warktheline added 18:28 - Jan 19 There really are some muppets on here! A very honest but very lucky win last week against an extremely poor Rotherham outfit and 'we are gonna beat the drop!', back to reality away from home and again not even notching a singular goal and 'we are down 100%'! Accept relegation for starters, and let's see if Lambert can rekindle his 'yesterdays' as a manager! He's talking the talk but not walking the walk presently! Personally will hold off judgement until the first 15 games in Division 1 next season!

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DifferentGravy added 18:32 - Jan 19 Not surprised at all. Think some were deluding themselves that suddenly we would be able to turn it completely around. I like Lambert, hes taken charge of a club in total disarray and yet hes done a lot of good already. The only gripe I have is the insistence with playing three forwards. The midfield simply isnt strong enough with only three (Freddy is not a midfielder), evidenced by the number of goals scored against us and by opposing midfielders. Particularly away from home, we show our hand immediately. "Here is the best attacking options we have and if that doesnt work(and we go behind) we are screwed". Really frustrated because, whilst the table doesnt lie, I really think(with the injection of new players) we are better than this. A 4-4-2(or 4-4-1-1) , gives balance and helps to establish a foothold in the game. Then, if things are going thruppenys up, we have options on the bench. On a plus note, support was fantastic as always(backs slaps aplenty). More shots on goal and 'The Judge' showing a few fleeting glimpses of what he can do. Come on you blues, we are better than this!!!! Its all to play for. Onwards(and upwards) Lets go to Villa and bring back three points.

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DifferentGravy added 18:39 - Jan 19 P.S Yes, I could rant about the fact several players simply arent good enough, Div 1 ability at best (where we are heading) including chambers ......but its not gonna make me feel any better.
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RobsonWark added 18:50 - Jan 19 BossMan and cat You are so right. We have sold our best players from last season, loaned out other promising youngsters but the crap players keep getting in the team...you know who you are: CHAMBERS, SKUSE, SEARS, JERKEN!! I love PL but why can't he see how TOTALLY CRAP Chambers is? I've said this many times this season - we will NEVER win while he is in the team. I am 50 now but would still LOVE to be playing against Chambers week in week out - I would get the Golden Boot for top striker!

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Nobbysnuts added 18:59 - Jan 19 This is what you get when you put young inexperienced loan players in who don't give a sh#t about this club. Crazy penalty to give away. We have better players already here in that position.
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dirtydingusmagee added 19:00 - Jan 19 wasnt that optimistic before game and thought a point would be good. Really weak up front,no threat at all, We need another Waghorn. Its only two games but i cant see anything in Quaner that will set the world alight. Im resigned to seeing us drop now, just hope we can get sorted for life in Lge 1 and hit the ground running. Its just a case of running the clock down now i think .Still pleased we will have Paul Lambert, UP THE TOWN

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Bluearmy_81 added 19:14 - Jan 19 11 years Vs a few months?!! The damage was done by Evans
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TimmyH added 19:14 - Jan 19 As I said when we signed Alan Judge the other day not to expect too much from him (for the time being)...saw him at Brentford when they played Birmingham and he was way off the pace as he was when he came on as sub against us and probable reason post broken leg why he hasn't made many starts this season...of course that won't stop a reasonable amount of our supporters thinking we've got a gem...so how did he play today other than his dreadful free kicks?

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KiwiTractor added 19:28 - Jan 19 The starting XI just didn't seem to have the right balance for me - Sears (again) and Judge (I'm a 10) wide and then a centre forward playing the 10 role? Did Huws get a splinter last week on the bench?
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blueboy1981 added 19:33 - Jan 19 What more did anyone expect after last week ?, we won last week yes, but where was there any sign that we could go and get a point, or points at Blackburn ? - there wasn't. Therefore am I surprised ? - No. We had no midfield last week - we had no midfield this week. We created nothing last week - what did we expect to create this week ? We had nothing in the final third last week - what did we have this week ? I am convinced that Paul Lambert is right for our Club - but results are the same, as under Paul Hurst - one could even question if overall performance is as good. We are what we are - a huge job in progress - comfort is that we have to believe we have the right Manager to move us forward. Don't expect anything else short term, other than League 1 - anything other is 'pie in the sky' belief. REALITY is what's REAL - nothing more, or less.

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blueboy1981 added 19:44 - Jan 19 .......... accept the inevitable - I did way before Lambert arrived. There has been nothing there, week after week, for far too long to suggest we will escape relegation. Massive rebuild job needed,, and short term loans 'as help' will not achieve anything more than it currently is. The Horse has bolted, and not just today ...... !!! Forward we move with a rebuild job - it's already started at the top, now it has to cascade down. WE WILL RETURN - make no mistake about that.

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ringwoodblue added 19:46 - Jan 19 So much for Huws' comeback. An unused substitute last week and not even on the bench this week. Harrison the same. How do Chalobah and Sears get to start every week? In Lambert I trust but I simply don't understand some of his team selections. I hoped we might grab a draw today but alas it wasn't to be. Maybe we are saving our next win for Naarwich!
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Cakeman added 20:13 - Jan 19 Sadly many negative comments but I respect and understand most of them. Our fate once Paul Lambert was installed as manager was always going to be about winning our home games or at least most of them. It is always going to be difficult for us away from home and any points gained away are a bonus. We need to win six at least of our remaining home games to stand a chance of avoiding the drop. Achievable yes, realistic no. We just need to try to remain positive and support the team as we did with the Rotherham game for the the remainder of the season and keep that spirit going into next season even if it is to be league one. Also wouldn't it be nice to win at Carrot Road. That would be an amazing lift for the club.

