Coventry City manager Frank Lampard believes that Blackburn Rovers are unlucky to have been forced to replay their abandoned Championship fixture against Ipswich Town.
The clash between Blackburn and Ipswich drew worldwide media attention last month when the referee opted to abandon the fixture with 10 minutes remaining. Rovers were leading the game 1-0 whilst their opponents were down to 10 men following the sending off of defender Jacob Greaves.
This led to calls for the Lancashire-based side to be handed the victory, with the stats showing that they were fully in control of the contest. However, the EFL followed precedent and opted to call for the game to be replayed in its entirety.
Ipswich Debate Rumbles On
Had Blackburn won that game, it would have been a second successive victory of Valerien Ismael. However, they have picked up just a solitary point from their corresponding 3 fixtures and travel to unbeaten league leaders Coventry tomorrow afternoon. As a result, they sit just outside the relegation places.
Meanwhile, Ipswich have hit a run of good form to move into the top half of the table. The Tractor Boys beat rivals Norwich City 3-1 before the international break and sit 6 points behind the Sky Blues, with a game in hand.
Frank Lampard looks ahead to the Sky Blues’ return to action against Blackburn Rovers on Saturday. 🎙️
— Coventry City (@Coventry_City) October 17, 2025
“It’s up to us to be great and start the game well, with the right application.
“We know when we’re like that, we can be a force but we are not complacent, we have to do our business.
“I think Blackburn have not quite had what they’ve deserved in some of their games, specifically one that is being replayed with the other team.”
What Did McKenna Say?
Upon the EFL’s decision to replay the fixture, a raft of suggestions were given to make the game ‘fair’. These included Ipswich playing with 10 men, whilst it is thought that Blackburn had requested that Kieran McKenna’s side ‘award’ them a goal head start.
Speaking at the time, the former Manchester United coach dismissed the idea:
“I don’t even think they’re worth justifying with a thought, to be honest.
“As I say, you’d be frustrated if you’re in the Blackburn situation because they’ll feel like they were in a good position to go on and get a result. But I don’t think there’s a decision to make or too much else to discuss. The conditions were unplayable, in my opinion, from probably about half-time onwards.
“The game could have been stopped earlier. That’s no responsibility of ours over the course of the season.”
Kieran McKenna when asked if Ipswich should give Blackburn a goal head start or play with 10 men in their replayed fixture:
“I don’t even think they’re worth justifying with a thought, to be honest.”
Brutal, but true.#ITFC #Rovers pic.twitter.com/HBKVfFm0nn
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Writer’s View
Although Lampard didn’t specifically dig out Ipswich, it’s clear what he was referencing. Admittedly, Blackburn can count themselves unlucky to be 3 points worse off than what they are but there is no guarantee they would have seen that came out.
Of course, the momentum was with them, although they themselves benefitted from a late equaliser in only their last game when they came from behind to secure a 1-1 draw against Stoke City. The truth of the matter is that Ipswich are a genuine threat to Coventry’s promotion hopes and the decision could directly affect who wins the Championship title in May.
