TOON TOP AND ROVERS DROP
Poultry owners Venky’s under fire as once-proud Blackburn go down while Forest and Birmingham survive
NEWCASTLE claimed the Championship title on a dramatic final day which saw Blackburn, the Premier League champions in 1995, relegated into League One. Brighton were set to finish top before Jack Grealish scored in the 89th minute to earn Aston Villa a 1-1 draw against Chris Hughton’s side, as Newcastle beat Barnsley 3-0. Manager Rafa Benitez, right, has won titles before but said: “You can appreciate it more when you are older and can feel the emotions around the city and stadium.
“To do it in style as we did this season is really emotional and I am proud of them. Hopefully it’s just the first trophy I win at Newcastle.”
Benitez enjoyed the moment but was undoubtedly already thinking of next season. Talks loom with owner Mike Ashley, who made a rare appearance at the game and will dictate whether Benitez remains in charge. “We will meet next week,” said Benitez. “But it’s important for him and us to feel the love of the fans and the passion in the stadium.”
Blackburn began the day third from bottom and that is where they ended it, becoming the first Premier League winners to drop into the third tier. It came despite a 3-1 victory at Brentford, including a strike from Danny Guthrie, left, after Nottingham Forest beat Ipswich 3-0 and Harry Redknapp’s Birmingham won 1-0 at Bristol City.
“I am disappointed now but we have to try to keep the spirit we showed here and, if we do, the club will be very strong in League One next year,” said Blackburn manager Tony Mowbray.
IT IS 127 miles between Griffin Park and the City Ground but a world of difference between the emotions that were felt on a tumultuous day at the bottom of the Championship.
At 1.13pm yesterday, as Lasse Vibe scored for Brentford, the Blackburn manager Tony Mowbray put both his hands to his face. He could not look, his side were heading into League One on goal difference, despite leading 2-1.
Two minutes later at the City Ground in Nottingham, Mark Warburton, the Forest boss, was lost in celebration as Chris Cohen fired his team 2-0 ahead against Ipswich and staying in the second tier was edging closer.
Never mind Super Sunday, this was Suffering Sunday, even for those whose teams were winning. Birmingham, under the guidance of Harry Redknapp, were a goal ahead at Bristol City but knew if the home side scored they would be the side to slip into the one final relegation berth.
Forest stretched their lead to triumph 3-0 and Blackburn won 3-1 but, after an agonisingly wait for stoppage time to end at Ashton Gate, Rovers’ fate was confirmed by Birmingham’s 1-0 victory.
Mowbray, right, had done all he could. His side had been superb on this particular afternoon but it was too big a task in the end.
Twenty-two years ago this Sunday, Blackburn were celebrating their greatest moment of modern times as Jack Walker’s side, led by Kenny Dalglish and the goals of Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton, were crowned Premier League champions.
Now Blackburn slip into the third tier of English football for the first time since 1980.
When Venky’s bought Blackburn in November 2010, they were 14th in the top flight. Almost their first move was to sack Sam Allardyce. It has been downhill ever since.
Mowbray is the ninth man in charge of the team since Big Sam left and has done a decent job in steadying the sinking ship, taking 22 points from 15 games since replacing Owen Coyle in February. He denied he might walk away if he does not get assurances over the playing budget, but on yesterday’s evidence Venky’s would be well-advised to promise him an end to player sales and stick to it.
Mowbray is expecting to fly to India in the next few weeks for talks with the owners over a budget.
But the poultry farmers have spent only £250,000 over the past four windows while raking in £10million last summer alone by selling central defenders Grant Hanley and Shane Duffy.
“The facts are quite damning,” said Mowbray. “You can’t keep selling your best players and expect to progress. It’s just common sense. We have to put together the pieces and create a team that is functional and wins week-in, week-out. What’s important is that I have discussions in the next week or two with the owners and hopefully they’re positive.”
How ironic Warburton was helped in his salvation by the result at Brentford, the club where he made his managerial name. But he predicted a bright future for Forest after seeing Britt Assombalonga’s brace and Cohen’s goal secure their safety.
Even as jubilant Forest fans celebrated on the pitch, Warburton delivered a clear message to his squad ahead of an imminent takeover by Greek shipping magnate Evangelos Marinakis.
“We congratulated them but the vow is we must never allow Forest to be in this situation again,” said Warburton. And with Marinakis set to end the chaotic reign of Fawaz Al Hasawi, the manager is setting loftier ambitions for next season.
“I’ve seen enough in the six or seven weeks I’ve been here to know that with a good pre-season we’ll put our marker down next season,” he said.
At Ashton Gate, Redknapp belied his 70 years by jumping around like a 17-year-old. He sprinted towards the 2,500 jubilant Blues fans as the final whistle confirmed Che Adams’ first-half goal was enough. Redknapp, who only
came in three games ago after Gianfranco Zola resigned, said: “The buzz is fantastic when you get a result like today, I don’t feel as though I’m anywhere near 70.”
Victory capped a timely turnaround in fortunes after Zola’s disastrous reign, which yielded just two wins in 24 games. “I’m a great fan of Zola’s, Franco’s a fantastic guy,” said Redknapp, who won two of his three matches. “I don’t know what the problems were but they found another yard from somewhere.”
Now Redknapp is set for talks with the club’s Hong Kong-based owners to see if he has a long-term future.
A future that sees the club in the Championship; Blackburn’s fans must wish they could say the same.