{"id":463677,"date":"2025-09-30T18:00:21","date_gmt":"2025-09-30T18:00:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/463677\/"},"modified":"2025-09-30T18:00:21","modified_gmt":"2025-09-30T18:00:21","slug":"understatement-taylor-gardner-hickman-speaks-out-on-disgraceful-efl-decision","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/463677\/","title":{"rendered":"‘Understatement’ Taylor Gardner-Hickman speaks out on ‘disgraceful’ EFL decision"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Birmingham City midfielder is on loan with Blackburn Rovers and his full debut ended in controversial circumstances\" Blackburn Rovers’ Taylor Gardner-Hickman(Image: CameraSport via Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Taylor Gardner-Hickman is not happy at being given a second opportunity to make a first impression.<\/p>\n

The Blackburn midfielder joined Rovers<\/a> on loan from Birmingham City <\/a>on transfer deadline day<\/a>.<\/p>\n

He made his first Rovers appearance off the bench against Watford after the international break and then his full debut in the controversial match with Ipswich Town.<\/p>\n

Gardner-Hickman <\/a>and Blackburn were 1-0 up and had been going hard at it for 80 minutes when referee Steve Martin abandoned the game due to a waterlogged pitch.<\/p>\n

Blackburn’s unhappiness was compounded when the EFL ruled they would have to replay the whole match – even though they had established a position of superiority.<\/p>\n

And Gardner-Hickman has spoken about the ruling, telling Rovers TV<\/a>: “Very disappointed is an understatement I would say.<\/p>\n

“If you look at everything to do at that time, all the stats were saying we were dominating the game.<\/p>\n

“They were obviously down to ten men, we were 1-0 up and it never really looked like they were going to do anything, they weren’t threatening.<\/p>\n

“So again disappointed is an understatement, but we put that in the back of our minds and when they come back we’ll have to do it all over again.”<\/p>\n

Rovers boss Valerien Ismael was even less happy branding it ‘a disgraceful decision, it’s bad publicity for English football’.<\/a><\/p>\n

Gardner-Hickman was, though, happy to make his first start for his new club, as a late call-up after a team-mate pulled up injured before kick-off.<\/p>\n

“[I found out] Literally about 15 minutes before kick off, obviously Sid [Sidnei Tavares] got injured which is never nice – but I was delighted and ready to give it my all that game.<\/p>\n

“I thought the lads were brilliant to a man.<\/p>\n

“I am pretty pleased with the way things went, I thought I had a good game, just tried to be that person in the middle that the team could rely on.<\/p>\n

“Me and Sonny [Sondre Tronstad] tried to control the game, get on the ball and show a lot of bravery and positive signs – that’s something I look forward to doing a lot more.”<\/p>\n

Would you like to see Gardner-Hickman back at Blues? Have your say here<\/a><\/p>\n

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