Rovers came back from the second international break of the season with goals in their boots, but were ultimately let down by their Achilles heel of letting leads slip, as Coventry City and their buoyant travelling support fought back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2.
Following the two-week international break, Rovers were looking to bounce back from their pre-break defeat to Blackpool, which was by a 2-1 scoreline. Tony Mowbray made four changes in an attempt to refresh his side, which was hampered by injury, in an attempt to get back on track against a high-flying Coventry City.
Jan Paul van Hecke came in for his debut, alongside Tayo Edun who was making his first start for the club, they were accompanied by the returning Darragh Lenihan who skippered the side and Ryan Nyambe who recovered from the concussion he had suffered in the defeat to Huddersfield Town, a few weeks ago. Those who were replaced were Hayden Carter, Tyler Magloire, Harry Pickering and Ben Brereton Díaz. Although he had lit up South America with his two goals for Chile which helped boost their chances of qualifying for the 2022 World Cup, including a goal early Friday morning against Venezuela, Ben Brereton Díaz had returned from Santiago and was available for Rovers from the bench.
With this game being dedicated to the NHS, Rovers had donated a lot of tickets to NHS workers at the East Lancashire Hospital Trust who played a key role throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. This was also accompanied with a minute’s applause from both sides, prior to kick-off as well as ‘Thank You NHS’ warm-up t-shirts.
As both sides readied themselves for a feisty encounter at Ewood Park, with a healthy away following in the away end, it was Rovers who got the game underway courtesy of referee Matt Donohue’s whistle as they looked to bounce back from two successive away defeats.
A slow start to the game saw chances few and far between for the two sides, but Ben Sheaf was able to change that in the 21st minute when he tested Thomas Kaminski with a low drive from the edge of the area which saw the Belgian comfortably deny the former Arsenal man the opener of the game.
Rovers were soon testing Simon Moore in the other net, less than two minutes later as Ryan Nyambe did fantastically down the right before cutting inside and trying to find the far corner. Despite still searching for his first senior goal, the save couldn’t be criticised as the former Sheffield United goalie produced a fine stop to deny the Namibian.
In the 25th minute, Kaminski was once again called into action from short-range against Tyler Walker and the Belgian once again showed his class to deny the former Nottingham Forest forward the game’s first goal.
Three minutes later, Matt Donohue finally produced a card, despite the high number of suspicious tackles that had occurred throughout the opening half-an-hour. John Buckley was the recipient of the booking after he slid into Michael Rose on halfway.
In the 38th minute, Sam Gallagher and Tyrhys Dolan combined, but the #10’s effort was comfortably held by Moore.
A minute later, Simon Moore’s goal was soon breached after a fine piece of play by Rovers saw Sam Gallagher and Joe Rothwell combine as the former Oxford United man lobbed the ball into the net to put Rovers 1-0 up. Rothwell picked the ball up and lent it to Gallagher who returned it with interest with a magnificently chipped pass which took numerous Coventry defenders out of the game. Rothwell did well to latch onto the return ball before pulling out a chip of his own to get the ball over the on-rushing Moore, before bundling the ball home under pressure from a defender to put Rovers ahead.
Just as Matt Donohue signalled for two added minutes to be added onto the end of the first-half, Rovers decided to double their lead heading into the break as Joe Rothwell and Sam Gallagher again combined, but with reversed roles as the midfielder set up the forward to make it 2-0. After Rothwell was threaded through at an angle, the midfielder was able to survey his options before providing a fine cutback to Gallagher who fired the ball into the top right-hand corner via the glove of Moore.
There wasn’t much time for Coventry to have an impact in the remining time before the break, but they managed to get themselves into the Rovers box before half-time as Tyler Walker had bundled the ball into the back of the net, after his initial shot had rebounded off the post, but the visiting celebrations were cut short due to the offside flag being raised.
Rovers’ free-kick from the offside proved to be the last act of the half as Matt Donohue soon brought a rather explosive first-half to an end, with Rovers delighted with how they had ended the period.
Tony Mowbray would have been delighted with how his side had grown into the game, despite the fact he undoubtedly felt aggrieved with some of the refereeing decisions that had occurred during the first period. Although his young squad had talent in reserve, such as the likes of Ben Brereton Díaz, Dan Butterworth and Ian Poveda. The gaffer would have also been quick to warn the players of remaining concentrated and focussed on getting the three points.
Mark Robins would have undoubtedly been disappointed with how his side had finished the first period, particularly as they’ve barely threatened Rovers’ goal, barring a couple of rare attempts. The former Manchester United forward would have been full of encouragement for his players, however, as he would have reminded them of their early season exploits, including their pre-international break beating of Fulham, by a 4-1 scoreline.
After both sides returned to the pitch, it was Coventry who got the game back underway through Callum O’Hare, as they looked to try and send their 3749 fans home with something to cheer about.
Rovers managed to get the first opportunity of the second-half as Tyrhys Dolan cut inside to try his luck at goal again, but once again, Moore was equal to him.
