Bradley Dack’s eighth league goal of the campaign and a first clean sheet in 11 games was enough for Rovers to make it hat-trick of home wins on the bounce, as Tony Mowbray’s men secured their seventh league victory of the campaign – and their second successive home victory over Brentford – after battling out to secure a priceless 1-0 victory.
Whilst the visitors lined-up with a familiar face in David Raya, between their sticks, Rovers’ team underwent four changes to the side that came out on top in Saturday’s 3-2 victory over rock-bottom Barnsley. Ryan Nyambe, Stewart Downing, Corry Evans and Danny Graham all came back into the side, with Elliott Bennett, Amari’i Bell, Lewis Holtby and Sam Gallagher all being replaced, as Darragh Lenihan skippered the side in Bennett’s absence. Whilst the trio of Bennett, Bell and Holtby were demoted to the bench, Gallagher dropped out of the side altogether, after not being deemed fit after the forward picked up a knock in the weekend win over the Tykes. Although Rovers were playing without a recognised left-back, that role fell to Stewart Downing, who lined-up in a back four alongside the centre-back pairing of Darragh Lenihan and Tosin Adarabioyo, whilst Ryan Nyambe slotted in on the right-hand side. There was a milestone to celebrate as Joe Rothwell’s second start at Ewood Park this campaign led to him breaking the 150-career appearance barrier.
As the atmosphere ahead of kick-off built, there was an air of optimism around Ewood Park that Rovers could potentially build on their strong home form and down a side who have notched 15 points from their last six games, with their only defeat coming in a shock 1-0 defeat at home to Huddersfield at the start of the month. All 270 of the Bees’ supporters however, who made the agonising 230-mile trip up north were hoping to see their talented side continue their fine form as their charge towards the playoffs continue, following a mixed opening 10 games.
Rovers started the brighter of the two teams, as Darragh Lenihan got Danny Graham involved straight away with a long diagonal ball into the centre-forward after only three minutes had been played. Graham did well to fend off Brentford’s skipper, Pontus Jansson and tee up Joe Rothwell, who himself tried to tee up Bradley Dack, but the move broke down as it was cleared behind for a corner, that Brentford eventually dealt with.
The second major moment of the game came on the eighth minute as some good build-up play by the home side nearly led to the opening goal. Lewis Travis managed to dink the ball in towards the back-post, as Adam Armstrong did well to knock it into the path of Graham. Graham’s subsequently dragged effort fell into the stride of Dack who tried to force the ball home with the sliding finish, however he misjudged the effort which would have been cancelled anyway, due to the linesman’s flag being raised.
Rovers’ build-up play got better and better as the half wore on and it finally paid off on the 11th minute, as Dack notched his third goal in two games and his ninth of the campaign, which includes his goal in the Carabao Cup against Oldham Athletic in the first round. A blitzing counter-attack by Rovers saw Armstrong break away from Kamohelo Makotjo as he found Joe Rothewell with a waist-height ball that the midfielder did well to control. Rothwell then drove forward, before slipping the ball into the path of the overlapping Stewart Downing who set up a perfectly timed cut-back across the box for Dack to tap home, through the legs of Raya, to cap off a brilliant move by giving Rovers an early 1-0 lead.
All of the Blues’ hard work during the opening quarter of an hour was nearly scrapped from Brentford’s set-piece on the 16th minute. A wide free-kick by Mathias Jensen was poorly dealt with by Rovers, who didn’t seem alert at all as the delivery came in, with Christian Walton reluctant to claim the hanging ball. The cross, which was aimed towards the back-post saw Henrik Dalsgaard connect as the 6’4” full-back’s effort veered wide.
With 22 minutes gone, Rovers managed to get beyond Brentford’s backline again following some good vision by Rothwell, who picked up Ryan Nyambe’s run down the right. Rothwell managed to pop the ball off to Nyambe who did well to power past Brentford’s left-back Rico Henry, before playing in a low ball aimed at Graham. Although the build-up was good, David Raya managed to intervene and claim the low cross before Graham had a chance to set himself and strike at goal.
Six minutes later, Brentford had their best chance of the half up to that moment as Mathias Jensen managed to dink a ball through to, Jan Žambůrek who did brilliantly to beat the Rovers offside trap. Unfortunately for the Czech Republic youth international, who was making his full league debut for the Londoners, he did the hard part, but failed at levelling the scoring as he poked wide from about eight-yards out.
On the 35th minute, Rothwell used his speed to create space to find Graham just inside the area, but the forward failed to get his shot away as Brentford managed to intercept the ball away from him.
Four minutes later, Downing delivered an inch-perfect free-kick that fell brilliantly for Graham, however the forward couldn’t keep his header down as it looped onto the roof of the net.
