Rovers bounced back on Monday night, with a performance that epitomised the club’s motto: Arte Et Labore, as their ‘Skill and Hard Work’, plus some fine finishing, saw them get the better of an in-form Middlesbrough side, at Ewood Park, in-front of the Sky Sports cameras.
After suffering from their first defeat in 10 games in midweek, which came after Rovers lost 2-0 away at Hull City on Wednesday night, Tony Mowbray was forced to make further changes to his side for Monday night’s clash against Middlesbrough. Three changes were made from midweek as Ryan Nyambe and Lewis Travis returned to the starting side, alongside Bradley Johnson, who slotted into midfield, taking the places of Joe Rankin-Costello, Joe Rothwell and Ben Brereton Díaz. The former was on the bench, but the first of the latter duo was injured, whilst the second was away with Chile, in preparation for their mid-season World Cup qualifiers. Additionally, new signing Dilan Markanday was not part of the squad, after news broke that he would miss the rest of the campaign, after requiring surgery on his hamstring, following his cameo appearance at Hull City. Despite those absentees, Rovers were able to welcome Deyovaisio Zeefuik to Ewood Park for the first time, as the Dutchman settled on the bench, as he got used to life in England.
Although Rovers were having to play a much-changed side, given the absentees, there was a buzz around Ewood Park prior to kick-off as despite the presence of the Sky Sports cameras – which is why the game was played on Monday, rather than the originally scheduled date of Saturday – the home crowd were delighted to see the return of Liverpool loanee, Harvey Elliott in the flesh, for the first time, as the youngster returned to Ewood Park as the club’s special guest.
With both sides, and the Sky Sports cameras, ready for the game, the teams emerged for the tunnel and prepared themselves as referee Darren England soon blew for kick-off, which the home side took. Rovers were looking to bounce back following their defeat in midweek, to come back and really stamp themselves on the league, against one of the league’s most in-form outfits.
After only four minutes, things got spicy after a coming together between Neil Taylor and Lewis Travis – including some trademark Travis afters – saw the Welshman go into the book.
A deep free-kick saw Bradley Johnson connect with the set-piece after only five minutes, but the former Leeds United man couldn’t keep his nod down.
Rovers’ dominance continued in the eighth minute, as Travis picked out Sam Gallagher, who controlled the ball well before trying his luck from range, but Joe Lumley, in the ‘Boro goal did well to calmly deny the forward his sixth of the campaign.
Reda Khadra was quietly growing into this game and nearly notched himself an assist after Gallagher connected with the loanee’s corner. Despite a few bobbles seeing the ball land on target, Lumley did well to hoof the ball off his goalline, in the crowded area.
Matt Crooks soon became the second ‘Boro player to be booked, after he fouled Khadra in the 15th minute.
Three minutes later, John Buckley showed his class as he burst through the centre of the park and tried to find the back of the net on the spin, but saw his effort blocked.
Sam Gallagher nearly lit up Ewood Park in the 24th minute after a Rovers corner saw the ball drop invitingly for an overhead kick, yet although the forward’s execution was fabulous, Lumley was on-hand to claim the attempt.
Aaron Connolly – a former target of Rovers – was soon booked in the 26th minute, as the visitor’s card count continued to rise, after the Brighton and Hove Albion loanee hauled down Buckley on halfway.
Buckley was soon again, the recipient of a tackle, this time in the 30th minute, when Marcus Tavernier pulled the midfielder back, and received a booking, after Buckley went on another mesmerising run, but sadly, Khadra’s resulting effort from the free-kick was met by the away fans behind Lumley’s goal.
In the 33rd minute, Khadra and Gallagher combined again, but the latter’s attempt was again blocked.
Despite all of Rovers’ dominance, Ryan Nyambe found time to get booked by referee Darren England, as the Namibian tackled Matt Crooks in the 37th minute.
Moments later, however Rovers again were looking to break the deadlock, as Scott Wharton rose highest and tried to guide Khadra’s corner home, via a free header, but the academy graduate couldn’t keep his effort on target, as it drifted wide.
In the 43rd minute, despite sporadic spells of ‘Boro pressure, where they felt they were denied a penalty after Tayo Edun had seemingly tripped Isaiah Jones, Boro won a corner, which fell to the feet of Neil Taylor, but he failed to keep his effort down.
Just prior to the half-time whistle, referee Darren England called for two extra minutes of time to be added onto the end of the first period, but neither side were able to create a chance to go ahead, in that time, as the whistle was soon blown.
Tony Mowbray would have been delighted with the way his side had created chances and denied Middlesbrough any real chances, but the former ‘Boro legend would have been worried about his side being unable to take their chances in the absence of their talisman, Ben Brereton Díaz. The Rovers boss would have been quick to encourage his side, but also be wary of the threat that his hometown club posed.
Chris Wilder would have been unhappy with how his side had operated in the first period, as despite picking up 65% possession, they had failed to amass any real threat at goal. Although his side had been rather fortunate to go into the break with their clean sheet intact, Wilder would have been focussing more on creating more of a threat up front, given that they were now shooting towards their travelling fans.
