Rovers earnt the victory that their positive start to the season deserved, after brushing League 2’s Carlisle United aside, in a complete mismatch at Brunton Park, as Tony Mowbray’s men booked themselves a spot in the 2nd round draw of the 2018-19 Carabao Cup.
Before the game, Mowbray confessed that he was looking to field a strong side at Carlisle, in the hope of continuing the positive performances that Rovers had put in, over the first 2 games of the season, despite only picking up 2 draws. Additionally, the manager made the point that this game was to act as a ‘fitness builder’ and a chance to ‘earn places’, both of which were shown through his team selection before kick-off.
There were 4 changes to the side that were held at home by Millwall, as Richie Smallwood, Corry Evans, Danny Graham and Elliott Bennett all dropped out of the side, with Smallwood and Evans taking their places on the bench, whilst Graham and Bennett didn’t travel at all. In their places came, Lewis Travis, Joe Rothwell, Craig Conway and Adam Armstrong, all of whom were looking to take advantage of the match, in order to build-up their match fitness and stake a claim for consistent first-team football. Additionally, there was a return to the side for Dominic Samuel, who came onto the bench, after missing Saturday’s home draw, with a knock.
As the hosts kicked-off the tie, in the hope that they’d have enough spirit and desire about them to cause a giant-killing so early on in the competition, it didn’t take long for that hope to be extinguished by Rovers, as the lightning quick Adam Armstrong managed to open his permanent account for the club, just 2 minute after beginning his first permanent start in Rovers’ colours.
Some lovely passing between the Rovers players saw Palmer feed Dack, who worked his magic by nutmegging Tom Parkes in order to play a deft pass into the feet of Armstrong. The Geordie forward’s positioning was faultless, as he managed to keep himself onside, before coolly side-footing the ball into the side of the net not guarded by Carlisle ‘keeper Joe Fryer, allowing the travelling support to go wild.
From their restart on the 5th minute, Carlisle looked desperate to get themselves back into the game, as they looked to level through Hallam Hope, who had found himself with an early shot on goal of his own. Despite Carlisle’s ability to craft the opportunity, Hope couldn’t replicate Armstrong’s fine finish, as the chance culminated in a comfortable save for David Raya.
Less than 60 seconds after Hope’s effort was in the hands of Rovers’ number 1, the Blues doubled their scoring tally after a howler by Joe Fryer allowed Bradley Dack to calmly slot the ball home. Craig Conway’s cross was seemingly ‘bread and butter’ for Fryer, despite the damp weather conditions, however the ‘keeper was unable to do the job he’s paid for, as his dropped ball fell into the path of Dack’s run, leaving the playmaker with the easy task of blasting the ball into the back of the net to make it 2-0.
On the 10th minute, Carlisle nearly got themselves back into the game, courtesy of Macaulay Gillesphey’s free-kick. The Carlisle number 12’s effort, from the edge of the area, beat both wall and ‘keeper, before crashing off the woodwork, relieving the pressure off Rovers.
3 minutes later, Kasey Palmer saw his name taken by referee Ross Joyce, as he earnt a yellow card after a late challenge on Anthony Gerrard.
As the first-half wore on, Carlisle’s Hopes – excuse the pun – of getting back into the game increased as their number 9 – aptly named, Hallam Hope – got the Cumbrians back into the game with a sublime strike from around 25-yards, to make it 2-1. Rovers lost the ball on the halfway line, which allowed Jamie Devitt to lay the ball off to Hope, who drove at goal, forcing the Rovers defence deeper and deeper towards their own goal. This space allowed the forward to let a shot rip from midway through the Rovers half, which saw the ball nestle into the top left-hand corner of Rovers’ net, as David Raya and his defence were left helplessly stranded.
With their goal giving them a lifeline, Carlisle’s attacks continued, as Rovers’ goal was peppered, by successive Carlisle corners, which Rovers did well to ultimately clear.
