It was delight in Dorset for Rovers as they became the second team this season to inflict a home defeat on Bournemouth, as goals in each-half from Rovers, sunk the Cherries on the south coast as Tony Mowbray celebrated his 100th win in charge of the Blues in style.
Following last week’s derby win over Preston North End, which saw Rovers win 1-0, courtesy of a Ben Brereton Díaz header, Tony Mowbray stuck with the same team as he named an unchanged team. There was the added stability of Daniel Ayala and Sam Gallagher, who both returned to the bench following stints on the sideline with injuries.
As both sides emerged from the tunnel down on the south coast, it was John Buckley who got the game underway, following referee Simon Hooper’s whistle. Rovers were looking to continue their unbeaten run in this top of the table clash, in order to boost their playoff chances ahead of the busy Christmas schedule.
Rovers started the brighter of the two sides as Joe Rothwell set Reda Khadra away in the fourth minute, as the midfielder stole the ball on halfway and sent the youngster on his way, but Khadra was unable to get on the end of the through ball as the home side cleared.
Two minutes later, Ryan Christie looked to cause danger with a cross, but Jan Paul van Hecke was there to clear the danger.
Two minutes later, Robbie Brady tried to create more problems via a corner, but Aynsley Pears was on hand to claim the ball.
Lewis Cook tried his luck from range in the 10th minute, but Scott Wharton put his body on the line to deny the hosts a clear shot at goal.
Rovers tried to counter from the blocked effort as John Buckley fed Ben Brereton Díaz, but the Chilean’s first-time effort cleared the target.
Lewis Travis looked to try and break the deadlock from deep with a low shot from outside the area, but his effort won Rovers a 14th minute corner, which Bournemouth soon dealt with.
A Rovers attack in the 21st minute soon led to the breaking of the deadlock as Ben Brereton Díaz wheeled away in celebration of putting Rovers ahead, although the goal was officially credited as an own goal by former Preston North End midfielder, Ben Pearson. Bournemouth failed to clear their lines as Harry Pickering floated in a ball that was flicked towards goal by Darragh Lenihan. The centre-back’s flick was palmed by Mark Travers into Brereton Díaz’s path, who in an attempt to chip the ‘keeper, hit the ball with force. The rebound, somewhat unluckily, came back and hit Pearson full in the face and nestled into the back of the home side’s net, as the Chilean wheeled away in celebration of Rovers taking a 1-0 lead.
In the 29th minute, Ryan Christie tiptoed his way through a number of Rovers bodies before testing Pears from inside the six-yard box, but the goalie did brilliantly to stop the former Celtic man from close-range.
In the 35th minute, Reda Khadra drove forwards on the counter-attack, but was forced to shoot from distance, before his blocked effort was cleared.
Three minutes later, Lewis Cook was booked for a late challenge on Lenihan, before Ben Brereton Díaz was also booked in the 42nd minute, for halting a Bournemouth counter.
As Simon Hooper added on two minutes of time onto the end of the first-half, Rovers broke away through Brereton Díaz, who seemed everywhere this game. Just as the attacker was about to pull the trigger a recovery tackle from Jack Stacey denied the attacker the opportunity to test Travers.
The last chance of the half came moments after the two minutes had been played, as Dominic Solanke squeezed between Ryan Nyambe and Darragh Lenihan and found himself through on goal with just Pears to beat. After opening up his body and looking for the far-post, Pears pulled off a fantastic save to deny the hosts the leveller on the whistle.
Scott Parker would have been frustrated with the lack of concentration that allowed Ben Brereton Díaz to sneak in and turn the ball home. His side, although managed to get in and cause problems for Rovers, never managed to lay the blow that would have had Rovers quaking in their boots. The former Chelsea and Charlton Athletic midfielder would have been concocting a plan to get his table-topping side back into the tie in the second period.
Tony Mowbray would have been delighted with how his side had set up, both defensively and on the counter-attack where they arguably looked the deadliest. The Rovers boss would have been quick to encourage his side, but also remind them of their defensive responsibilities ahead of the second-half.
Just before Bournemouth restarted the game, in the second-half, they made a change at the break, as Ben Pearson departed and was replaced by Emiliano Marcondes.
In the 51st minute, Ryan Christie looked to test Pears once again, but this time from distance, however Pears again got down well to deny the Scot.
A minute later, John Buckley tried his own effort from distance, but Bournemouth bodies denied the visitors a second goal in the 52nd minute.
In the 55th minute, Rovers made their first change of the game as Sam Gallagher replaced Reda Khadra.
