Boxing Day Cracker at the Macron

Article by Alan Houghton

Boxing Day is one of the special days in the football calendar and the prospect of playing our nearest rivals, Blackburn Rovers meant everyone was looking forward to a cracker of a match and we got one. It was the first time we have played Blackburn Rovers on a Boxing Day. No quarter was asked for and no quarter given. The mood in the packed fanzone was electric with the signing of Emile Heskey providing the main topic of lively debate. It was a 50-50 split on whether it was a good signing or not. The talented ex-Academy goalkeeper Jordan Allen got things going with his band in their Christmas jumpers while the White Diamonds kept the Christmas spirit going, dancing to ‘Let It Snow’.

Neil Lennon kept faith with the players and formation which did so well at Millwall. Blackburn Rovers are a different class to Millwall and could have been out of sight in the first half. Jordan Rhodes hit the post with their first attack and this set the scene for the first twenty minutes when Blackburn came at us in waves. But a combination of good defending, terrific saves from Andy Lonergan and bad finishing kept them at bay until just before the interval, when Josh King scored a controversial opener, coming from what appeared to be an offside position. We had our chances too. Eidur Gudjohnsen fired inches wide from Rob Hall’s cross and Liam Feeney put one onto the bar but in fairness Blackburn were on top in the first half.

However, this team under Neil Lennon doesn’t lie down. Once again it was a different story in the second half. Emile Heskey came on at half time and the Golden Oldies got us back in the game with Eidur Gudjohnsen feeding Emile Heskey for the first. Could anyone write a better script? Minutes later rejuvenated Darren Pratley smashed in the second. Blackburn didn’t lie down either and we survived an almighty goal mouth scramble late on but sometimes you earn the luck. It was the best game for ages and could easily have been six apiece. Blackburn must be wondering how they came away with nothing but our rekindled spirit saw us through again.

We’re having a much merrier Christmas than could have been expected in the dark days before the three wise men arrived. In the middle of October, we were looking at a relegation battle and an insecure financial future. Neil Lennon, Johan Mjallby and Garry Parker have done wonders with very limited resources. They have certainly got the best out of what they have had to work with. Eidur Gudjohnsen and Emile Heskey have been inspired signings. They are adding a bit of know-how and craft to the enthusiasm of the younger ones.

It is becoming clearer by the match that Dougie Freedman had a big problem with player management. Neil Lennon has done a great job at restoring confidence to the players. Making changes only when he has had to do through injury or bans has allowed understanding between players to grow, especially in the defence.

He has had to deal with an horrendous injury list and yet he has got us playing some decent stuff. Unlike our opponents, Blackburn rovers, Leeds United and Nottingham Forest, we seemed to have abided by the financial Fair Play rules and avoided a transfer embargo in the new year.

How much money Neil Lennon has to play with I suspect will be minimal and there may have to be some players leaving to free up the wage bill even more. Reality says that any players likely to attract a decent transfer offer will be our better ones and January is the time of the year when clubs in the Premier who are not doing as well as they should, come bargain hunting for players used to the English game. It will be difficult to turn down any reasonable offers.

Beggars cannot be choosers. We’re losing Chung-Yong Lee for most of January as he plays for South Korea in the Asian Cup and South Korea are one of the favourites to win it. His rejuvenated form has been a revelation since Neil Lennon moved him into the centre of midfield.

So, we have still a difficult time ahead of us but as we head into 2015, hopes are rising, the future is bright again.