In the 61st minute, Tyler Walker got the goal he had threatened in the first-half as he poked the ball home at the near-post to reduce the deficit. Sam Gallagher’s poor pass saw him give the ball away before Coventry recycled the ball out to Todd Kane who put in a low inviting ball towards the near-post which Walker poked home past Kaminski to put the Sky Blues back into the game at 2-1.
Straight after the goal, Mark Robins made his first change of the game as Gustavo Hamer came on to replace Ben Sheaf.
Mowbray soon replied with two changes of his own, three minutes later, as Ian Poveda and Jacob Davenport took the places of Tyrhys Dolan and John Buckley.
The 68th minute saw the event that all Rovers fans had feared once Coventry had grabbed their first goal, as the Sky Blues drew level in rather comical circumstances. Liam Kelly’s unchallenged attempt from outside the box cannoned back off the post before hitting Kaminski on the back and trickling over the goalline as the goal was credited as an own goal by the Belgian, as the away supporters behind the goal turned delirious.
The 72nd minute saw Jan Paul van Hecke booked as the on-loan Brighton man did his best to deny the away side a third.
With Rovers looking to go back ahead, once again, Tony Mowbray made his final change of the game as Ben Brereton Díaz came on to replace Sam Gallagher as the mood inside Ewood Park increased by a few decibels.
In the 75th minute, Viktor Gyökeres was hauled down in the box by van Hecke and despite furious appeals by the visitors, the referee waved play on.
Former Rover Todd Kane was soon booked in the 79th minute for tugging back on Joe Rothwell who had sped past the full-back.
Martyn Waghorn soon came on in the stoppage after the Kane foul, as he replaced the visitor’s first goalscorer, Tyler Walker.
The 88th minute nearly saw Rovers go back ahead in dramatic fashion, but for a fantastic clearance from Michael Rose. Ben Brereton Díaz was threaded through down the left and played a fantastic low cross into the ‘corridor of uncertainty’ where Tayo Edun was waiting. Although the cross was brilliant, it perhaps lacked a lick of power which would have got it to Edun’s feet as although the summer signing tried to latch onto it, Rose did fantastically well to turn the ball behind for a Rovers corner.
As the 90th minute ticked over, Matt Donohue added on four extra minutes onto the end of the tie.
Ben Brereton Díaz nearly blew the roof off of Ewood Park in the 91st minute as he rose highest at the back-post to connect with Joe Rothwell’s cross and despite him being offside, he caused incredibly panic within the Coventry box. Although he connected with the cross, Moore did well to deny the Chilean who had a second bite of the cherry despite having collided with both Moore and the post, but the keeper did enough to get two hands on the ball.
In the final stages of the game, Michael Rose was booked as he hauled down Rothwell inside the Coventry half. Rovers threw all their men forwards in the hope of snatching a late winner, but although a Rovers man latched onto the Rothwell cross, Simon Moore did enough to hold onto the ball and secure the point for his side, as the final whistle went seconds later.
This is an extract from the end of the Blackpool Match Report, from prior to the international break: “It really is a wonder how Rovers can perform so badly in the first period and then come out looking like a different team in the second-half? It’s not the first-time this has happened under this manager, which is quite worrying, however I guess we have to live with it.”
It seems like the players responded to the cries by performing well in the first-half and going missing in the second, for a change(!) Regardless, the second period lacked energy, determination and momentum which wasn’t really achieved until after Ben Brereton Díaz was introduced and the fans were galvanised. There are many questions one can ask regarding the two Coventry goals, however. The first being, labelled at Sam Gallagher regarding how he gave the ball away so cheaply inside his own half. Although he was outstanding in the first-half, his mistake, sadly gave Coventry the momentum all Rovers fans were arguably scared of. The second goal was rather farcical, not only due to how the ball ended up over the line, but how Liam Kelly’s strike was even allowed to happen with nobody closing him down in a Blue and White shirt. Although no blame can be attached to Thomas Kaminski, who was eventually credited with the own-goal, those in-front of him have to answer why such an effort was even allowed to get off the ground, let alone aimed on-target.
Although the negatives will naturally overhang given the result, the first-half, particularly the second part of the first-half showed what Rovers were capable of at their best, with both Joe Rothwell and Sam Gallagher showing why they were so highly rated by the manager.
Although Rovers are still winless in three following this game, they are still within touching distance of the playoffs as they sit in 9th with 17 points from the 12 games they have played. They also have a positive goal-difference of +5.
There’s a quick turnaround for Rovers to put things right, as they are next in action on Tuesday night as they travel down south to face Queens Park Rangers at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium on Tuesday 19th October at 7:45pm. After that tie, the Blues return to Ewood to host Reading on Saturday 23rd October at 3pm, before their final game of the month sees them on the road again, this time to Pride Park to face Wayne Rooney’s Derby County on Saturday 30th October at 3pm.
