A 98th minute comeback sealer was on the cards for Rovers in their home clash against Rotherham United, as Adam Armstrong notched a goal and an assist to help the home side get into the winning rhythm via a 2-1 scoreline, as Rovers managed to avoid a first home defeat to Rotherham United at Ewood Park in 42 years.
Following Saturday’s 2-1 home defeat to Norwich City, Tony Mowbray made two changes for tonight’s game as he drafted in Daniel Ayala and John Buckley who replaced Derrick Williams and Lewis Holtby. Although Holtby claimed a spot on the bench, Williams was not included in the matchday squad, due to injury. The extended bench gave Mowbray the opportunity to include the highly-rated Brad Lyons who was featured within a matchday squad for the first time.
With both sides in need of three points for different reasons, it was Rovers who got the game underway, as they looked to try and bounce back from back-to-back defeats, with a win that would help them edge back towards the coveted top six.
After a quiet opening five minutes, Rovers came narrowly close to taking the lead after capitalising on a Rotherham United mistake. Matt Crooks turned and tried to play a backpass to his ‘keeper Viktor Johansson. The short pass was intercepted by Adam Armstrong who couldn’t turn on his afterburners before Johansson blocked the run and cleared the ball.
Rotherham, on the 16th minute, managed to craft a chance that came agonisingly close to putting them ahead. After Matt Olosunde came out on top in a tussle with Sam Gallagher just outside the Rovers box, the right-back managed to slide a ball into the corridor of uncertainty towards Michael Smith, but the striker’s touch towards goal bobbled wide of the far-post, despite Thomas Kaminski being rooted to the spot.
After another dip in intensity in the game, Rovers created the game’s next chance after Ryan Nyambe crossed the ball into the box after a fine run down the right. The Namibian international used his power and pace to overtake Ben Wiles before delivering a low cross towards Armstrong. The forward, and three other teammates missed the ball before it fell kindly for Barry Douglas. Sadly, for the Scot, he couldn’t open his account in Rovers colours as his effort was steered harmlessly wide.
Joe Rothwell managed to produce a fine save from Johansson on the 33rd minute, as the midfielder cut inside from the left-hand side, before trying his luck from around 20-yards out, but the Swedish ‘keeper between the visiting posts was on-hand to parry the ball away from goal.
The first booking of the game was produced in the 38th minute, by referee Jarred Gillett. Michael Ihiekwe was the recipient of the booking after the centre-half hauled down Sam Gallagher out on the left-hand side. Although the challenge wasn’t particularly fierce, the former Wolverhampton Wanderers defender saw yellow for persistent fouling.
As one minute of time was added onto the 45th minute, a rather underwhelming first period was soon brought to an end by the whistle of Mr. Gillett.
Tony Mowbray would have been rather annoyed at the first-half performance, given that both sides had managed to craft an equal number of chances, despite Rotherham’s more pessimistic five-back system. Although the gaffer would have accounted for fatigue and match weariness amongst his best eleven, he would have expected a better performance against a side that was only out of the bottom three, on goal-difference, come the game’s start.
Paul Warne, on the other hand, would have been fairly pleased with the first 45 minutes that he would have seen from his side. Despite coming close to taking the lead twice, the two-time promotion-winning manager would have been satisfied with his side’s defensive performance, given that they had restricted the league’s second-highest goalscorers to only one shot on target.
Following the quarter-of-an-hour break, the Rotherham players returned to take the kick-off and get the second-half underway. Despite beating Bristol City 2-0 in their previous game, the Millers were hoping to make it six from six in the hope they could extend the gap between themselves and the drop zone, to more than the goal-difference it currently stood at.
Rovers started the second period as they did the first, by creating a chance. Ryan Nyambe played a ball ahead of Armstrong, down the right-hand channel on the 48th minute, but despite Armstrong getting beyond the Rotherham defence, Johansson narrowed his angled and forced him to take the shot quickly which ended up in the side-netting.
Kyle Vassell picked the ball up on the edge of the area, on the 56th minute, but despite being unmarked, his wayward shot ended up in the Darwen End.
The bookings were soon equalised on the 57th minute when Barry Douglas was yellow carded following a foul on Matt Olosunde.
Tony Mowbray made a double change on the 59th minute as Amari’i Bell and Stewart Downing replaced Barry Douglas and Joe Rothwell.
A couple of minutes after the Rovers changes, Rotherham took a big step towards making it back-to-back wins after Michael Smith drilled the ball past Thomas Kaminski, to put the Millers ahead, at 1-0. The 6’3” forward managed to latch onto the end of Crooks’ flick-on, in order to power the ball past Kaminski with a fine effort that nestled kindly into the bottom left-hand corner of the goal.
A minute after the restart, Jamie Lindsay was booked after the midfielder fouled John Buckley on the right-hand side of the field.
Rotherham nearly doubled their lead moments after gaining it, as a poor backpass from Bell nearly saw Vassell capitalise on the mistake, but Kaminski did well to deny the former Blackpool forward.