Once Carlisle’s flurry of corners culminated in a Rovers goal kick on the 32nd minute, it only took 2 minutes for Rovers to shift into the next gear, as Bradley Dack continued to show the Rovers fans his quality, by making his night sweeter, as he added a second goal to his name, to go alongside his assist for Armstrong, to make it 3-1 to Mowbray’s side. Kasey Palmer received the ball on the left-hand side from Amari’i Bell, before playing it centrally into Lewis Travis, whose composure and technique saw him play a pacey ball into Dack’s feet. Dack, wasting no time, spun instantaneously with the ball in order to face goal, before hitting a first-time finessed shot into the top corner of Fryer’s goal.
With Rovers making it 3-1 with 34 minutes gone on the clock, there was just about time for 3-1 to become 4-1, as Kasey Palmer opened his account for Rovers on the 40th minute, which was a real misery compiler for John Sheridan’s side. Palmer’s role turned from provider to finisher, as he latched onto a loose ball which occurred following some good pressing by Bradley Dack. Palmer picked up the ball from the edge of the area – after Dack’s tackle provided Palmer with a layoff – and used his skill to dribble past Tom Parkes, before simply passing the ball past Fryer, into the bottom left-hand corner of the goal, as the Chelsea loanee wheeled away in celebration.
Prior to the referee Ross Joyce adding on 3 minutes of added time, Carlisle were determined to go into the break on a high, as they managed to forge a couple of rare attacks – the first of which was calmly dealt with by Raya, whilst the second had everyone in the ground shaking, including the woodwork.
Carlisle’s first chance came through Jamie Devitt, who latched onto the end of Adam Campbell’s cross, but the winger’s shot was easily saved by David Raya. Their second opportunity saw Adam Campbell have a shot of his own, which – like Hope’s goal – came from around 20-yards out. Unlike Hope’s goal, however, Campbell’s thunderous shot cannoned off the crossbar, before being cleared.
With half-time looming, and nothing coming of the 3 minutes of the added time that were allocated, Ross Joyce put an end to a miserable first-half display by Carlisle, by calling for the break.
With the half-time team-talks ensuing, Tony Mowbray wouldn’t have had to say much regarding Rovers’ performance, after they blew away Carlisle in the opening 45 minutes. One negative which the gaffer may have picked up on, would be the sides’ failure to stop Hope’s goal, which, despite it being a stunning strike, could have been easily avoidable, had possession not been lost so cheaply.
In complete contrast, John Sheridan would have been fuming inside the home dressing room, as, despite Rovers being a Championship opponent, Sheridan’s side were making it look as if Rovers had just won the Champions League, let alone just been promoted from League 1. With the contest all but over, Sheridan would have no doubt called on his players to play for pride, rather than a result.
There was one change at half-time, which came for the hosts, as Anthony Gerrard was withdrawn and replaced by Gary Miller.
The second-half was started by Rovers, as they looked to continue their dismantling of the hosts, which included the possibility of Bradley Dack earning a hat-trick.
As the clock ticked over into 55 minutes of play, Bradley Dack, despite not being able to net a treble, was on hand to make it a treble of assists, as he slotted Adam Armstrong through, for the striker’s second goal of the night. Dack, untroubled, picked the ball up, midway into the Carlisle half, looked up and played a defence splitting through-ball, between both centre-backs, into the path of Armstrong, who took a touch before neatly curling the ball past the diving Fryer, to wrap the game up, once and for all, at 5-1.
4 minutes after Armstrong’s second, Rovers nearly made it 6 as Palmer’s shot was well-blocked. Armstrong managed to find Conway, who, despite being able to shoot, unselfishly passed it to Palmer, who – unlike Armstrong – was unable to find the net for a second time, as the Cumbrians did well to clear.
With an hour gone, both sides dipped into their bench in order to freshen up their sides. Carlisle brought on Richie Bennett for Regan Slater, whilst Rovers introduced Dominic Samuel, Peter Whittingham and Joe Nuttall for Kasey Palmer, Joe Rothwell and Adam Armstrong respectively, as all 3 Rovers substitutes left the field to raucous applause from the 645 Rovers fans.