The 43rd minute saw Brentford have another foray forward as Henry managed to whip in a low cross that eluded the Rovers defence and dropped into the path of Christian Norgaard whose cross-cum-shot steered wide of the far upright, as Rovers were awarded a goal-kick.
A minute later, Dack saw yellow despite fairly contesting a fifty-fifty challenge with Jensen.
That booking to Dack proved to be the last action of the first period as after two uneventful minutes were added onto the end of the half, referee Matt Donohue called time on a half that could have finished level, had the youngster Žambůrek converted his gilt-edged chance.
As both sides entered their respective dressing rooms, there would have been contrasting emotions depending on which dressing room, one decided to peek inside.
Tony Mowbray would have undoubtedly been delighted with how his side had conducted themselves throughout the first-half, particularly given the attractive attacking moves they had put together, including the goal that separated the sides at the interval. Whilst the boss would have been encouraging more of the same, he would have also been tentatively reminding the players of their individual defensive responsibilities, given the talent within the Brentford ranks.
Thomas Frank, in the visiting changing rooms, would have been frustrated with how his side were cut open so easily during a turnover in possession, but would have been re-enforcing and reminding his players of their talent and their good form. The former Brøndby IF gaffer’s reaction the first 45 minutes that his side had played would have given a number of players encouragement in order to prove to their manager that they had what it takes to be a force to be reckoned with in the division.
Both sides soon returned for the second period, but the second-half was not started before the Rovers fans in the Blackburn End had a chance to greet and applaud the returning Raya, who was to spend the next 45 minutes guarding the goal in-front of them.
Five minutes after the restart, Brentford were awarded a free-kick from around 20-yards out which Saïd Benrahma did well to angle towards goal, but the Algerian’s effort favoured power over accuracy as the ball cannoned back off the corner of the woodwork, as Rovers soon managed to clear the danger.
On the 55th minute, Brentford came within inches of levelling the scoreline as Pontus Jansson’s header was well cleared by Corry Evans who re-positioned his position in the box to deny Brentford the equaliser. A corner by the away side saw Jansson lose his marker in Tosin Adarabioyo and manoeuvre his body enough in order to angle a header at goal. Luckily for Rovers and Walton, who missed the ball, Evans was on-hand to keep the Blues’ lead intact.
Three minutes later, Rovers had a chance to double their advantage as Dack’s header was comfortably saved by the returning Raya. Downing delivered a right-footed cross into the path of Dack whose nod made for easy practice for the Spaniard between the posts.
Raya would be forced into a more challenging stop, moments later. Rovers managed to regain possession of the ball soon after Raya’s save as Armstrong tried his luck with a powerful drive from range, but Raya was able to cleanly hold onto the 22-year old’s effort.
Brentford soon made a double change on the hour mark as Josh Dasilva and Bryan Mbeumo were introduced in-place of Kamohelo Mokotjo and Jan Žambůrek.
Two minutes later, Brentford regain possession and worked the ball out to Benrahma who saw his strike from inside the area balloon over the bar.
Joe Rothwell continued his fine performance by regaining possession back in his own half before going on a storming run that saw his eventual shot blocked by a defiant Ethan Pinnock.
The 66th minute saw Raya again come to Brentford’s rescue, as he managed to clear the ball away from former teammate, Bradley Dack, who would have surely turned home for 2-0 had he connected with the ball. Downing found Rothwell, who himself played the ball out wide to Armstrong on the right-hand side. Armstrong wasted no time in dawdling on the ball as he put in an inviting, near-post cross towards Dack which Raya did well to punch away.
Four minutes later, Norgaard saw his attempt from the edge of the area curl wide of the upright.
All Rothwell needed to cap off a second successive outstanding performance at Ewood Park, was a goal, which he should have notched on the 72nd minute. Armstrong managed to switch the ball over to Rothwell who had the freedom of Ewood Park to find the net and give Brentford a mountain to climb with 15 minutes left. Unfortunately for the former Manchester United academy member, he was unable to find either corner of the net, as his shot was straight down the throat of Raya.
Raya again was called into action less than 60 seconds later as he was forced to brilliantly tip Armstrong’s effort over the crossbar. The winger tried to play in Graham, but his cross was blocked back into his path. Armstrong then tried to go for goal himself but was met with a strong right-hand by Raya who displayed his cat-like reflexes, as he brilliantly tipped the ball over for a corner, which Brentford managed to clear.
On the 74th minute, Mbuemo tried his luck, but the substitute failed to find the target, as his effort narrowly bypassed the post and went behind for another Rovers goal-kick.
