On the 19th anniversary of the death of Rovers’ greatest supporter, Jack Walker, Rovers put in a performance to be proud of as they shut out Jonathan Woodgate’s under-pressure Middlesbrough side, to gain their first victory in the league this season, courtesy of an early Danny Graham penalty.
Disregarding the wholesale changes in midweek in the 3-2 comeback victory against Oldham Athletic in the Carabao Cup, Tony Mowbray made four changes to the side that fell to a 2-0 defeat away at Fulham in their last league outing. Darragh Lenihan, Greg Cunningham, Stewart Downing and Danny Graham all came back into the side at the expense of Tosin Adarabioyo, Amari’i Bell, Joe Rothwell and Adam Armstrong, with the latter trio being available from the bench, whilst the Manchester City loanee missed out altogether with injury.
Rovers soon began the game with ‘there’s only one Jack Walker’ ringing around the stands, as the fans willed on their players to put in a performance the man himself would have been proud of.
The home faithful had seemingly got their wish, as Tony Mowbray’s men started brightly, with Danny Graham and Sam Gallagher combining, with a low cross from the former, into the latter. Despite the good idea, however, Boro defender Ryan Shotton read the move well as he slid in to intercept and subsequently put the ball behind for a corner, which the visitors cleared.
The Teessiders got their first chance of the game, on the 6th minute, as Lewis Wing – incidentally a relative of a former player of both sides, Jason Steele – tried his luck from outside the box, but despite his knack from finding the target from range, he was unable to replicate his previous efforts, as Rovers earnt a goal-kick.
Rovers’ continued attacking pressure during the early stages saw George Friend concede a corner, which former Boro midfielder, Stewart Downing went over to take. Downing’s delivery eventually dropped to Greg Cunningham – who was making his league debut for the club after playing 90 minutes in the cup – but the Cardiff loanee’s drive from the edge of the box ballooned high of the mark.
Moments later, Bradley Dack had his first involvement in the tie, which nearly resulted in an assist for Graham. The playmaker’s cross-cum-shot, rolled across the penalty area, yet was agonisingly missed by the sliding Graham, who, if he had made contact, would have undoubtedly put Rovers ahead. Instead, a goal-kick was given.
On the 19th minute, a heart-warming tribute to Jack Walker occurred with all the Rovers supporters – including a few of the travelling fans – began a minute’s applause in memory of the former chairman, who single-handedly drove Rovers to becoming the best in the land, all those years ago.
Cunningham soon had his second opportunity of the game, on the 21st minute, as he slid in at the near-post, following a Rovers corner, but could only see his connection with the ball cleared by George Friend, who had positioned himself expertly on the line.
Rovers’ dominance during the opening quarter of an hour, soon paid off, as they were handed the opportunity to take a deserved lead on a plate by new Boro signing Anfernee Dijksteel, who, ironically was a main factor in the own goal that gave Rovers the equaliser against Charlton Athletic, on the opening day of the season. The former Charlton man, who left Lee Bowyer’s side in a £2m deal on 7th August, was penalised and booked for pulling Danny Graham’s shirt, by Australian referee Jarred Gillett, which gave Tony Mowbray’s men the ideal chance to take the lead. Whilst the 2,584 Boro fans complained, high above the net in the Darwen End, Danny Graham prepared himself to take the spot-kick, up against Randolph, to which he made no mistake, sending the former West Ham United ‘keeper the wrong way, as he slotted home into the bottom right corner to grab his first of the season, as well as put Rovers 1-0 to the good.
From the restart, a few bookings were handed out to either side, Daniel Ayala was cautioned for his part in the penalty protests, whilst Cunningham was booked for a foul on Wing.
It only took 4 minutes for Rovers to make it back-to-back bookings, with Elliott Bennett having his name taken by the official after half-an-hour.
The game quietened down with Rovers strangling Boro, defensively, with the away side unable to thread a pass through to a frustrated Britt Assombalonga, who had incidentally scored in both fixtures against Rovers last season.
Boro’s quiet forward play soon livened up into a final opportunity of the half, as Jonny Howson tried his luck from distance, in the 44th minute, but Rovers’ on-loan shot-stopper, Christian Walton was equal to the effort, and managed to hold onto the ball, after temporarily dropping it to the floor, in order to cool his hands from the sting of the shot.
Although 2 minutes of added time were allocated, they were, in essence, unnecessary as neither side created anything worth noting, with Rovers going into the break better both, on performance and on the scoreline.
