Mowbray relieved as Blackburn secure win against ‘banana skin’ Ipswich

Blackburn boss Tony Mowbray was pleased to avoid the potential “banana skin” of bottom club Ipswich after his side ran out comfortable 2-0 winners.

Rovers put midweek FA Cup defeat to Newcastle behind them and were well worth the points which moved them up to ninth.

Danny Graham’s 65th-minute penalty put Blackburn ahead and moved the striker into double figures for the season, and the lead was doubled by Joe Nuttall from close range nine minutes later, who finished off a sensational team move with his first touch.

Blackburn are now six points off the play-offs and, after their fifth win in eight league games at Ewood, Mowbray praised his side for bagging the points despite the heavy workload of the week.

He said: “I think our intensity levels were down. I wasn’t very happy at half-time. That said, in the first 10 minutes, we could have been two up.

“I’m sure Tuesday night had something to do with that. Danny Graham at 33 was asked to go again, as were quite a few of the others. I think that’s a lot to do with the under-par first half. Pleased that the substitutes came on and made a difference, affected the game in a positive way.

“Just pleased for the points on a performance after a midweek game that went to extra time, that we could get a result.

“I know we played against a team at the bottom of the league who have struggled to win this year, but as we managed to do a couple of years ago, when you’re at the bottom, those teams at some stage are going to start winning.

“We’re happy with the points. These are potential banana skins for us. We had to match Ipswich’s desire today. We managed to do that.”

Paul Lambert endured an unhappy return to the club he managed in the 2015/16 season.

Seven points from safety, the Tractor Boys have picked up just five points on the road; this is their fifth straight defeat away from home and was the 13th game they have conceded at least two in away games this season.

Lambert believes striker Will Keane had been honest for staying on his feet when it looked like he’d been fouled in the box, but acknowledged the lack of creativity.

He said: “I thought they started better than us. Then we started to come into the game and looked pretty lively.

“Will was through and I think there’s a clip on him but he tried to stay on his feet and score. Would I have done it (gone down)? Yes. A lot of players would. He tried to stay on his feet, and that’s the decision he made.

“I don’t think we did enough after that. The game was really tight, but I don’t think we did enough after they scored to get back in it.

“The two goals are carbon copy kind of pass that has got inside him (Callum Elder). That said, the goals were well taken from their point of view.

“I can’t ask any more effort and commitment. There’s nothing really in the game. We look a decent side and we just need that little run of momentum. You’ve got to keep bouncing on. We’re disappointed because I just don’t think we did enough.”