The 59th minute saw Rothwell find Buckley with a short corner, but the Rovers academy graduate’s effort was again denied by Travers.
On the hour mark, Marcondes tiptoed past a few flailing Rovers bodies in the box before delivering a low cross across the face of goal where Jamal Lowe looked certain to tap home at the back-post, but the incredible desire of Sam Gallagher saw him track back and clear the ball off the line, as the substitute denied the hosts the leveller.
Minutes later, Marcondes was booked after fouling Brereton Díaz.
In the 64th minute, Rovers again hit the Cherries on the break as Buckley found Brereton Díaz, who used his pace to speed beyond Premier League winner, Gary Cahill, before pulling the trigger, yet Mark Travers again made a save, as Rovers earnt a corner.
The subsequent corner saw Rovers double their lead. After Rovers’ previous corner was narrowly nodded over the bar by Lenihan, Rovers once again piled their defenders into the penalty area as Jan Paul van Hecke rose highest at the near-post to divert Joe Rothwell’s corner past the Irish ‘keeper, Travers, as the away end erupted as Rovers made it 2-0, as van Hecke grabbed his long overdue first goal for Rovers.
Following the goal, Bournemouth made their second change of the day as Lloyd Kelly replaced Steve Cook.
In the 67th and 72nd minute, Rovers were forced into two changes as Scott Wharton and Ryan Nyambe were deemed unable to continue. The first change saw Daniel Ayala replace Wharton, whereas minutes later, Bradley Johnson came on for Nyambe, as John Buckley moved across to right-wing-back.
Alongside the introduction of Johnson, Bournemouth made their own final change, as Manchester City loanee, Morgan Rogers replaced Jaidon Anthony.
As Bournemouth piled forwards, Pears was able to take pressure of Rovers’ defence in the 80th minute as he came out to collect the hosts’ aerial balls into the box.
Ben Brereton Díaz once again showed his pace on the counter in the 84th minute as he broke away again and left the Bournemouth defenders eating his dust, yet Mark Travers did well to come out and deny the Chilean, who could have easily had a hattrick in this game.
In the 85th minute, Rovers’ goalscorer, Jan Paul van Hecke was booked for a late challenge.
Pears pulled off a fine double save in the 87th minute as he palmed away Marcondes’ knuckleball free-kick before he got up quickly to deny Christie’s attempt at goal.
In the 90th minute, John Buckley was booked for another late challenge.
As Buckley was booked, Simon Hooper called for six minutes to be added onto the end of the game, as the hosts’ tails went up in the hope of salvaging a point through a late comeback.
In the 93rd minute, Joe Rothwell became the latest, and final player to be booked by Simon Hooper.
That booking proved to be the final act of the game, as Rovers kept huffing and puffing but continued to deny Bournemouth the chance to make things nervy during added time. As Rovers continued to put their bodies on the line to deny the hosts, Mowbray’s men were able to hold on to secure their fourth clean-sheet on the bounce.
What a win! It’s a bit of a cliché to say, ‘we’re running out of superlatives for this team’, but that’s becoming the case. The passion, hard work, fight and determination this group of players possess is outstanding and is very resemblant to the side that went up from League One, yet the difference between the teams is the energy that this one possesses. The threat on the counter was shown today and although Ben Brereton Díaz should have had a hattrick today – I can’t bring myself to credit him with today’s first, so he’s still on 17 for me! – the team showed that they were more than capable of breaking down any side in the league, with the pace and eye for a pass the players possess. Another special mention should be given to the man between the posts, in Aynsley Pears who’s once again shown his class by pulling off a handful of fine saves to deny one of the deadliest strikers in the division.
That huge win has seen the gap at the top shrink to six points, which is what Rovers are off the top of the table! Tony Mowbray’s men are sat fourth after 22 games with 39 points and a positive goal-difference of +10. Fulham currently occupy top spot with 45 points, with today’s losers, Bournemouth in second on 43, whilst West Bromwich Albion are in third with 40 points. Rovers are also five points clear of Coventry City, who are in 7th meaning there is breathing room regarding the playoff places. – *touch wood*.
Rovers’ Christmas fixtures are quite encouraging, given the run of form the side are on. Next up for Rovers, is a home clash against Birmingham City on Saturday 18th December at 3pm. After that game, Rovers’ Boxing Day fixture sees them travel to Yorkshire to face Hull City, on Sunday 26th December at 3pm. Following that trip, the final game of 2021 sees Rovers hosts relegation-threatened Barnsley at Ewood Park, on Wednesday 29th December at 7:45pm.
