Rovers headed into the season’s international break with a healthy tally of eight points to their name, after a 1-1 draw at the Riverside saw the Lancashire side and Middlesbrough take a share of the spoils, in goals, points and red cards.
After Rovers fell to a narrow 2-1 defeat at Ewood Park against West Bromwich Albion, last Saturday, Tony Mowbray made one change from last week’s starting side, as Leeds United loanee, Ian Poveda – who was signed during the week – came in for his debut, as John Buckley was sacrificed to the bench in his place.
As both sides prepared for the game to get underway, it was Rovers who took kick-off in the hope that they could get back to winning ways.
The first 10 minutes of the game saw both sides break into their opposite number’s final third, but both Boro and Rovers failed to test either goalkeeper.
Minute 11 saw the game’s first shot on target as Marcus Tavernier nearly volleyed Middlesbrough ahead from just outside the box. Some good counter-attacking play by the home side saw Matt Crooks tee up Tavernier who struck a venomous volley, but Thomas Kaminski despite denying the volley, couldn’t prevent the conceding of a corner, which the visitors cleared.
The deadlock was finally broken in the 17th minute through Sam Gallagher who rifled Rovers into the lead. Ian Poveda slipped the ball into Sam Gallagher, before the forward shifted the ball onto his right-foot. The former Southampton man then dropped his shoulder and released an effort from outside the box, that lasered into the top right-hand corner of Joe Lumley’s goal as Gallagher wheeled away in celebration of the 1-0 scoreline.
Two minutes after taking the lead with the goals, Rovers took the lead in the bookings as Hayden Carter crashed into Isaiah Jones on halfway.
Jones wasn’t to be knocked, however, as he got up and nearly drew Boro level, two minutes later as he latched onto the end of an Anfernee Dijksteel cross, but couldn’t get it on target as it hit the side-netting.
In the 36th minute, Boro managed to equalise the scoring, courtesy of a fantastic goal from former Norwich City man, Jonny Howson. After Rovers saw their free-kick claimed by Joe Lumley, Boro broke on the counter as the ‘keeper found Dijksteel. The former Charlton Athletic full-back did brilliantly to find Jonny Howson, who had broken through the heart of Rovers, with the defenders absent due to the set-piece. A pinpoint pass saw Dijksteel find Howson, who took the ball into his stride brilliantly before chipping the ball over the on-rushing Thomas Kaminski, as the ball trickled in after kissing the post to draw Boro level at 1-1.
Boro nearly took the lead in the 44th minute as Jonny Howson again continued to be a thorn in Rovers’ side. He found Duncan Watmore, who was lurking in the area, with a fine pass, but the former Sunderland man thought he had less time than he did, as he sliced his snapshot on the turn.
As half-time approached, referee Michael Salisbury called for an extra two minutes of added time to be added onto the end of the first period. With neither side able to use the extra minutes to their advantage, Mr. Salisbury soon brought the first-half to a close.
During the break, home boss Neil Warnock would have been fuming regarding how his side had let Gallagher release the effort from the edge of the area with such ease. The former Queens Park Rangers boss however, would have been pleased with his side’s reaction in order to get the equaliser. Warnock would have also been using his skewed view of the officials to his team’s advantage as he would have no doubt enforced an ‘us against them’ mentality after his side had seen a few penalty appeals waved away by the match official.
Boro legend, Tony Mowbray, would have been pleased with how his side had taken the lead, but he would have been annoyed with how open they had been, both in the minutes following Gallagher’s strike, and the Boro goal itself. Mowbray would have been offering a balance view of the first-half, whilst also encouraging his side to continue what they had done, despite losing their clean sheet.
Just before the start of the second period, Rovers made their first substitution of the game as Tyler Magloire came on to replace Joe Rothwell, as Rovers swapped to a five-back in order to match up with Boro’s own formation.
After both teams had heard what their managers had to say, it was Boro who got the second period underway as they tried to build on their fine first-half display in order to try and grab a second goal.
In the 47th minute, Matt Crooks and Duncan Watmore nearly crafted Boro the lead. Crooks outpaced Harry Pickering, who tried to buy a free-kick, but Michael Salisbury wasn’t having any of it. Crooks then left Pickering in his wake before cutting the ball back to Watmore whose effort was deflected behind by Hayden Carter, with Rovers dealing with the subsequent corner.
Thomas Kaminski was forced into action in the 52nd minute as Paddy McNair tried to rifle one in from just outside the area. After Boro won possession back off of Sam Gallagher on halfway, courtesy of a Dael Fry tackle, the home side built up possession before the former Manchester United man tried his luck from range. The low blade-cutting effort looked destined to nestle into the bottom left-hand corner of the goal, but for the strong hand of Kaminski who denied the home side the lead.
