Eustace pinpoints Blackburn ‘difference maker’ in QPR win.
John Eustace felt Todd Cantwell was the difference-maker for Blackburn Rovers as they beat 10-man Queens Park Rangers.
The visitors had frustrated Rovers in the opening 45 minutes with chances at a premium. However, Jonathan Varane’s red card just before the break changed the match.
That was coupled with a bold, pre-planned substitution from Eustace, who introduced Cantwell. For 30 minutes, the ball was like a magnet to him on the left side.
Goals from Lewis Travis and Danny Batth made the difference but it was the summer signing from Rangers that changed the match.
Todd is a top-class player who has had a tough time during the last 18 months,” Eustace said.
“He’s a quality player and you don’t have the career he’s had, played for some very good clubs if you’re not. We want to give him the opportunity to express himself and play the way he wants.
“If we can do that, we have a very good player on our hands. He is an excellent player and it’s up to us to get him fit and firing.
“It was a fantastic ball for the goal. He’s a very good player and then that lifts everyone else. You can see the energy levels and the quality of other players went up when he came on.”
Eustace felt Rovers were decent enough in the first half without creating too many openings. Cantwell was already prepared to come on even before the sending-off.
The biggest relief was Batth coming out unscathed after Varane’s poor challenge which looked like a red card from the moment he went into the tackle.
“I thought we were very good. First half, QPR frustrated us but we played some good, progressive football,” Eustace said.
“We had a few half-chances. A few good moments, we kept the ball well and we stuck to our game plan. They go down to ten men and it became more evident we could hurt them down the sides and play around them.
“It was obviously a horrific tackle, we’re glad that Danny got up and he was ok. I don’t think the lad meant it, you have to consider the conditions as well, very wet and he overran it. He went in for the tackle, it looked very bad but I’m not sure he meant to hurt anyone.
“The message at half-time was the same. We knew what we had to do and we brought Todd on to do that. He was coming on regardless, we could see we were getting into good areas and we just needed a final bit of quality to make it count.
“We lifted the tempo, we played out wide and recycled it quickly. Gaps appeared. I’m delighted for Trav, two home games in a row. If you hit the target, you always have a chance of scoring.”
