Rovers’ start to their new life in League One began with a grueling test away at Roots Hall, as hosts Southend United ran out surprise victors on the opening day of the 2017-18 League One season.
The Shrimpers, who last season narrowly missed out on the League 1 playoffs by a single point, showed that they were not afraid of the former Premier League outfit as they went into the break two goals to the good, courtesy of Ryan Leonard and former Stoke & Burnley winger Michael Kightly. Despite a spirited comeback led by Charlie Mulgrew on the 53rd minute as the Sheffield Wednesday target guided in a fabulous free kick, it was to no avail as United ran out the deserved winners on the day.
Despite the Rovers fans making the long 257 mile journey to the south-east of England, they were to return home disappointed, both with the result and their team’s performance. The Rovers line-up included debuts for five of Rovers’ nine summer signings; Dominic Samuel, Peter Whittingham, Richie Smallwood, Bradley Dack & Harry Chapman, with the latter coming off the bench.
Rovers’ afternoon was summed up by their only first half attempt coming in the 18th minute as Elliott Bennett collected a Danny Graham knockdown, only to see his effort palmed away by Mark Oxley. David Raya put in the best performance of the afternoon for Rovers as he began the game under-fire by Southend’s rampant attack. He started well by saving a Jason Demetriou attempt, shortly before tipping over a half volley by Jermaine McGlashan, leading to a corner.
Despite being tipped to win the league comfortably, recently relegated Rovers were still finding their feet in the third tier of English football by the time Southend veteran Ryan Leonard gave the hosts the lead in the 27th minute as a result of the corner conceded by Raya’s save. The Southend midfielder ghosted in unmarked at the back post to slot home the first goal of the game, leaving the Rovers players standing statuesque and in frustration.
Rovers however were not to be too disheartened by the goal, as nine minutes later, a Ryan Nyambe throw in, flicked on by Elliott Bennett, led to a Bradley Dack cross, which was narrowly missed by Dominic Samuel and subsequently intercepted by former Rover, Stephen Hendrie. The two debutants linked up well during the move, with Samuel narrowly being beaten out by Hendrie.
The resulting corner was arguably Rovers’ best chance in the first half to level the scoring. On 36 minutes, Peter Whittingham lofted in a ball towards the far post, which was palmed by Southend’s keeper Oxley, into the path of Charlie Mulgrew, who floated an inch perfect ball towards the six yard area, which was met by the head of the unmarked Bradley Dack. However, the £750,000 man failed to hit the target, as his header looped over for a Southend goal kick.
Two minutes later, Southend doubled the score through Michael Kightly. Phil Brown’s side played some intricate passing football leading to their goal, bamboozling the Rovers’ defence in the process and following Marc-Antoine Fortuné’s shot which was parried by the Rovers goalkeeper, Kightly was on hand to side-foot Southend’s goal tally to two.
By this point in the game, the Rovers’ fans and players were coming to terms with the reality and tenacity of League One, despite their pre-season expectations of an immediate return to England’s second tier.
In the second half, Rovers’ only moment of ecstasy – and second shot on target – came 8 minutes after the restart as Darragh Lenihan stepped out of defence to collect a miss-controlled pass by Marc-Antoine Fortuné – who was a constant thorn in Rovers’ side due to his work rate and aerial presence. The Irishman, who was subject to a rejected bid by newly promoted Sheffield United, charged forward and was taken down by Michael Timlin. Resultantly, Charlie Mulgrew stepped up and whipped a luscious free kick into the top right hand corner of Mark Oxley’s goal, sending the travelling contingency behind the goal wild. This unfortunately was the only positive to what was a heavily underwhelming evening on the South-East coast for Rovers.
Bradley Dack’s debut, by the 61st minute ended as he was substituted for Liam Feeney, this was later confirmed by boss Tony Mowbray to be as a result of an injury to Dack, which he stated was “a niggle in his hamstring”.
Off the back of a Southend free-kick, Rovers’ failure to clear their lines resulted in Southend’s best chance of the game which should have put the game beyond Blackburn, as Simon Cox picked up the ball near the top left side of the box and whipped it in towards the back post where it was met by the head of McGlashan, who squared it to Fortuné, left only with Raya to beat. The Rovers keeper then produced a fabulous reflex save to deny the former West Brom striker his first of the season, and kept Rovers in the game.
Moments later, Rovers were treated to their new loan signing Harry Chapman, who entered the fray for his debut, however his appearance did not help inspire a Rovers comeback as the Blues bowed out of Roots Hall with their first defeat in a competitive fixture since the 8th April.
Rovers’ next match comes thick and fast, away at the Ricoh Arena for their first Carabao Cup tie of the season where Coventry City await where the Lancashire side will be eager to right the wrongs of this defeat.