Sam Morsy tried his luck on the 55th minute, from the edge of the area as he tried to replicate Gallagher’s first-half effort, but the former Wigan Athletic man’s attempt nestled with the Boro fans, rather than the netting.
On the hour mark, Rovers made their final two changes of the game as Tyrhys Dolan and John Buckley replaced Ian Poveda and Leighton Clarkson.
Matt Crooks again continued to trouble Rovers’ defence as on the 62nd minute, he latched onto a deep Paddy McNair free-kick, as he tried to angle a backwards header towards goal, but the former Rotherham United man’s nod dropped onto the roof of the net.
In the 66th minute, Pickering provided a low cross which Magloire tried to attack, but the cross was intercepted before the substitute could connect with the ball.
After the chance, Middlesbrough made their first change of the game as Toyosi Olusanya, who was recently signed from non-league football, came on to make his debut, in-place of Duncan Watmore.
After the change, a Rovers corner saw Sam Gallagher rise highest, but the goalscorer couldn’t add to his tally as his nod flew over.
In the 69th minute, some great skill by Marcus Tavernier saw him take two Rovers men out of the game before the ball fell to Howson, whose effort arrowed wide of the mark.
A minute later, Crooks tried an attempt of his own from just outside the box, but he got his foot stuck underneath it and it ballooned over the bar.
Minute 72 nearly saw Boro take the lead, as Tavernier’s effort from the edge of the area stung the palms of Kaminski, who could only spill the ball into the path of Olusanya who only needed to connect with the ball in order to score on his debut, but Darragh Lenihan intervened with a fantastic goal-saving tackle to keep Rovers in the game.
In the 77th minute, Boro made their second change of the game as Marc Bola replaced Isaiah Jones.
Rovers earnt a deep free-kick which they lofted into the area, but as Paddy McNair leaped to connect with the ball, he connected with the high boot of Hayden Carter, who was soon given his marching orders in the 80th minute, due to a second yellow card.
Two minutes later, Boro felt sorry for Rovers and got themselves their own red card, as Sam Morsy caught Tyler Magloire with a reckless challenge. The Egyptian’s studs were very high and caught the Rovers substitute’s knee, which gave Mr. Salisbury no decision other than to pull the red card out.
Rovers got their mojo back in the 85th minute as Sam Gallagher drove forwards and tried to pick out Ben Brereton Díaz, but his effort was blocked behind by Dael Fry.
As Olusanya broke free following a Rovers corner in the 87th minute, Lewis Travis hauled the forward down on halfway which saw the 23-year-old striker react ferociously against the Rovers midfielder. That sparked a melee which culminated in both Travis and Olusanya being booked.
After 90 minutes had ticked over on the clock, referee Michael Salisbury called for an extra five minutes to be added onto the end of this encounter.
In the 94th minute, Tyrhys Dolan was booked following a foul on Paddy McNair.
After some lengthy treatment to Marc Bola, Rovers were able to clear Boro’s free-kick as the full-time whistle soon followed.
Rovers will be looking at this game with relief, rather than disappointment, as things could have gone either way after the two red cards – although both were quite harsh! – and Mowbray and his team will probably see this as a point gained, rather than two dropped, given the manner in which Boro imposed themselves. Whilst the team will be disappointed with the manner in which Middlesbrough’s goal occurred, given the poor defensive set-up after being countered from their own free-kick, this game will undoubtedly be used as a key reference point for our young players throughout this campaign.
I think we can be very pleased with #Rovers’ start to the season, heading into the first international break of the season. A young (depleted?) squad, and we’ve amassed 8 points against some of the most physically demanding opponents in this league.
Of course, we’re still very early on in the campaign, but the table is quite positive. Rovers sit 10th with 8 points and a positive goal-difference of +1.
As Rovers now head into the first international break of the campaign, they will have a lot of time to work and improve as well as reflect on the games they have already played. Additionally, the time off will not only offer time for those injured to return, but due to the EFL’s international break rules, regarding ‘red-list’ nations, it means Ben Brereton Díaz will earn a well-deserved rest, given he will not be travelling to Chile.
Following the break, Rovers return to Ewood Park to host Luton Town on Saturday 11th September at 3pm. After that, the Blues remain in East Lancashire as they prepare to welcome Hull City on Tuesday 14th September for the 7:45pm kick-off. Their first post-break away game comes on Saturday 18th September at where they cross the Pennines to face Barnsley at Oakwell at 3pm.
