Blackburn head coach pushes for rule change after draining FA Cup loss at Hull

Blackburn Rovers head coach Valérien Ismaël has urged football authorities to reconsider the format of FA Cup ties after his side were eliminated by Hull City on penalties, arguing that extra time places unnecessary physical strain on players and adds little to the spectacle.

The third-round clash at the MKM Stadium was a scrappy, low-quality encounter between two Sky Bet Championship sides, played out in difficult conditions and watched by a crowd of fewer than 7,000 supporters. After 90 largely uneventful minutes ended goalless, the match drifted through an additional half-hour before being decided by a penalty shootout, which Hull won 4–3 to progress to the fourth round.

Ismaël believes the Football Association should follow the example set in the Carabao Cup, where drawn matches go straight to penalties after regulation time. FA Cup replays were scrapped last season, but extra time remains part of the competition’s structure — a decision Ismaël feels now needs to be revisited.

Speaking after the defeat, the Frenchman highlighted the physical toll placed on players by an extended contest that, in his view, did little to improve the quality of football on display.

“The players were on the pitch for 134 minutes,” Ismaël said. “That’s incredible when you think about it. It puts huge pressure on their bodies. You can’t honestly say that extra time produced a better game. It was just one team having the ball, then the other. It doesn’t make sense.

“It would be far better to play 90 minutes with full intensity and, if it’s still level, decide the game with penalties.”

His frustration was understandable given the nature of the contest. The opening 90 minutes produced just one shot on target between the two sides, underlining how evenly matched — and creatively limited — the game had become. While the extra period offered marginally more drama, it failed to provide a breakthrough. Hull winger David Akintola came closest, rattling the crossbar with a fierce volley after Oli McBurnie’s header had been well saved, but the deadlock remained unbroken.

Ultimately, the tie was settled from the spot. Hull goalkeeper Dillon Phillips emerged as the hero, saving penalties from Blackburn substitutes Yuki Ohashi and Moussa Baradji. Successful spot-kicks from Kyle Joseph, McBurnie, Charlie Hughes and Akintola ensured the Tigers edged the shootout and booked their place in the next round.

Ismaël described the outcome as a “lottery,” a familiar sentiment among managers who see penalty shootouts as an unforgiving way to decide tight contests. Despite the disappointment, he was keen to praise his own players, particularly given the circumstances surrounding Blackburn’s squad selection.

Rovers arrived in East Yorkshire severely depleted, with ten players unavailable through injury. Ismaël also chose to leave key midfielders Sondre Tronstad and Todd Cantwell at home, forcing him to reshuffle his lineup and rely on academy graduates to fill the gaps. In total, the Blackburn boss made eight changes to his side, a move that could easily have backfired against a Hull team fielding a strong starting XI.

Instead, Ismaël felt his players more than held their own.

“When you consider that we were missing 12 players — 10 injured and two left behind — I think the performance was brilliant,” he said. “We had academy players making their debuts, and it was really interesting to see how they handled the occasion.

“Hull played a very strong team, but you couldn’t see much difference between the sides. Our pressing was good, our intensity was high, and we competed really well.”

While Blackburn matched Hull for energy and organisation, Ismaël acknowledged that his team lacked a cutting edge in the final third.

“We played well overall, but we didn’t create those really big chances,” he admitted. “That’s the one thing missing. Still, I’m very proud of the boys and what they gave today. As an away performance, it was excellent.”

From Hull’s perspective, progression was all that mattered. Having already experienced the harshness of penalty shootouts this season — they were knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Wrexham in August under the competition’s straight-to-penalties rule — the Tigers were grateful to be on the right side of fortune this time.

For Ismaël, however, the match served as further evidence that extra time no longer fits comfortably into an already congested football calendar. With Championship clubs juggling league commitments, cup competitions and growing injury lists, he believes player welfare should take priority over tradition.

“You can’t expect a great game when everyone is exhausted,” he said. “Players are just trying to get through it, trying not to make a mistake. That’s not good for the game.”

As debates around fixture congestion and player burnout continue to intensify, Ismaël’s comments are likely to resonate with other managers operating outside the Premier League’s financial bubble. While Hull move on to the fourth round, Blackburn exit the FA Cup with renewed calls for reform — and a sense that, on another day, the fine margins of a shootout might have fallen in their favour.

Stoke City push to sign Southampton star on loan with £8m option to buy

Southampton goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu appears set for a temporary move away from St Mary’s, with reports indicating he is on the verge of joining Championship rivals Stoke City on loan for the remainder of the season, with an option to make the deal permanent for £8 million.