After play was restarted, the game burst into an end-to-end conflict, as on the 69th minute, Dack came within inches of clinching the match ball, but for the fingertips of Joe Fryer. The playmaker received the ball before turning, on the edge of the box, and releasing a shot that was looking to have deflected towards the net. Despite the deflection however, Fryer was alert to tip the ball over the bar for a corner, which ultimately came to nothing.
A minute after Rovers’ corner, Carlisle had a chance to grab a consolation, through Hallam Hope, who cut inside from the left, before releasing another venomous shot towards goal, which Raya could only palm away, before it was cleared.
A couple of minutes after Raya’s save, Rovers were on the attack again as the Cumbrian’s ‘keeper, Joe Fryer, was called upon once more, as he denied Dack his hat-trick for the second time in as many minutes. Dack, much like his previous shot, picked the ball up on the edge of the box and struck a clean strike at goal, which the ‘keeper could only parry.
On the 73rd minute – 2 minutes after Dack’s second attempt at securing a treble – Jamie Devitt crafted a shooting opportunity for the hosts, from the edge of Rovers’ box. The winger did well to find the space before his shot ballooned over the bar, which ultimately summed up United’s night.
With under 10 minutes remaining, Kelvin Etuhu’s foul on the counter-attacking Dominic Samuel, saw the former’s name go alongside Kasey Palmer’s in the referee’s notebook.
On the 86th minute, David Raya was called into action to deny both Devitt and Campbell, whose shots came within seconds of each other, but the Spaniard was alert enough to deny the danger and put the ball behind for a corner.
The subsequent corner was cleared and then recycled back into the area, as Richie Bennett reached the cross. However, the former Barrow man could only find the top of the net, rather than the back of it, as Rovers were rewarded a goal-kick.
As the 90th minute loomed, Adam Campbell had the last Carlisle attack of the evening, as his strike was easily dealt with by David Raya, much to the disappointment of everyone associated with Carlisle United, as despite their obvious defensive frailties in the first-half which saw the contest fall beyond them, they did everything they could in order to try and reduce the deficit, despite the gulf in class between the teams.
The final chance of the game came in the 2nd minute of the 3 that were added on by Ross Joyce. Joe Nuttall, fresh off the bench, was played through on goal, but he was unable to add to the goalscoring exploits, as Fryer stood firm to deny the youngster.
With the game ending shortly after Nuttall’s chance, there is no doubt that the 645 Rovers fans, and the thousands back in Blackburn, will be hoping that this result is the start of a run similar to the one that occurred last season, despite the upgrade in opposition. Using the talent and camaraderie within the squad, there’s no reason why Rovers can’t use this game as a springboard to success in the league, starting with Saturday’s trip to Hull City.
Despite the strong team selection, potentially raising a few eyebrows, Tony Mowbray has laid down a marker by stating that his side are ready and keen to go at any opposition, no matter the tournament. Additionally, with the potentially of more signings via the loan window, before the start of September, there’s a real possibility that the competition for places will become harder than it ever has for Rovers, under Mowbray, which would suggest that every player will need to be at their maximum, no matter what is at stake.
Following the tremendous win, Rovers now enter the draw for the 2nd round of the Carabao Cup, which could see them drawn against Premier League sides, not in European competitions as well as Swansea City and Stoke City, which unfortunately, rules out a repeat of last season’s 2nd round, where Rovers drew Burnley.
Moving back towards the league, as alluded to previously, Rovers’ next game sees them travel to Hull City, where Nigel Adkins’ side prove to provide a tough test – similarly to when the sides met in the FA Cup last season – and despite the Tigers not notching a victory in the league yet, they will no doubt be ready for the arrival of Mowbray’s men on Saturday 18th August, where kick-off is scheduled for 3pm. Following the trip to Hull, the Blues round off August with two consecutive home games, the first being against Reading on Wednesday 22nd August, (7:45pm kick-off) and the second being against Brentford on Saturday 25th August, (3pm kick-off).
