Another disheartening late goal, conceded by Rovers, saw Tony Mowbray’s men miss out on their first victory in nearly a month, as red-hot Che Adams continued his goalscoring streak for Birmingham City, after bagging a brace in the second 2-2 draw of the season, between the sides.
The visitors made 4 changes to the side which started last Sunday’s 1-0 defeat against Middlesbrough. Ryan Nyambe, Amari’i Bell, Richie Smallwood and Lewis Travis all came into the side to replace the suspended Derrick Williams – who was serving the first game of his 2-match ban – Corry Evans, Adam Armstrong and Ben Brereton, respectively, who all dropped to the bench. In addition to the changes, both David Raya and Charlie Mulgrew were celebrating milestones, the former was earning his 100th senior Rovers appearance whilst the latter was making his 100th start in all competitions for the East Lancashire club.
Whilst 1,232 Rovers fans were housed in the away end, the hosts soon got the game underway in the much-welcomed Midlands sunshine, with their aspirations of securing a play-off spot come May, very much at the forefront of their thinking.
The first chance of the affair came after 9 minutes were played. City’s talented playmaker Jota floated his free-kick into the box, aimed at his former ‘skipper at Brentford, Harlee Dean, who managed to get a good enough connection to guide the ball towards the goal. Whilst the delivery and execution of the head were good, David Raya in the Rovers goal, was equal to the effort, as the shot-stopping Spaniard made a solid diving save to divert the header behind for a corner, which was soon cleared.
The 14th minute came with another test for Raya’s ‘keeping abilities. Maxime Colin – another former Brentford player – wound up a long-range effort which slipped through the palms of Raya. Although there was a split-second of panic from the Rovers fans behind Raya’s goal, the ‘keeper reacted well to get up and palm the ball away – despite it curling towards the post – from the encroaching Gary Gardner.
Che Adams soon popped up with his first effort of the game, seconds after Rovers had cleared the ball from Raya’s clearance. Some good overlapping by Colin saw him pick up Lukas Jutkiewicz’s through ball, before fizzing it into the box towards Adams, which deflected into the forward’s path off Gardner. With the deflection, the ball popped up to waist-height, causing the highly rated forward to improvise with a volley, which skewed wide of Raya’s post.
Rovers couldn’t get to grips with Birmingham’s play and pressure during the opening 20 minutes of the game, and that showed on the 16th minute, as the deadlock was soon broken by Burnley target, Che Adams, who notched his 20th league goal of the campaign. Some good high pressure by Gardner saw him dispossess Amari’i Bell who was dallying on the ball. The Aston Villa loanee wasted no time in running towards goal, as he poked the ball to the free Adams, who only had Charlie Mulgrew and David Raya to beat. Despite driving towards goal and having Richie Smallwood on his tail, the quick-thinking forward managed to pull the trigger from just inside the Rovers box prior to wheeling away in celebration, after seeing his effort nestle into the left-hand corner of the goal, to make it 1-0.
4 minutes after breaking the deadlock, Jutkiewicz and Adams combined for the latter to try and double his tally. Although the pair linked up well, the former Sheffield United forward saw his effort at goal comfortably saved by Raya.
It took 33 minutes for Rovers to craft a mentionable chance at goal, as Mulgrew’s free-kick came within inches of being turned home for the equaliser by both Richie Smallwood and Jack Rodwell. The curling cross by the Rovers skipper saw Smallwood and Rodwell break free in the both before sliding towards the goal in the hope of a connection from either player that would have brought the equaliser. Unluckily for the pair, however, neither man in yellow managed to make contact with the cross, as the ball narrowly evaded both and disappeared behind for a goal-kick.
Moments later, Rovers were back on the ball and with intent on the agenda. The little mentioned Bradley Dack picked up the ball inside the Blues’ half and stormed towards goal. As he got close to the box, the playmaker noticed Danny Graham’s run through the defensive lines, which promoted Dack to play a perfectly-weighted through pass into Graham’s path, and although the forward connected with the ball on the slide, Birmingham goalkeeper, Lee Camp, was equal to the effort as he smothered the ball.
As half-time grew closer, the 43rd minute saw Jack Rodwell miss a great chance to equalise. An in-swinging Harrison Reed corner saw Rodwell rise highest in the box to connect with the cross. Although everything about the set-piece, the finish wasn’t, as the ball looped over the ball and behind for a goal-kick.
Birmingham soon had a header of their own, on the stroke of the break, as Michael Morrison connected with Jota’s free-kick, but sent his header over the bar.
After 1 minute of added time was latched onto the end of the first period, referee Peter Bankes ended the half.
Garry Monk, during the break, would have been pleased with the service that his side had served up during the first 45 minutes of this game. His team had managed to capitalise on a lackadaisical Rovers side and edge their noses ahead with a fine finish by their star man. Whilst his side had suppressed Rovers for most of the half, Monk would have no doubt been aware of Rovers’ second-half performance boost, which has seen many teams this season, put to the sword.
With Rovers looking to quell a poor run of 4 straight defeats, Tony Mowbray in the away dressing room would have been forgiven for fearing the worst at 3:45pm, with his team a goal down. Despite them playing well for the latter end of the first period, Rovers never really got going inside the opening 20 minutes, which is what led to Adams’ goal and the Rovers boss would have been offering some encouragement in terms of turning the game around, as well as warning, as to the threat that Monk’s side posed.
Once the words of wisdom had been soaked up by both sets of players, they returned to the playing surface with Rovers in position to restart the game, who had to halt their concerning downwards spiral of results if they wanted to approach the end the season with any chance of making the play-offs.
Mulgrew soon found himself to be the first player to fall into the referee’s notebook, after he received a yellow card for fouling Jutkiewicz on halfway.