According to The Independent, the Republic of Ireland international is expected to head to the bet365 Stadium after slipping down the goalkeeping hierarchy at Southampton. His situation has changed rapidly following the club’s decision to bring in Bayern Munich goalkeeper Daniel Peretz, a move that has significantly altered the landscape between the posts.

Peretz, who arrived on loan, was immediately handed a starting role at the weekend, a strong signal that head coach Tonda Eckert views him as a key part of his plans. The Israeli international was trusted to step straight into the lineup, underlining Southampton’s intention to make him their first-choice goalkeeper moving forward.

With Peretz now in place, Southampton also retain experienced stopper Alex McCarthy, who provides a dependable backup option. Given that depth, Bazunu’s departure is unlikely to disrupt Eckert’s plans, particularly if Peretz establishes himself quickly as the club’s new number one. That shift was further highlighted when Bazunu was omitted entirely from the matchday squad against Doncaster Rovers, with McCarthy instead named on the bench as cover.

Bazunu closing in on Stoke move

The Independent reports that Bazunu is already in Stoke as discussions progress toward a loan agreement. Talks are said to be at an advanced stage, with the deal expected to include a £8 million option to buy at the end of the season. The urgency behind Stoke’s interest stems from an injury to their current first-choice goalkeeper, Viktor Johansson, who is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

Johansson’s absence has forced Stoke and manager Mark Robins to move swiftly in the market, and Bazunu has emerged as a leading solution. Despite his mixed form this season, the Irish international’s experience and age profile make him an appealing short-term fix with long-term potential.

Bazunu has featured 19 times for Southampton in the Championship this campaign, but his performances have divided opinion. While he has shown flashes of quality, there have also been costly errors that have drawn criticism from supporters and pundits alike. Those inconsistencies appear to have prompted Southampton to act decisively in the transfer window, accelerating their pursuit of an alternative option in goal.

The arrival of Peretz has effectively confirmed that Bazunu is no longer seen as Eckert’s preferred choice. McCarthy, meanwhile, has only started seven league matches this season, suggesting that his role will remain that of a supporting figure rather than a long-term solution. All signs point toward Peretz being the man entrusted to lead Southampton’s defensive line for the remainder of the campaign.

A bold move with potential consequences

Southampton’s willingness to allow Bazunu to join a direct Championship rival raises eyebrows. Stoke are currently pushing for a place in the play-offs and sit eighth in the table, while Southampton are aiming to climb into similar territory as the season progresses. With only a seven-point gap separating the two sides, strengthening a competitor midway through the campaign carries obvious risks.

From the outside, it may appear a curious decision to bolster a rival’s squad, particularly in such a key position. However, Eckert’s actions suggest he has little intention of relying on Bazunu again, making a loan move the most practical solution for all parties. Offloading the goalkeeper not only reduces competition in the squad but also allows Bazunu the opportunity to rebuild confidence elsewhere.

For Stoke, the move represents a calculated gamble. Despite Southampton’s readiness to move on, Mark Robins and his coaching staff clearly believe Bazunu has the ability to make a meaningful impact. At just 22 years old, he remains a goalkeeper with significant experience at Championship and Premier League level, and a change of environment could help him rediscover consistency.

The inclusion of an £8 million purchase option adds another layer of intrigue. Should Bazunu impress during his loan spell, Stoke would have the chance to secure his services permanently. For Southampton, that clause provides a potential exit route and financial return if Eckert’s decision to move on from the goalkeeper proves justified.

Pressure on Peretz to deliver

While Bazunu prepares for a fresh start, attention at St Mary’s will turn firmly toward Daniel Peretz. Supporters will be hoping the club’s decisive move pays off and that the Bayern Munich loanee can deliver the stability Southampton have been seeking between the posts.

There is also a sense of risk involved. If Bazunu thrives at Stoke while Peretz struggles to adapt, questions will inevitably be asked about the wisdom of Southampton’s decision. For now, Eckert appears confident in his assessment, backing Peretz to establish himself quickly and justify the reshuffle.

As the second half of the Championship season approaches, Bazunu’s loan switch could have significant implications for both clubs. Stoke gain a goalkeeper they believe can push them closer to the play-offs, while Southampton place their trust in a new face as they aim to reignite their own promotion ambitions. Whether that gamble proves inspired or costly will become clearer in the months ahead.