A scrappy game saw Rovers continue their solid run of form, with a 1-0 win over Queens Park Rangers, after a late penalty decision following a foul on Ben Brereton, saw Bradley Dack convert the spot-kick to hand his side all 3 points.
The Rovers team that was picked to face Steve McClaren’s side, unfortunately didn’t have Richie Smallwood between the posts, despite his fine display in the closing stages of last weekend’s draw away at West Bromwich Albion. The midfielder-turned goalkeeper, returned to his more familiar position in the centre of midfield, as Jayson Leutwiler came in between Rovers’ posts, in what was 1 of 6 changes to last weekend’s starting-11, after David Raya was ruled out due to a broken nose. The other 5 changes saw Darragh Lenihan, Amari’i Bell, Corry Evans, Adam Armstrong and Danny Graham all return to the side, as Jack Rodwell, Joe Rothwell, Craig Conway, Kasey Palmer all respectively found themselves on the bench. Charlie Mulgrew, who was another outgoing from the side, was not among the squad at Ewood Park.
Prior to kick-off, a minute’s silence was held in tribute, for those who lost their lives in the tragic helicopter accident at Leicester City Football Club, last weekend.
Following the mark of respect, the game kicked-off with both sides looking to continue their unbeaten runs. Although, Rovers’ run only stretched to last weekend’s draw away at the Hawthorns, there was no doubt that they were looking to extend it, with a win in this game. QPR in contrast, were unbeaten throughout the entire month of October, a run which included a victory over Aston Villa in their last outing.
As the ball rolled into motion, Rovers flew into action inside the first 30 seconds, as Danny Graham nearly put his side ahead, after he found himself unmarked inside the box. After Dack tried to get beyond a couple of Rangers defenders, the ball ricocheted into Graham’s path before the forward composed himself and tried to place a right-footed effort beyond Joe Lumley. Although Graham’s composure was there, Lumley did just about enough to get behind the ball and knee it away.
With 4 minutes gone, referee Peter Bankes showed his first yellow card of the game, after Rangers midfielder, Massimo Luongo brought down Bradley Dack inside the visitor’s half.
Little occurred throughout most of the first-half, with the next notable event being Harrison Reed’s inclusion in the referee’s notebook, after he fouled Joel Lynch deep inside QPR’s half.
On the 27th minute, QPR were awarded a controversial free-kick on the edge of Rovers’ area, after it was deemed that Luke Freeman – who was subject to a bid from Tony Mowbray in the summer – had been bundled over. Burnley loanee Nakhi Wells stood up to take the free-kick, but the Bermudian international’s effort went over Leutwiler’s crossbar.
6 minutes after Well’s miss, the yellow card was again brandished, this time in the face of Richie Smallwood, after the midfielder had fouled Eberechi Eze.
With 35 minutes gone, there was uproar among the Rovers fans after they felt that they had been denied a penalty after Amari’i Bell went down in the box. After overlapping Adam Armstrong and receiving the ball from the forward, Bell burst into the box and went down under a challenge by a visiting defender. Although the full-back had gone down, the appeals were waved away, as play continued.
4 minutes later, Luke Freeman registered an attempt at goal for the away side, which didn’t trouble Leutwiler, as the effort by the former Bristol City man, tricked wide of the right-hand post.
As the break loomed, 2 minutes of added time were called for by the officials, but before Bankes could end the half, Danny Graham broke through on goal with the chance to put Rovers ahead going into the break. After a mix-up at the back for Rangers, Graham was played through on goal, after getting beyond Rangers captain, Toni Leistner, but his effort found the advertising boards, rather than the back of the net.
Following Graham’s miss, the half, which lacked any real flow or intensity, was ended as the supporters of both sides began to hope for a much livelier second period.
With the game finely balanced, the team-talks from both dressing rooms would have more or less been about staying tight defensively, whilst also being expressive going forwards as the quiet game lacked any real goalmouth action that would have put either side ahead.
After the game was restarted, Rovers immediately won a corner which Reed delivered. Unlike his delivery against Leeds United, which resulted in a Graham goal, this delivery found a QPR man, who did well enough to clear the ball to safety.
On the 51st minute, both Dack and Reed had chances to put Rovers ahead, however some valiant blocking by QPR’s backline and goalkeeper, saw the scoreline remain goalless. Once the ball had gone out of play, Eze was booked following a foul during the build-up to the attempts at goal.
