Rovers’ first game of 2022 ended in a stalemate, as a lack of attacking threat was saved by some solid defensive efforts, as Tony Mowbray’s men and Huddersfield Town each earnt a share of the spoils.
Following Rovers’ 2-1 home win against Barnsley, last time out, Tony Mowbray once again stuck with an unchanged eleven, in order to maintain momentum. Despite penning a new deal on New Year’s Day, Sam Gallagher could only find himself on the bench for this encounter. As he captained the side, Darragh Lenihan, notched up a double milestone as he achieved 200 Rovers league starts and 250 career club appearances.
Unfortunately, due to queues outside the stadium, kick-off was delayed until 2:15pm. But, once everything was present band correct and the two teams made their way onto the pitch, it was Huddersfield Town who got the game underway, following referee Keith Stroud’s whistle, as Carlos Corberán’s side looked to try and extend their unbeaten run to six games, at Ewood Park. Funnily enough, the Spanish gaffer was not at the game, due to testing positive for COVID-19, in the few days prior to kick-off.
Rovers managed to show their attacking intent only three minutes, as the delayed game got underway. Reda Khadra burst forwards and managed to find John Buckley, but the youngster found his attempt blocked.
Buckley tried to return the favour to the on-loan Brighton and Hove Albion man, three minutes later, as the midfielder tried to notch his second assist in four games. Khadra did well to beat his man before launching a shot towards goal and despite Lee Nicholls being beaten, Huddersfield’s bacon was saved by the crossbar.
A Rovers free-kick was launched into the area in the 14th minute, as Jan Paul van Hecke rose highest in the Huddersfield penalty area, yet Nicholls claimed the aerial ball with ease.
On the 15th minute, referee Keith Stroud got his yellow card out for Scott High, as the visiting midfielder went in late on halfway.
Thomas Kaminski was called into action in the 22nd minute, as he was forced into a fine save to keep Duane Holmes’ header out, after the American latched onto a Harry Toffolo cross, in the 22nd minute.
Furore broke out in the 29th minute, after Ben Brereton Díaz was hauled down inside the visiting penalty area, after a couple of nudges, but the official waved play on, much to the frustrations of the home crowd.
Rovers’ first booking of the game, came in the 33rd minute, as Lewis Travis acted quickly to deny Huddersfield Town a counter, with a swipe on halfway.
Rovers’ second booking of the game soon followed three minutes later, but it wasn’t a player being cautioned. After some fury regarding not giving a foul on Khadra, Tony Mowbray’s continuous chewing of the fourth official’s ear saw him go into the book, following a brief, but heated conversation with Mr. Stroud.
It soon became three Rovers bookings inside ten minutes, as in the 39th minute, John Buckley was also yellow carded after a foul on Chelsea loanee, Levi Colwill.
With only one minute added onto the end of the game, Rovers had successive set-pieces that again sent the home crowd into fury over the denial of a penalty. After a ball was whipped in towards the far-post, Lewis Travis latched onto the cross and tried to put the ball back into the mixer, but was seemingly denied by the outstretched arm of Lewis O’Brien. Despite the angry in the home camp, Mr. Stroud called for the end of the half, which left the Rovers players speechless as they went down the tunnel in heated debate with the official.
During the break, Tony Mowbray would have been encouraging his side to try and hold a firmer grip on the game, given their lack of consistency in the first period. Although Rovers had crafted many good opportunities, they ended the first period with no shots on target, which Tony Mowbray would have wanted to rectify in the second period, given they were shooting towards the Blackburn End.
The Huddersfield Town dressing room would have probably looked more like a meeting room or a lecture theatre, given the absence of Carlos Corberán, who would have probably been speaking to his side via telephone or teleconference software. The Spanish backroom staff would have been quite reluctant to criticise their side, given their good recent form and the fact they had kept Rovers at bay during the first period.
The second-half was soon restarted by John Buckley, as Rovers looked to try and secure a sixth consecutive victory of their own.
The second period didn’t burst into life as expected, but in the 51st minute, Joe Rothwell floated in a corner towards the back-post which Harry Pickering rose highest to connect with, but he couldn’t keep it down as the ball flew over the bar.
In the 62nd minute, Duane Holmes was played through as he sped past Scott Wharton and tried to beat Kaminski at his near-post, but only hit the side-netting.
From the stoppage after the Holmes miss, Rovers made their first change of the day, as Sam Gallagher replaced Reda Khadra.
In the 64th minute, a fantastic pass by Darragh Lenihan nearly saw Brereton Díaz connect with the ball, but he was unable to make contact with the ball, despite a half-hearted stretch.
Moments later, Rovers were forward again, as Joe Rothwell found Ryan Nyambe who cut back onto his left-foot and tried to find the far-corner, but his effort was closer to the corner flag, than the back of the net.
In the 67th minute, both sides made changes, as Rovers introduced Tayo Edun for Harry Pickering, who came off with an injury, whilst Huddersfield Town introduced former Rover, Jordan Rhodes, in-place of Josh Koroma.
With 20 minutes left, Huddersfield Town made their second change as Ollie Turton replaced the booked Scott High.
Rovers soon made their final change in the 73rd minute as Tyrhys Dolan replaced the booked John Buckley.
In the 77th minute, Joe Rothwell had a free-kick opportunity from just outside the penalty area, but he was unable to hit the target, as the ball landed in the Blackburn End.
Three minute later, more fury broke out in Ewood Park towards the referee, as Duane Holmes was booked for looked like a blatant red card offence. After Huddersfield cleared a Rovers corner, Tyrhys Dolan found himself in his own box trying to calmly play the ball back to Kaminski, before Holmes came in and scythed him from behind, in what was a needless two-footed lunge. Following some arguing and pushing between the two teams, Keith Stroud concluded the offence only merited a yellow card, much to the dismay of the home support and Tony Mowbray.
In the 83rd minute, Sam Gallagher latched onto a Joe Rothwell corner, and despite getting a clean connection on the cross, the nod was cleared off the line dramatically, as the score remained goalless.
In the 84th minute, Jan Paul van Hecke was booked after tackling Holmes on halfway.
As the 90th minute ticked over, Keith Stroud added on four extra minutes of time onto the end of the game.
Despite the little chances throughout the game, Tayo Edun fizzed a low ball, in the 93rd minute into the box, as Gallagher latched onto the end of the ball, but Lee Nicholls got down to easily deny the forward, what would have been a late winner.
Following that save and some late pressure, both sides were able to hold off their opposition’s threats, as the game ended goalless, at 0-0.
Although Rovers were lacklustre on the ball, they showed great composure, mental strength and tenacity to regain their clean sheet, after losing it in their previous game against Barnsley. Although this game has ended both sides’ unbeaten runs, Rovers will be delighted that they have regained their clean sheet; with Rovers now notching up six clean sheets from their past seven games.
The league table is looking more mouth-watering for Rovers fans, as despite only drawing, Rovers have moved into the automatic promotion spots, in 2nd, after Fulham’s past few games were postponed. The Blues now have 46 points from 25 games and a positive goal-difference of +15.
Despite Rovers’ good form, their attention now turns away from the league, as their next fixture is in the Emirates FA Cup. Tony Mowbray’s men make the short trip to the DW Stadium next week, to face Wigan Athletic on Saturday 8th January, with kick-off at 3pm. Following that break, the Blues make the trip across the border to Wales, as they face a Cardiff City side who are now fighting for survival, on Saturday 15th January at 3pm. Once those games are out of the way, Rovers return home to Ewood Park, to host Chris Wilder’s in-form Middlesbrough on Monday 24th January, at 7:45pm; a game that will also be broadcast live on Sky Sports.
