Tony Mowbray’s side extended their unbeaten home run to 24 league games and 365 days after a frustrating evening at Ewood Park, in-front of the Sky Sports cameras, saw his side have to settle for a share of the spoils against Aston Villa, following Conor Hourihane’s last-gasp free-kick.
With the side working on many tactical approaches during the international break, Mowbray spoke prior to the game, about how his side were not scared of any team in the division and that they would have the passion, intensity and desire to go toe-to-toe against the biggest team in the Championship, despite Rovers only just being promoted. The manger also added that he expected his players to ‘embrace the challenge’ of the big games against sides such as Aston Villa.
With everyone bar Charlie Mulgrew, Corry Evans and Ben Brereton having the international break off, there was only 1 change to the starting line-up that lost 4-1 at Ashton Gate against Bristol City prior to the intermission. Kasey Palmer dropped to the bench and was replaced by the returning Bradley Dack, who had been unavailable for selection since the Hull City game. Additionally, for Rovers, new signings Harrison Reed and Ben Brereton also made the bench.
Following 40 seconds of silence to raise awareness for World Suicide Prevention Day, which fell on Monday 10th September, Aston Villa, who were backed by around 4000 supporters, got the game underway.
The opening 10 minutes of the game saw both sides go close, but neither able to test the 2 goalkeepers on the field.
Following an advancement forward by Rovers through Armstrong, the Blues earnt themselves a corner on the 11th minute, which Charlie Mulgrew whipped in. The skipper’s far-post cross was headed towards goal by Axel Tuanzebe, who but for the foot of his ‘keeper Orjan Nyland, would have put Rovers ahead via an own goal.
With the game 17 minutes old, John McGinn found his way into the book after going in for a late challenge on Ryan Nyambe, which left some of the fans in the first few rows of the Jack Walker stand, wincing. Thankfully, Nyambe was fine to continue, as McGinn was shown the yellow card to a chorus of boos.
On the 27th minute, Rovers had the ball in the net, but saw their goal ruled out due to offside. A wide free-kick by Charlie Mulgrew landed onto the head of Bradley Dack, whose deft nudge saw the ball fly into the back of the net. As Dack wheeled away in celebration, referee Steve Martin blew his whistle to cut the adulation short, after his assistant called for offside. Although the goal was chalked off, replays on television suggest that, in-fact, the officials got the decision wrong, as Dack was played onside by Alan Hutton.
From the restart of play, Aston Villa regrouped and scurried forwards in search of a goal. With McGinn and Tammy Abraham constantly applying pressure onto Rovers’ backline, they managed to capitalise on a slip by Darragh Lenihan, which saw McGinn pick up the ball and drive into the area. Once the Scot had found his way into Rovers’ box, he slipped, but thought he could get away with claiming a penalty for a foul by Richie Smallwood, who had recovered to try and clear the ball. Referee Steve Martin, however, wasn’t fouled by McGinn’s antics, as he pointed for a Villa corner, which came to nothing.
With half-time 10 minutes away, Tammy Abraham had his first chance of the game, after he got on to the end of McGinn’s cross. The Chelsea loanee rose highest in the Rovers penalty area and got his head onto the ball, but sadly for Villa, David Raya watched the ball all the way, and managed to pluck it out of the air to deny Abraham.
From Raya’s distribution, Rovers earnt themselves a free-kick which Mulgrew took. The Scottish international’s set-piece, which looked destined to nestle into the bottom left-hand corner of the goal, was stopped by Nyland, who easily picked up the weak shot.
With neither side able to grab the game by the scruff of the neck, the first-half was concluded, following 1 additional minute of time, as both sides headed into their respective dressing rooms, on level terms.
With both sides in their respective dressing rooms for their half-time briefings, Tony Mowbray would have been relatively pleased with his side’s efforts in the first 45 minutes. Additionally, he would have been frustrated with the fact that they weren’t leading at the break, despite having a perfectly good goal chalked off.
In contrast, Steve Bruce would have been annoyed with his sides’ lack of chances during the first-half and would have been hoping that they wouldn’t replicate the performance of their previous game before the international break, which saw them lose 4-1 to Sheffield United.
Although Rovers kicked-off the second-half, it didn’t take long for Corry Evans to make his mark on the game as he was given a booking for consistent fouling.
The first chance of the second period fell to Tammy Abraham on the 52nd minute. The Chelsea loanee received the ball from Jack Grealish, before skipping past a challenge by Charlie Mulgrew, and trying his luck from the edge of the area. His shot, however, was a weak one, which tricked into Raya’s gloves.