Three minutes later, Rovers were forced into making their first change of the evening as Elliott Bennett replaced Ryan Nyambe at right-back.
The 79th minute saw combative midfielder Corry Evans booked by referee Mat Donohue for persistent fouling.
From the free-kick conceded by Evans, Brentford were able to build-up play as the move concluded with a powerful hit towards goal by one of the away side’s substitutes, in Mbeumo, whose drive was well saved by Walton, who was determined not to let Raya take all the shot-stopping headlines.
The 80th minute saw Brentford make their final change of the game as Mads Roerslev Rasmussen came on for his Bees debut, as he replaced former England under-20s international, Rico Henry.
Rovers soon responded with a change of their own, three minutes later, as Lewis Holtby came on, with Adam Armstrong leaving the pitch.
Benrahma again tried his luck from a free-kick, this time on the 86th minute, but his drive powered straight into the Rovers wall before being cleared.
The 87th minute saw the long-awaited return of Ben Brereton, who had been side-lined for around six weeks with a knee injury that had required surgery. The 20-year old forward was introduced in-place of Danny Graham, who departed to a standing ovation from the home support.
As time ticked over towards the 90th minute, referee Matt Donohue signalled for four minutes to be added onto the end of the game, as the Rovers fans began anxiously biting their nails at the prospect of a late Brentford equaliser.
On the 91st minute, Mads Roerslev Rasmussen was booked for a foul on Lewis Travis.
The remining three minutes saw Rovers do all they could to hold the ball in the corner, but one moment of magic from Lewis Holtby nearly gave the Rovers fans hope of a second, ‘killer’, goal. The German was attempting to hold the ball in the corner, however saw an opportunity to break towards goal. After playing a one-two with a teammate, Holtby managed to pirouette past two Brentford players, before being blocked out and was forced to retain possession rather than try an audacious effort.
Despite Holtby’s heroics, Dack’s goal proved to be enough for Rovers as Mr. Donohue soon called time on a game that, in truth, should have had more goals in it, due to the good chances that each side squandered.
This game in particular, offers Rovers fans hope that their team is capable of mixing it with the very best in this division. Whilst Brentford are by no means the dominant likes of West Bromwich Albion and Leeds United, many would have potentially tipped them to end the season inside the top six, and their form prior to this game of five wins in their last six provided concrete evidence for that prediction. The team, from back to front, epitomised what it was to be a Blackburn Rovers footballer, as they put their bodies on the line at the end, had a certain ‘bite’ in midfield and also managed to conjure up quality attacking moves, one of which gave them all three points.
Whilst all eyes were on David Raya – who did brilliantly to keep his new side within a chance of equalising with some outstanding saves – and on goalscorer Bradley Dack, for the obvious reasons, special mentions and commendations have to be given to the whole team and the manager, for the way they conducted themselves in a game that could have easily spiralled out of control, had Brentford netted the free-kick that hit the woodwork, and the Jansson header. Noting that, both Corry Evans and Joe Rothwell – the latter of whom was awarded Man of the Match – put in outstanding shifts, with Evans doing the ‘dirty work’, whilst Rothwell, who made his fair share of tackles and interceptions, wowed the home crowd with his directness with the ball, his speed and his eye for a pass, but unfortunately, the ever-growing fan favourite was unable to earn the goal his outstanding performance deserved, as his former teammate spurned his chances of a fourth goal in Rovers colours. As noted, a commendation has to be handed the way of Tony Mowbray, who despite receiving criticism over the past few weeks from supporters on social media, and for a brief period on Saturday’s game against Barnsley, the boss’s game-plan and team selection worked perfectly, as he both nullified Brentford’s 13-goalscoring pair of Ollie Watkins and Said Benrahma, with a clean sheet, but also managed to play eye-catching football that yielded a successful end product.
Whilst on a roll of handing out commendations, the final one goes to the home crowd who did their all-in order to spur on their team towards closing out a victory, and not letting the anxiety of the game get the better of them.
With things changing very quickly in the Championship table, the ‘doom and gloom’ of a few weeks ago has evaporated and been replaced by a sense of optimism when looking at the standings after the 18th set of games were played over the course of this week. Rovers currently find themselves in 13th with 24 points and a -2-goal difference, but only six points off the final playoff spot.
Looking ahead to the next couple of games, Rovers next find themselves on the road, away at Stoke City’s Bet365 Stadium on Saturday 30th November, with kick-off scheduled for 3pm. Next up, the Blues return to Ewood Park to host Derby County on Saturday 7th December at 3pm before they set off on a midweek trip to Wales, where they’ll face Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium on Wednesday 11th December at 7:45pm.