Rovers earnt a corner on the 52nd minute, and Mulgrew made amends for his part in conceding the Adams goal, by notching his third goal directly from a corner of the season and his 8th for Rovers in the league, in total. A pacey in-swinger by the Scot saw the ball evade all of the players in the box, including ‘keeper Lee Camp, and nestle into the same side of the goal which Adams had score in earlier, for the equaliser at 1-1.
On the 57th minute, Birmingham made their first alteration of the afternoon as Jacques Maghoma was withdrawn and replaced by January signing, Kerim Mrabti.
Minutes later, Mulgrew, Graham and Dack combined for the latter to have a shot. Mulgrew’s long ball forwards was well brought down by Danny Graham who slipped the ball into Dack. Despite the smooth and encouraging play by Rovers, Dack’s shot was blocked and soon cleared.
With 64 minutes gone, Jutkiewicz managed to craft himself a shooting opportunity after using his target-man strength to hold of Travis. The former Middlesbrough did well to receive the ball and nudge Travis away from him, before turning and striking towards goal. Unluckily for the 29-year old, his strike didn’t test Raya, as the effort rolled wide.
Mrabti, after 8 minutes of being on the field, had a chance to put his club back ahead. Adams did well to hold off Rodwell before backheeling the ball to Mrabti. The Swede who was forced slightly wide by Rovers’ retreating defence, managed to release an on-target shot, which saw David Raya superbly save with his legs to deny the 24-year old his first goal in the blue of Birmingham.
Once the ball was out of play, both sides, initiated changes in an attempt to freshen up their legs heading into the final 20 minutes of the game. Rovers threw on the lightening quick Adam Armstrong, to replace the hard-working Harrison Reed, whilst Birmingham introduced former Rover, Connor Mahoney to the fray, in-place of Jota.
With 76 minutes gone, Adams, who was looking for his second of the game, had his effort at goal blocked by the strong Rodwell.
Soon after the attempt, Adams’ partner-in-crime Lukas Jutkiewicz was removed and replaced by Isaac Vassell, in the home sides’ final change.
After being on the field for 11 minutes, Connor Mahoney tried to notch a goal against his hometown club but saw his 81st minute strike sail over the crossbar.
Rovers’ quest for victory was strongly enhanced on the 83rd minute, when Danny Graham – along with a deflection – managed to put his side ahead for the first-time in the tie. A long-ball by Raya was flicked by the forward who held off Michael Morrison and returned to him accidentally by Colin. The determined striker then picked up the ball and released a shot towards goal, which wrong-footed Lee Camp after deflecting in off Harlee Dean, as the experienced forward wheeled away in celebration of the 2-1 lead.
In comical fashion however, Rovers’ celebrations were soon made redundant as, only a couple of minutes later, Che Adams bagged his second goal of the game, which was his 21st of the season and his tenth in his last 8 games. Directly from kick-off Birmingham began to pile on the pressure, which soon paid off as Adams equalised. A brilliant through ball by Colin beat Rovers’ offside trap as Adams closed in on goal. Despite being nigh on the byline, the forward somehow managed to sneak the ball past Raya and into the back of the net via the post to equal the spoils at 2-2.
Richie Smallwood became the second player to enter the book as he fouled Maikel Kieftenbeld in an off the ball incident.
On the 87th minute, Gary Gardner nearly won the game for the Blues with a dipping 25-yard free-kick, but fortunately for Rovers, David Raya was alert enough to tip the ball over the bar for a corner which was cleared.
As the officials added 4 extra minutes to the end of the second period, Rovers managed to craft the final, but agonisingly disappointing, move of the game on the 92nd minute. Some sublime running with the ball by Adam Armstrong from halfway, past 5 home players ended in a low cross to the back-post which was aimed at the advancing Dack. Although both players covered a brilliant amount of ground to execute their moves, Dack’s sliding finish couldn’t sneak inside the correct side of the back-post, as – despite cheers from the Rovers supporters – the ball ended up behind the goal, rather than in it before being followed by the final whistle, which capped off, what was a mixed game for Rovers.
Whilst the ultimate disappointment of conceding from a winning position is evident among the players, staff and fans, there is some solace taken knowing that the run of defeats have been stopped, following the determination and hard-work of the players. Although Rovers rode their luck with the Mulgrew goal and the deflection from Graham’s goal, Mowbray’s side were of sufficient value for a solitary point following their poor – and rather unenthusiastic – first period display.
Of course, those pesky late goals – 25 conceded in the league inside the final 15 minutes, which are the highest in the top 4 divisions this season as of writing – are the main problem on the manager’s agenda, whilst the slow starts which Rovers have fell foul to on numerous occasions over the course of this season, are also another area that needs addressing. It has been noted on a number of occasions that Rovers only tend to perform to their abilities in the second-half, which can be seen by 64% of their 45 goals coming in the second period, as opposed to the 36% of the first-half, with an average ‘goal minute’ being the 51st.
The league table looks more encouraging for Rovers, in-terms of their play-off ambitions. Although they sit 14th with 34 games played, they have amassed 44 points (and a -7-goal difference), with the playoffs sitting 9 points away, which, as we have seen numerous times in this bonkers league, is easily catchable.
As we enter March, Rovers are hit with a hattrick of derbies – one Yorkshire, two Lancashire. The Yorkshire affair comes against Rotherham United, away at the AESSEAL New York Stadium on Saturday, 2nd March, at 3pm. Following on from that, Rovers have a home derby double header as Preston North End come to Ewood Park on Saturday, 9th March at 12pm with Wigan Athletic closely following them on Tuesday, 12th March at 7:45pm.
