EXclusive: Blackburn Rovers should be concerned at worrying trend showed by £1m+ signing

Blackburn Rovers have been encouraged by their summer signings after the early matches of the 2024/25 season, with their new attacking players already making an impact at Ewood Park.

Yuki Ohashi has continued to shine since his transfer from the J-League, scoring four goals in his first five league games for the club. Meanwhile, Andi Weimann’s stunning goal against Burnley last month remains unforgettable.

Striker Makhtar Gueye has also made a strong impression following his seven-figure move from RWD Molenbeek, though he missed the 3-0 win over Bristol City due to suspension.

The Senegalese striker received two yellow cards in quick succession against Burnley, resulting in his dismissal at Turf Moor last month—a situation that may raise concerns among Rovers fans about his ongoing disciplinary issues.

Makhtar Gueye’s red card against Burnley highlights his history of disciplinary problems.

Before arriving in England, Gueye had a reputation for getting into trouble with referees during his time in Belgium, where disciplinary incidents were frequent.

In fact, the red card he received in the Lancashire derby was his third in just 29 league appearances across both the Championship and the Jupiler Pro League, with several games missed due to suspensions.

His first incident occurred during a match against Sporting de Charleroi last October, where he quickly transitioned from hero to villain. After scoring the opening goal with just eight minutes left, it seemed he had secured all three points. However, after an off-the-ball incident earned him a second yellow card and the scores were tied, the hosts capitalized and won the match in stoppage time.

The forward didn’t seem to learn from this, as he received another late red card a few months later in a 4-0 loss to Cercle Brugge, followed by a reckless decision that led referee Tony Harrington to send him off at Turf Moor.

Having already been booked earlier in the match, Gueye was seen gesturing toward the referee with an imaginary card, hoping to get opposing defender Maxime Esteve cautioned. However, as per modern rules, Gueye was promptly shown a yellow card himself, leaving his team a man down for the rest of the game as they fought to hold onto a hard-earned point.

Makhtar Gueye will need to regain John Eustace’s trust following the Burnley incident. Rovers would have certainly considered his disciplinary record before signing him, but just four league games into the season, the same issues have surfaced. Despite scoring in League Cup ties against Blackpool and Stockport County, Rovers’ manager will need assurance that his striker can be relied upon moving forward to avoid another situation like the one at Turf Moor.

Although his teammates managed to bail him out by grinding out a 1-1 draw, there’s a case to be made that they could have secured all three points against their local rivals if they had finished the match with a full squad.

Over the course of a season, such lapses in discipline can have significant consequences, and with players like Ohashi and Weimann quickly making their mark after joining the team, Gueye will need to demonstrate he can remain composed under pressure if he hopes to maintain his spot in the lineup.

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