With both sides at a crucial stage of their opening few fixtures, with neither having picked up a victory in their opening couple of league games, some could argue that this team-talk at half-time, would potentially go a long way in helping right the wrongs of the first few matches.
In the Rovers camp, Tony Mowbray would have been delighted with how his side had executed his game plan, as they managed to use their home advantage to pin Boro back, whilst not only creating free-flowing chances, but also keeping it tight at the back, limiting the travelling side to efforts from distance, rather than allowing Assombalonga to run riot in their penalty area, as had occurred at times in the corresponding fixture, last season.
The former Real Madrid defender and current Boro manager, Jonathan Woodgate, however, would have had a different team-talk inside the visitors changing room. Mowbray’s former skipper at Boro, would have been frustrated with his side’s like of cutting edge in the final third, as well as how they had conceded the penalty, with it being easily avoidable, had Dijksteel not infringed Graham.
Once both managers had imparted their words, play was restarted by the visiting side, who reappeared hoping to come away with a result that would potentially ease the already-increasing pressure on their novice manager.
Lewis Wing tried his best to equalise with a 35-yard free-kick, early in the second-half, but saw his curling set-piece well held by the diving Christian Walton.
Minutes after Wing’s attempt, Rovers had another handball appeal, when Dijksteel again seemingly infringed upon Danny Graham, but this time apparently handling the striker’s nod, which was destined to fall to the feet of partner-in-crime, Bradley Dack. Whilst the attacking duo claimed for the spot-kick along with the Blackburn End behind them, the Australian official in the middle waved the appeals away.
The first booking of the second period, came 10 minutes into it, as Bradley Johnson became the third Rovers player to have his name taken by Jarred Gillett, after he clattered Boro’s Marvin Johnson.
Rovers had a corner on the 52nd minute, and very nearly turned it into a goal as Stewart Downing nearly bagged what could be classed as a fluke, against his boyhood side. The summer signing took a quick corner to Dack, before receiving it back and putting in a curling cross that so nearly nestled into the bottom corner of the net. Luckily for the stranded Randolph, however, the ball edged past the post and went behind for a goal-kick.
Boro nearly pegged Rovers back, 6 minutes later when Ashley Fletcher and Paddy McNair combined, but despite the former’s best efforts in getting the ball through to latter, the former Manchester United midfielder’s shot from the edge of the area, flew wide.
Woodgate soon turned to his bench, as Anfernee Dijksteel was replaced by Marcus Tavernier, in an effort by the Boro manager, to try and take the game to Rovers with more of an attacking impetus.
Just after the hour mark, the visitors whipped in a free-kick from the left-hand side, however despite Walton’s best efforts to claim, the ‘keeper was clattered by the incoming attackers, which saw Rovers earn a free-kick, despite Walton originally managing to get to the ball from the cross.
Rovers, on the 64th minute, displayed their pace and guile on the counter as Dack, Gallagher and Graham all combined. Dack’s close control saw him free up space for Gallagher to run into, before giving him the ball. Whilst the move developed nicely, with Danny Graham in the box ready to tap home, Daniel Ayala of Boro’s backline did well to recover as he read the final pass by Gallagher well enough to clear before Graham was given the chance to connect with the ball.
5 minutes later, Lewis Travis became the fourth home player to have his name placed into the book, after he brought down George Friend.
Changes were aplenty on the 70th minute, as Rovers withdrew Danny Graham – who left to a standing ovation – and was replaced by Adam Armstrong, all the while, Boro had swapped Marvin Johnson for Marcus Browne in an attempt to add some energy to their forward line.
That swap nearly paid off for Jonathan Woodgate and Middlesbrough, however they were marginally denied an equaliser, on the 73rd minute, by the woodwork. Paddy McNair’s cross was missed by the Rovers backline, following a shout by the onrushing Walton, who himself failed to connect with the ball. The incoming cross eventually fell to substitute Marcus Browne who had gotten ahead of Elliott Bennett, but saw his first-time effort come back off the upright and go behind for a Rovers goal-kick.
Rovers’ final changes were activated on the 75th minute, as Bradley Dack and Stewart Downing were both removed and replaced by Joe Rothwell and John Buckley, respectively.