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RobsonWark added 20:22 - Jan 19 OMG! Simples...drop Chambers. Again he was no where near his man when they scored the second goal. Wake up and smell the coffee Paul Lambert.
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geminimustang added 20:42 - Jan 19 "Cakeman added 20:13 - Jan 19 We need to win six at least of our remaining home games to stand a chance of avoiding the drop. Achievable yes, realistic no. " ITFC are on 18pts.They need a minimum of 43pts to stay up.So 25pts needed.Your 6 home wins=18pts.That would mean a further 2 away wins + a draw home or away.PL's record so far is 0.64pts per game which suggests only a further 12pts to get.All a wet finger in the wind but relegation is almost certain.At that point,i believe PL will go as ITFC won't come back in the short term as a full clear out and rebuild necessary.

1

ArnieM added 21:05 - Jan 19 Disappointing yes, unexpected no. People should remember this is now the third change of personal in the Town side since the summer pre season. McCarthys players leaving .... Hursts 11 imports ( all lower league), then Paul Lamberts attempts to rescue the situation. We are NOT an ESTABLISHED SIDE ! What on Earth do people expect ? What has happened at Town since the end of last season is unprecedented . We have no option but to run with. PLEASE you lot keep faith with Paul Lambert. He IS the best thing to happen to this Club in s long while. He needs time. We were all but relegated the moment Hurst began his tenure here. Stupid arse got it all wrong didn't he. Don't expect Lambert to perform miracles. This is still only the 2nd game with “ his” players .

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ITFCsince73 added 21:34 - Jan 19 I've said it for so long , so many times. I don't bother anymore, as feel like a broken record. But Chambers is so poor (I've refrained from using language there to offend) it's unreal. Just so poor as a footballer, just so poor to have in our back line. But again as said so many times, if fit will play. And will lead the town down. Just simply the worst football playing regular captain the club has ever had. At least in my lifetime of support, can't think of any poorer player in that position, with the whole club in his hands. Dreadful. But he is a great bloke. Luckily for him.

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ITFCsince73 added 21:43 - Jan 19 Cakeman. I'm personally dreading the derby game. The 1st time in 40+ years, going into battle with the ******* *******. So gutted we're we are.
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warktheline added 21:51 - Jan 19 I keep hearing 'Lambert's the best thing to happen to this club for many a year!' Codswallop! Presently Lambert is no more than a very good 'salesman'.....a PR to stop further the growing disconnection between club and fans! It's going to take a lot more between now and end of season from the owner supporting the 'current' manager to appease long suffering supporters! Yes, this season is undoubtedly a 'write off' but that doesn't mean progression shouldn't be witnessed by all concerned! I remember McCarthy walking in to a sorry mess, and thereafter over 18 months took the club into the playoffs, food for thought wouldn't you agree!!!!!

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RobsonWark added 21:51 - Jan 19 ITFCsince73 I agree sooooooooooooooooooo much!! Why are we the only ones that can see that? Do everyone need to go to SpecSavers! He is totally S##TE. It annoys me so much that others can not see it.
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FrankMarshall added 22:05 - Jan 19 Wish people would stop blaming Hurst for everything that is wrong with the club. He left the club in October, it's a long time since he got sacked. A number of key decisions were made between the departure of MM and the arrival of PH. Players such as Crowe, Hyam, Bru and Carayol were allowed to leave--3 of which would walk into this team right now. Hurst had to spend because he had no other real choice, most of the squad had left and a few others were long-term injured! Hurst also obviously wanted Tilt and made that very clear; and that never happened. Add McGoldrick, Webster, Waghorn and Garner leaving and we were a disaster waiting to happen. The point I am trying to make is that the interim period between the two managers was critical. I am not sure who was firing the shots during that period, but whoever it was did an appalling job. In the end Hurst turned out to be a poor appointment but it wasn't helped by the impossible situation he found himself in. As for the present squad managed by PL since October? I don't understand what happens at half-time. We play ok first half, go inat the break and instantly play like a completely different team. What's happening at the team talk?

1

Gcon added 22:07 - Jan 19 Just shows you, doesn't it? He was evidently bloody good at his job that McCarthy. Such a shame that certain overly sensitive factions couldn't handle him calling a spade a spade, or a numbskull a numbskull. Be honest with yourselves, you miss being top half of the table, No? Or are you seriously going to suggest that everything is better now....
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ITFCsince73 added 22:08 - Jan 19 Maybe Robsonwark we've seen so many captains lead our great club over the years. Some exceptional, some ok. There is a saying no player is bigger than the club, unfortunately Chambers has reversed that trend. I don't pretend to be a football manager, but it's clear a change of onfield leadership is in order. The biggest mistake of the Hurst reign was not to install a new captain to go alongside his new era. And to be the 1st name on the team sheet week in week out has lead us to our current position. Which is the lowest point in living memory. I'm not talking about today, this season. But over 3 years Chambo has been to privalidged. Which in turn will see us down

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