The 68th minute saw another double change for Rovers as Lewis Holtby and Tom Trybull were brought on, with John Buckley and Bradley Johnson making way.
Moments after the change, Nyambe pulled the ball back for Downing whose effort, which was aimed towards the bottom right-hand corner, deflected behind for a corner which Rotherham dealt with.
Paul Warne soon made changes of his own, with three in one go being his tonic. Wes Harding, Freddie Ladapo and George Hirst were all introduced to the side, as Ben Wiles, Kyle Vassell and goalscorer Michael Smith all took a well-deserved rest.
Rovers tried to ramp up their tempo in the 75th minute as Harvey Elliott managed to feed Lewis Holtby. The substitute did well to tee-up Armstrong whose effort lacked the required conviction as he hit the back of the Blackburn End.
Rotherham were a touch away from making it two after Freddie Ladapo jumped earlier than the cross. George Hirst managed to craft some space for a delivery that nearly dropped underneath the Rovers crossbar. Unfortunately for the visitors, the cross lacked the dip at the precise moment for Ladapo to nod it into the empty net, as Rovers soon cleared the danger.
The 80th minute brought the goal that Rovers had pushed for, as Harvey Elliott made it two goals in as many games to draw the sides level. Rovers’ continued pressure on the Rotherham defence soon paid dividends as Armstrong threaded through Elliott who peeled off his man. After failing to secure a clean touch, the Liverpool loanee managed to secure the ball under pressure before turning and lashing the ball into the bottom right-hand corner with his left-foot to level the score at 1-1.
Rovers’ fifth and final change of the game saw Tyrhys Dolan replace Sam Gallagher for the final few minutes.
As the clocked ticked over into the 90th minute, where referee Jarred Gillett called for a mammoth seven minutes of time to be added on, Rovers thought they had managed to secure the three points late on, when Amari’i Bell latched onto Harvey Elliott’s sublime cross, with a header that looped over Johansson, but the effort was ruled out as the full-back was deemed offside.
The 91st minute saw Ryan Nyambe booked for a high foot on Michael Ihiekwe.
Rotherham made a fourth change in the 93rd minute as Dan Barlaser saw Billy Jones come on to replace him.
The visitors nearly snatched the winner in the 96th minute, via a Freddie Ladapo header. As the Millers tried to run down the clock by holding the ball in the corner, space broke for them to deliver a cross. Wes Harding delivered an inviting cross into the box which Ladapo leapt onto, but the substitute’s header just curled the wrong side of the upright.
The drama didn’t end there as Rovers managed to snatch a late winner, courtesy of Adam Armstrong’s 98th minute winner. As Rovers continued to press for a winner by piling players forward into the box, Stewart Downing managed to hook in a far-post cross that a combination of Daniel Ayala and George Hirst nodded down. The visiting defence were unable to clear the ball in the crowded, hectic penalty area, which gave the unmarked Adam Armstrong the perfect opportunity to sneak in at the far-post and pass the ball into the bottom left-hand corner of the goal, as Ewood Park erupted as Rovers made it 2-1 with the final kick of the game.
With the time going over the allocated minutes, there was only time for Rotherham’s kick-off before referee Jarred Gillett called time on the tie that ultimately proved to be vital for Rovers.
Although the result will obviously mask the performance, there is space for us to be delighted with what could be a big three points, despite the game and the performance being very underwhelming to watch. Whilst the win also nips the slide in form, in the bud, it is possible to suggest that a potential break in the constant weekend-midweek fixture grind could help the side a lot, as well as the obvious injury returns from key members of the squad. One key element to the side that needs to be sorted, is the defensive side. Whilst Rovers have the same clean sheets record as they did last season after 19 games, with six this campaign as opposed to last season’s five, there is argument that this season’s number could have improved with a more consistent backline. Whilst COVID and injuries have taken its toll on Rovers so far, this season, it is possible to make the claim that, once Rovers settle on a back four and add Travis’ combativeness to the mix, then Rovers could find the likes of Rotherham easier to deal with.
The league table is looking a lot more attractive, with Rovers only four points behind the playoff spots, despite sitting in 11th place. From the 19 games played, Rovers have 28 points and a positive goal-difference of +11, whilst remaining as the league’s second highest goalscorers, behind runners-up Bournemouth’s tally of 35.
Next up for Rovers is a trip to the bet365 Stadium, where they will face a rejuvenated Stoke City side, who have managed to improve their form from the last campaign enough to see them sit in 8th place, at the moment. That tie against the Potteries will be played on Saturday 19th December, at 3pm. After that tie, Rovers are back at Ewood for the 3pm Boxing Day clash against Sheffield Wednesday, which could prove to be a tough tie, considering Tony Pulis is at the helm at Hillsborough. Rovers’ final game of this crazy year of 2020 will see them end it on the road, as they travel to the John Smith’s Stadium to face Huddersfield Town on Tuesday 29th December, at 7:45pm.
