Rovers were unable to extend their unbeaten run to more than three games, as their return to league action, after the international break, was marred by a 1-0 defeat away at Oldham Athletic.
Before the game, Rovers boss Tony Mowbray called for his side to ‘be focused’ on the game, however with Oldham’s goal coming in the final minute of normal time, the boss will have surely been emphasising that point to his players after the game.
The team that was given the task of beating Oldham saw Rovers make two changes to the side that defeated Gillingham 1-0 at Ewood Park, a fortnight ago. Defender Paul Downing was ruled out with a hamstring strain, which saw Elliott Ward return to replace him. Whilst Craig Conway was preferred to Bradley Dack, who was demoted to the bench. Corry Evans, who helped Northern Ireland qualify for the World Cup play-offs during the international break, also missed out with a knock to the ankle.
The hosts kicked off the game and were able to gain some early spell of pressure after just two minutes as they won an early corner. Despite the corner being a good ball into the box, the danger was eventually safely cleared after Richie Smallwood made a superb challenge in the Rovers penalty area to retrieve possession back for Rovers.
The first attempt on goal of the game fell to the way of Rovers on the 10th minute. Dominic Samuel ran towards goal before playing in his strike partner Marcus Antonsson who took the ball into his stride but was unable to get his shot on target.
Two minutes later, Oldham were able to test Rovers’ keeper David Raya for the first time in the game as they broke on the counter attack, following a Rovers free-kick that broke down. Eoin Doyle led the counter attack as he bore down on Rovers’ goal. The on-loan Preston man drove into the box after brushing off Derrick Williams and Elliott Ward, opened up his body and side-footed the ball towards goal, however Raya, quickly managed to get down to his left-hand side and deny the forward.
Despite Oldham taking longer to settle in, in the first half, they were looking the most likely team to open the scoring before the break. Their second attempt at goal, which came on the 21st minute, was once again through Eoin Doyle. The Irishman was able to craft some space around 20 yards from goal and release a volley which sped towards goal. His shot however, much like his previous attempt, was comfortably saved by David Raya in the Rovers goal.
The biggest chance of the first half fell to the away side, as Rovers began to show their quality to the opposition and assert themselves within the game. Craig Conway slipped Elliott Bennett through on goal. The former Norwich midfielder then rounded a defender and the goalkeeper to leave the goal at his mercy. However the winger, who during the international break extended his stay at Rovers by another 2 years, somehow managed to completely miss the target as he could only find the side-netting; a chance that Rovers would later rue.
Rovers’ confidence was not deterred by that easy miss, as Dominic Samuel had his first attempt on goal of the game on the 31st minute, as he skipped past his marker and released a shot towards goal that was easily saved by Oldham’s goalkeeper, Johny Placide.
The 35th minute arrived and Rovers’ goal was put under increasing pressure by Oldham as they looked to break the deadlock themselves. Craig Davies and Eoin Doyle both had successive shots at goal from inside the area, however David Raya was equal to them both and was able to keep the scores level as half-time quickly approached.
Half-time came and went with Oldham starting off right where they left off – with a shot on goal. Despite Rovers kicking off for the second half, the Latics were able to fashion their first attempt of the second period inside the opening few seconds. Craig Davies, this time, was the striker who bore down on the Rovers goal, but David Raya once again was equal to the Welsh forward’s effort.
Peter Whittingham then saw his attempt on goal cannon off the crossbar minutes later and following the goal-kick which was given, Oldham were able to push back up the field and create a chance of their own through the former Rovers loanee, Jack Byrne. The former Manchester City midfielder was able to control the ball and send a curling shot just wide of the left-hand upright.
Tony Mowbray turned to his bench for reinforcement by the 60th minute as he made a double change to freshen up the side in an attempt to find a goal. Harry Chapman replaced Craig Conway whilst Marcus Antonsson made way for Danny Graham.
Soon after the changes, Rovers fans must have had their hearts in their mouths as Jack Byrne went to ground in the area following a challenge by David Raya who went through the back of the midfielder before claiming the ball, but the referee dismissed any claims by the home crowd or players as the game continued.
Dominic Samuel then had his second attempt on goal in the game, as he was played through by Richie Smallwood. The ball was met by the head of Samuel which looped towards goal, but the attempt was effortlessly saved by the Oldham goalkeeper.
On the 67th minute, changes were made by both managers as they tried to tactically break each other down in the search for an opening goal, or a potential winner. The hosts brought on Queensy Menig in place of Gevaro Nepomuceno whilst Rovers swapped Richie Smallwood with Bradley Dack.
The away side nearly broke the deadlock directly from a corner around 12 minutes after the substitutions. The ball was lofted into the box towards the goalkeeper, who was crowded by several players of his own, as well as Danny Graham, who nearly connected with the cross; however the play was brought back for a foul by Bradley Dack, which started a counter attack for Oldham that fizzled out to nothing. Oldham then made their second substitute of the afternoon as Abdelhakim Omrani replaced Dan Gardner as they looked for the goal that would put them in-front.
As the clock ticked over to 90 minutes, Rovers’ resolve was finally broken as Oldham eventually found the goal that would put them 1-0 up, with only 5 minutes of stoppage time remaining. Queensy Menig was able to brush aside Charlie Mulgrew and close down on goal. The substitute then quickly composed himself and slid the ball into the bottom right-hand corner of the goal under David Raya.
Despite Rovers’ attempt at getting back into the game by playing ‘route one’ football and throwing everybody forward, their efforts were to be in complete vain as they failed to fashion an attempt on goal and the game was ended minutes after Oldham brought on their final substitute; Anthony Gerrard on for Eoin Doyle.
The game, which was a poor one by all accounts from a Rovers perspective, showed that the international break was perhaps more of a hindrance to the Blues than a help. This 1-0 defeat leaves Rovers in 10th, 2 points off the playoffs (and 12 points off the new leaders Wigan Athletic) with 19 points from 11 games and a positive goal difference of 6. Tony Mowbray will be hoping that his side will be able to successfully bounce back in their next game, which is a home fixture against Plymouth Argyle on Tuesday.