3 minutes later, Abraham was back at it again, as he got on the end of Ahmed ElMohamady’s cross. The Egyptian wing-back received the ball out wide, before putting in an inviting cross which Abraham could only nod wide of the mark.
Up until the 70th minute, both sides made changes in a bid to impact the game. Rovers brought on Ben Brereton and Harrison Reed for their respective debuts, in place of Corry Evans and Richie Smallwood. Whilst Villa introduced Jonathan Kodjia, for Albert Adomah, as they continued their search for a goal.
With Kodjia’s introduction came an instant chance at goal. Abraham and the substitute linked up well as the Englishman got on the end of the Ivorian’s return ball. After receiving the return ball from Kodjia, Abraham opened up his body and tried his luck from just inside the penalty area, however fortunately for Rovers, Abraham missed the target.
After Abraham squandered another chance to put Villa ahead, Tony Mowbray reacted by introducing Derrick Williams, who had returned from injury over the break, in-place of Adam Armstrong, which saw Rovers switch to a 5-4-1, as Williams fell in at centre-half, alongside Mulgrew and Lenihan.
Despite all of Aston Villa’s pressure, it was Rovers who broke the deadlock, on the 76th minute, as Bradley Dack, marked his return from injury, and his 50th Rovers appearance with his 23rd goal in Blue and White. Following a Rovers corner, the ball was kept alive by Harrison Reed, who nodded the ball back out to Charlie Mulgrew. The skipper, who was in a surprisingly familiar role out on the wing, having played there in his youth, twisted and turned until he found a crossing opportunity. His eventual right-footed cross was flicked on by Ben Brereton, towards Danny Graham. The forward whose path to goal was blocked by Claret shirts, tried his luck, but saw his shot diverted by the heel of Bradley Dack, who purposely tried the backheel. That diversion was positive for Rovers as it diverted the ball past Nyland to send the Rovers players and fans into a frenzy.
After the goal had gone in, Steve Bruce reacted to his side going 1-0 down, but introducing both Conor Hourihane and Yannick Bolasie for Mile Jedinak and Ahmed ElMohamady, respectively.
As the game entered the final 5 minutes, Harrison Reed was booked for a foul on Jack Grealish.
On the 87th minute, Mulgrew had a chance to make it 2-0, as he dispatched his free-kick towards goal. Although the set-piece seemed too far out for Rovers to double their lead from, Nyland made a meal of it, as he spilt it behind for a corner, which came to nothing.
As 90 minutes ticked onto the clock, the 5 minutes of added time that were called for, was met by extreme groans from all 3 stands that contained Rovers supporters.
In the 93rd minute, Harrison Reed’s eagerness to dispossess Jack Grealish led to a free-kick being awarded to Villa, from around 25-yards out, that Conor Hourihane stepped up to take. The former Barnsley man placed the ball down on the grass, before dispatching a well struck free-kick that curled around the poorly organised Rovers wall and hit the back of the net, as the 4000-odd Villa fans behind David Raya went wild, as the scores were once again tied.
From the restart, Rovers tried to get back into the game, as Reed hit a volley from the edge of the area that flew over the bar.
That shot by Reed proved to be the final act of the game, as Steve Martin soon blew for full-time, leaving Rovers to wonder about what might have been.
Although Rovers’ unbeaten home run continues, there will no doubt be some disappointment around the Rovers camp, as they know that they should have, realistically, come away from this game with all 3 points after scoring so late on, and not let something as poor as a set-piece, undo their defence, especially after some good defending throughout the game. Conceding late goals is something that has haunted Rovers for a while, not to mention this season alone, with late levellers coming against both, Ipswich and now Villa. Although Mowbray admitted that his side worked on seeing out slender leads during the international break, it seems like their setup from set-pieces still needs work, as a victory against Villa could have seen the Blues move up into 8th.
Regardless, the table sees Rovers remain in 13th, on 10 points from 7 games and a -1 goal difference, only 2 points off the playoff and 5 points off the top of the table.
Rovers return to action on Tuesday 18th September, as they travel to Pride Park to face off against Derby County at 7:45pm. After that, they remain in the Midlands, where they travel to Stoke City, on 22nd September, with kick-off scheduled for 3pm. Following their back-to-back away trips in the league, they go down to the south coast to face Eddie Howe’s Bournemouth in the 3rd round of the Carabao Cup, away at the Vitality Stadium, on 25th September, with kick-off scheduled for 7:45pm.