Tony Mowbray’s men nearly sealed the game off, only minutes after the substitutions were made, but Boro had Darren Randolph to thank for keeping them in the tie. Sam Gallagher won a header before sliding Buckley in, on the right-hand side of the box. The young midfielder wasted no time in squaring the ball across an empty box, into the stride of fellow substitute, Joe Rothwell who saw his first-time effort superbly saved by Randolph, before Adam Armstrong’s follow-up attempt was blocked, before the ball was hacked away.
Middlesbrough again, had a chance to level the game, this time from a set-piece. The lofted ball into the box saw Ayala rise highest to nod it back across goal in the hope of it being tapped home. Unluckily for the Spaniard, his header lacked the accuracy required, as it looped over the crossbar and landed onto the roof of Walton’s goal.
The final change for the away side came on the 83rd minute, as George Friend was withdrawn and replaced by Stephen Walker, who with this appearance, made his league debut for his hometown side.
Boro’s frustrations amounted as Lewis Wing had his name taken, as he was the recipient of Boro’s third booking of the game.
The 87th minute arrived, and so did another chance for Rovers to kill off the game. Gallagher got beyond his man and played Buckley in, with a pacey ball. Unluckily for the young midfielder, he lacked the exposure – and probably the experience – to subtly guide the ball past Randolph and into the back of the net, as his first-time effort flew over the bar.
The final booking, of what turned out to be an 8-booking game, fell on the head of Derrick Williams, who fouled Boro substitute, Marcus Browne. From the free-kick, Lewis Wing tried his luck from far out, but was left with egg on his face, as the ball hit the back of the stand.
With Boro showing some promising glimpses, the nerves began to show around Ewood Park, and became noticeable once referee Jarred Gillett had added an additional 5 minutes of time onto the end of the game, which was met with some displeasure from the home crowd.
Despite the eternity that it seemingly took for the final whistle to blow, during which Lewis Travis was awarded Man of the Match by the club sponsors, Boro were able to craft a final chance before the game was ended. Marcus Browne’s cross, fell to the head of Daniel Ayala in the 93rd minute, yet the towering Spaniard couldn’t break Rovers hearts, as his nod towards goal dropped behind the goal, as the full-time whistle was blown, soon after to condemn Jonathan Woodgate to his third defeat in a row as a result of his side failing to edge past Crewe Alexandra on penalties, in the Carabao Cup in midweek.
With the final whistle, came great relief around Ewood Park, with high fives and fist pumps locatable around the stands. Whilst the performance was very good against a team in transition, but still capable of causing serious defensive issues, the result and the 3 points are all what mattered come the end of the game, and there is no doubt delight that Rovers have finally got their league campaign up and running, after a very stagnated start.
Although, as mentioned, Middlesbrough are probably not the force they were a few years ago when they achieved automatic promotion, the quality within their ranks should not be underestimated, due to various injuries within their camp – most notably for Rovers fans, the absence of former fan favourite, Rudy Gestede. Whilst Boro offered very little going forward, in comparison to Rovers, the clean sheet for the strong-looking backline of Bennett, Lenihan, Williams and Cunningham (and Walton in goal), was arguably the best and solidest, Rovers have looked this season – despite it only being 4 games, (cup included), into the campaign.
Despite highlighting at the end of the previous league match report against Fulham, the worry that Sam Gallagher might bring to fans, due to him not bagging this season, the big-money man showed his importance to the team in-terms of his positional play, connection with teammates and his overall work-rate, as he ran himself into the ground – including an execution of a ‘world-class’ sliding tackle – in order to try and help Rovers secure the result. Similarly, such importance can be said about now-34-year-old, Danny Graham, who showed his cruciality to the team both in this victory, and in the midweek fixture against Oldham Athletic.
Positively for the fans, the league table is looking healthier now, than it did on Saturday morning. Tony Mowbray’s men now sit 18th, with 4 points and a -2 goal-difference, from the 3 games they have played.
Looking on, Rovers don’t have to wait much until they’re back in action, as their next game comes on Tuesday 20th August, away at Hull City, at 7:45pm, in-front of the Sky Sports cameras. After that ‘Clash of the Roses’, Rovers return to Ewood Park, as Neil Warnock’s Cardiff City come to visit on Saturday 24th August at 3pm. Once Mr. Warnock’s visit is complete, Tony Mowbray and his side turn their attentions to the Second Round of the Carabao Cup, as they partake in another ‘Roses Derby’ on Tuesday 27th August, at 7:45pm, away at Premier League new boys, Sheffield United.
