Rovers were unable to follow up a successful deadline day with three valuable points as a late deflected effort from Nottingham Forest winger, Joe Lolley, gave new boss Chris Hughton the perfect start to his new job, as the former Norwich City and Brighton and Hove Albion manager masterminded the Midlands club’s first victory and points of any sort, of the season.
The Blues side that returned following the international break, saw three changes to the side that drew 0-0 with Cardiff City before the pause. Darragh Lenihan, Corry Evans and John Buckley all came in, as Derrick Williams and Joe Rothwell were withdrawn due to being placed into self-isolation, meanwhile the third departure from the team, Lewis Holtby, was given leave to spend time with his new-born daughter, in Germany. There was two celebrations within the Rovers squad as academy graduate Luke Brennan made the first-team matchday squad for the first time in his budding career, whilst Adam Armstrong was set to make his 100th Rovers start, this afternoon.
After taking ‘the knee’, it was Tyrhys Dolan who got the game underway, as Rovers looked to continue their final early season form, against a Forest side who, despite not picking up any points in their first four games, were ultimately many bookies favourites to fight for promotion.
The first 15 minutes of the game proved how tight the contest was, as despite neither side having any glaring chances at goal, Rovers spent the period on top, and in control of the possession.
On the 20th minute, the first real attempt at goal arose as Joe Lolley attempted to hit a rasping drive from 25-yards out. Luckily for Rovers their defensive pressure helped push the midfielder off balance, as his shot safely dragged wide of Thomas Kaminski’s goal.
A yellow card was shown to Tobias Figueiredo after he deliberately handled the ball on the halfway line, on the 28th minute.
Rovers’ first attempt of the game came on the 42nd minute when former Forest man Ben Brereton received the ball some way out from goal, before driving forwards. The forward managed to work an angle in order to release a left-footed attempt from a long way out, but visiting ‘keeper Brice Samba was on hand to claim the 21-year old’s weak effort.
As a tepid first-half drew to a close, referee Jarred Gillett saw fit to only add on one minute of time onto the end of the half, given that the lacklustre performances of both sides yielded no extended stoppages.
With both sides failing to grab the game by the scruff of its neck, the half-time team talks of both sides would have emitted very similar messages.
Tony Mowbray would have been frustrated that his side were unable to make their home advantage count, against a side that had recently appointed a new manager. Despite their lack of potency in attack, Mowbray would have been pleased with his side’s defensive solidity, given the strong personnel that Forest hold in attack.
Chris Hughton, who was taking charge of his first Forest game since being appointed on 6th October, would have equally been annoyed that his side had failed to manage possession as well as he would have liked. Although Forest, likes Rovers had lacked potency in attack having not yet claimed a shot on target, Hughton would have been hopeful that he could use the half-time break to further get his message and tactical style of play across to his new players, in the hope of quelling their poor start to the season, which saw them lose their first four games of the campaign, under previous manager Sabri Lamouchi.
Once the players had returned to the field for the second-half, it was Forest who got the ball rolling for the next 45 minutes. The visiting side would have been hoping that they could build on the tactical insights that their manager would have given them, in order to break down a strong Rovers defence and earn their first points of the league season.
On the 50th minute, Forest were forced to change their midfield after Jack Colback picked up an injury which meant that he had to depart the field of play as Harry Arter came on in his place.
Seconds after the change, Forest missed a gilt-edged chance to take the lead. Sammy Ameobi’s hold-up play inside the Rovers box saw Lewis Grabban come to support him. The striker then stood up a cross towards the back-post which Ryan Yates met, but somehow, the Forest midfielder was unable to keep his nod down, as the ball sailed over the crossbar.
Tony Mowbray and Rovers reacted to that Forest chance by introducing some attacking impetus to Rovers’ play, as Sam Gallagher replaced Tyrhys Dolan on the 53rd minute.
The 58th minute saw September’s Player of the Month, Bradley Johnson booked for a late challenge on Joe Lolley.
Forest again had a free header, this time on the 62nd minute as Figueiredo connected with the visitor’s corner, but Kaminski was on-hand to deny the Portuguese.