The feisty nature of the game was again shown 4 minutes later, as Corry Evans also saw his name taken, after he had committed a soft foul on halfway.
Just the hour, Dack looked to thread Graham through on goal, but QPR’s backline were equal to the pass, as they managed to intercept before clearing the danger.
With the ball cleared into touch, Rovers made their first change of the game, as Richie Smallwood departed and was replaced by Kasey Palmer.
Minutes after the change, Peter Bankes’ yellow card was again brandished, as Leistner, who had committed a foul on Danny Graham, had his name taken by the referee.
On the 68th minute, QPR nearly took the lead in the most bizarre circumstances. A cross into the box saw Lenihan attempt to head it clear of Rovers’ goal, however the header bounced off Williams and just about sneaked past the right side of Rovers’ upright and went behind for a corner, which gave the visitors successive opportunities to take the lead.
Following a couple of cleared corners, one finally produced a chance, as the ball ended up at the feet of Nakhi Wells. A short corner saw the ball fall to the feet of the loanee, before he tried to bend a shot past Leutwiler and into the corner of the net. Although his shot was aimed at goal, Wells’ potential celebrations were restricted as some heroic defending by the Blues, saw the shot blocked before being cleared.
As the game wore on into the final stages, both sides made changes in order to try and swing the tie in their favour. Rovers introduced Joe Rothwell and Ben Brereton for Danny Graham and Adam Armstrong, whilst Steve McClaren’s side sent on 6’6” striker, Matt Smith, to replace Eberechi Eze.
With 5 minutes remaining on the clock, the game suddenly burst into life, after Rovers were awarded a penalty, following a foul by Josh Scowen on substitute Ben Brereton, as the forward cut into the area, in an attempt to cross the ball. Scowen produced a clumsy challenge on Rovers’ forward which forced the referee’s hand in giving a penalty, which he momentarily hesitated to give.
With the players of both sides cleared from the penalty area, and no Charlie Mulgrew or Danny Graham on the field, the onus of the penalty fell on the head of Bradley Dack, who instinctively grabbed the ball following the referee’s whistle. The midfielder assertively picked up the ball before placing it down on the spot and dispatching the ball to Joe Lumley’s left-hand side, as the Blackburn End erupted in delight, with Rovers taking the 1-0 lead.
During the Rovers celebrations, QPR made a double change which saw Ilias Chair and Darnell Furlong brought on to replace Ángel Rangel and Josh Scowen, respectively.
The clock hit 90 minutes, which saw the fourth official add another 4 minutes onto the end of the game, per the instructions of the referee.
Throughout the added time, Rovers kept the ball in the corner, as they tried to run down the clock. Amid the time-wasting, Brereton and Freeman were both booked following an altercation.
Soon after, the referee called time on what was, in truth, a bland game with one deciding moment, which saw Rovers come away from Ewood Park with all 3 points.
On paper, before the game, this encounter would have been one which would have intrigued both sets of supporters due to the solid form of both sides especially as Rovers had started the season well, whilst QPR had turned their fortunes around, since their 7-1 mauling away at West Bromwich Albion, by going the whole of October unbeaten. Despite the anticipation one may have felt at kick-off, the game turned out to be one that polarised any expectations as both sides failed to assert their dominance over the game, which ultimately would have ended as a dull, goalless tie, had the penalty not been given. In terms of positivity, Rovers – who were without skipper Charlie Mulgrew – managed to defend well and keep Rangers quiet for most of the game, however, conversely, Rovers’ attack for most of the game was like that of their visitors, mainly, subdued.
This victory sees Rovers climb into 8th place, with 25 points to their name and a goal difference of -1 from 16 games. Due to their strong start to the season and the tight nature of the division, Rovers only find themselves 1 point off the final playoffs, which is 6th, and 5 points off top of the league, a position which is currently occupied by Norwich City.
The month of November, sees a host of derbies pencilled into Rovers’ schedule. Next Saturday, (10th), Mowbray’s men welcome Paul Warne’s Rotherham United to Ewood Park where the two sides contest in one strand of the Lancashire vs Yorkshire, Pennines Derby, with kick-off scheduled for 3pm. Next, the team move into another international break, before heading into a double header of Lancashire derbies. The first sees Rovers make the short trip to Deepdale to face Preston North End on Saturday, 24th November, with kick-off at 3pm, whilst the second comes 4 days later, on Wednesday, 28th at 7:45pm, as they once again lock horns with last season’s League 1 title rivals, Wigan Athletic at the DW Stadium.