Rovers’ second change of the game saw Harry Chapman replace John Buckley as Rovers looked to increase the pressure on Forest’s defence.
The home side’s first substitute Gallagher was soon booked after fouling Arter on the 72nd minute.
Forest’s second change of the afternoon soon came as Lyle Taylor was introduced in-place of Lewis Grabban, who lacked his usual prolificacy.
After making the attacking change, Forest were able to burst forward through Ameobi, as the former Bolton Wanderers winger burst into the box before releasing a shot that forced Kaminski down to his right-hand side to deny the winger.
The 77th minute saw Kaminski called into action again as he tipped Taylor’s swerving effort behind for a corner, which Rovers soon cleared.
Rovers’ final alternation of the game saw academy graduate Luke Brennan replace Ben Brereton, on the 81st minute, as the young winger came on for his senior debut.
A corner on the 84th minute saw the ball drop out to Amari’i Bell, whose effort from the edge of the area seemed destined to nestle in the back of the net, but the shot wasn’t able to make the full journey as it deflected back out to Corry Evans, whose subsequent shot veered wide of the mark.
Forest ramped up the pressure late on, as they hit the post from a half-volley by Sammy Ameobi, whose strike came from just outside the penalty area.
As three minutes of added time were called for at the end of the game, the 90th minute brought the late sickener that Rovers fans would have been scared of, given their side’s focus on trying to win the game. Joe Lolley picked up the ball on the right-hand side, before cutting in onto his dangerous left-foot and releasing a shot that deflected off a Rovers man, before wrong-footing Kaminski and creeping inside the ‘keeper’s right-post, to make it 1-0 and give Forest their first win of the campaign.
With that goal sealing the game, Joe Lolley was given a short breather, as moments after scoring, he was removed from play as part of Forest’s final change, and replaced by Samba Sow, who came on to sure up Forest’s low-block, for the final moments of the game.
Despite Rovers reverting to long-ball tactics for the final few seconds, it wasn’t long until referee Jarred Gillett called an end to a game, that didn’t really amaze either sets of supporters, despite the late winner.
Despite the positivity of yesterday’s four deadline day signings, this result brought the team and the fans back down to earth, by showing them the real realities of the Championship. Whilst one would not like to feed ideas of ‘doom and gloom’ at such an early stage in the season, this result potentially shows how vital Friday’s incomings might prove to be for Rovers. Although Tony Mowbray had stated that Rovers had worked on playing against a deep-block during the international break, that work was not replicated during the game, as Forest continued to drop deeper towards their own goal, as the minutes ticked on. Another important point to mention is that the Blues were without their Lewis duo of Messrs Travis and Holtby, with the former injured and the latter given leave a short period of paternal leave. These absentees saw Rovers’ fluency decrease as their midfield stuttered for most of the match, despite the inclusion of recent award winner, Bradley Johnson. Furthermore, it will be interesting to see how long it takes, both for the four new signings to be bled into the side, and for Derrick Williams and Joe Rothwell to re-integrate themselves back into the squad, after the pair were left out due to COVID-19 precautions. It must be said that we wish the pair well during their two week isolation period and also hope they make full recoveries, if they have indeed contracted the illness.
The league table now sees Rovers drop to 9th position, after picking up their second defeat of the season. The Ewood Park side sit on 7 points – only two off 6th – with a positive goal difference of +7 after fives games played. Although the season is still in its infancy, Rovers and their fans will be hoping that the gap between midtable and the playoffs does not get any bigger.
Looking ahead to the upcoming fixtures, Rovers now start their weekend/midweek grind, with their next fixture coming away at Vicarage Road on Wednesday 21st October, where they will face high-flying Watford at 7:45pm. Following that tie, Rovers remain on the road as they travel to face Tony Mowbray’s former side, Coventry City, on Saturday 24th October, with the game – which will kick-off at 3pm – taking place at Birmingham City’s St. Andrew’s. Three days later, Rovers return to Ewood to host current runners-up Reading on Tuesday 27th October, at 7:45pm.