After both teams were briefed by their bosses, the sides returned to the pitch, as ‘Boro got the game back underway, in the hope they could continue their fine run under Chris Wilder.
Five minutes into the second period, Lewis Travis was booked after clattering into a downed Dael Fry, after Buckley had tackled the defender.
In the 59th minute, Connolly did well to get beyond Rovers’ defence, but Darragh Lenihan showed great fight to block the forward’s effort, particularly after the Rovers skipper was dazed by the attacker earlier on in the half.
After Lenihan intervened to again block Connolly’s effort, a Boro corner saw Matt Crooks emerge unmarked from inside the penalty area to connect with the cross, in the 62nd minute, but some heroic reading of the game from Lewis Travis managed to clear the ball off the line.
In the 64th minute, a medical incident occurred in the lower part of the Jack Walker Stand, which saw the game halted for an extended period of time, whilst the person was attended to. We send our best wishes to the individual who was taken ill.
Play was resumed nine minutes after the stoppage and to great effect as Rovers’ tails were up, thanks to an outstanding Sam Gallagher strike. After the visitors failed to clear a corner by Rovers, the ball pinballed around before trickling past the visiting defence, and into the path of Sam Gallagher who released a rocket of an effort, which nestled low into the bottom left-hand corner, leaving Lumley with no chance of keeping the score goalless, as Rovers’ number 9 notched his sixth goal of the season and put his side 1-0 up.
During the goal celebrations, Rovers made their first change of the game as Reda Khadra made way and was replaced by Dan Butterworth.
In the 79th minute, Boro made an attacking change as Arsenal loanee, Florian Balogun replaced Jonny Howson.
Ten minutes after their first change, Boro made their second, alongside Rovers who also switched things up. Boro brought on Duncan Watmore for Anfernee Dijksteel, whilst Rovers introduced new signing, Deyovaisio Zeefuik for John Buckley.
As the game moved into 12 minutes of stoppage time, ‘Boro were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the area, after Andraž Šporar was scythed down on the edge of the area by Scott Wharton, but Paddy McNair’s attempt failed to make it into the goalmouth’s stratosphere, as the ball ended up with the travelling supporters.
Two minutes after his appearance, Zeefuik did well to hold up the ball and earn Rovers a set-piece, as McNair saw his name taken into the book, by Darren England.
In the 97th minute, Matt Crooks found Aaron Connolly inside the Rovers area, but it wasn’t to be the Irishman’s night as he again blasted the ball over the crossbar, from just outside the six-yard box.
After the stoppage, Chris Wilder threw everything and the kitchen sink at Rovers, as Josh Coburn replaced Neil Taylor.
In minute 99, Isaiah Jones was booked for a late challenge on Edun, whilst minutes later, Edun saw himself yellow carded after arguing with the officials, due to his disagreement with the way the decision went, after he and Jones again collided, near the corner flag between the Jack Walker Stand and the away end.
The free-kick that Edun gave away presented a great opportunity for ‘Boro to snatch a late equaliser, as Marcus Tavernier’s free-kick was met by the head of Crooks, who unlike his earlier header that was cleared off the line by Travis, couldn’t angle his effort underneath the crossbar.
In the 13th minute of added time, Zeefuik showed his power and pace down the right-hand side, as he endeared himself to the Rovers fans by receiving the ball from Rovers’ goal-kick and hitting ‘Boro on the break, single-handedly. After bursting past two, Zeefuik bore down on goal and forced a block from Dael Fry, as Rovers were awarded the corner and were able to keep the ball exactly where they wanted it, moments before Darren England called time on a pulsating affair, as Rovers ran out with the three points.
It’s getting quite annoying when I get to the end of the match report, and then remember that I’ve praised the side in more or less every game this season, because I literally run out of superlatives for this team! They did brilliantly well against a team, with an experienced coaching staff, to fight back and rebound from the blip in midweek against Hull City and they really put Middlesbrough to the sword, even if the victory was only by a single goal. The side, despite holding less possession, as we’ve become accustomed to, showed what they were capable of, even in the absence of Chile’s prodigal son, as they continuously peppered the Boro goal and came up with the finish that mattered through a player, in Sam Gallagher, that epitomises the club’s foundations – a hard-worker, capable of sprinkling some skill and delivering a rocket when it matters most, but let’s face it, we could all come up with an essay on how we could praise this side, in various ways. Although the whole side deserve every plaudit you can throw at them, the balance of the side looked a lot better to that of midweek, and Rovers showed that they were capable of grinding out the difficult games and picking up the positive results, even without two of their most influential attacking players, in the aforementioned Brereton Díaz and the scarcely noted Joe Rothwell.
The table is looking a lot better after Hull City managed to hurt and help us in the same week, as they beat Bournemouth at the weekend. Rovers have moved up to 2nd place, three points ahead of Scott Parker’s side, but Mowbray’s men have played a game more. Additionally, after beating Boro, Rovers have now moved 10 points ahead of the Teesside club, who sit in 7th.
The gruelling fixture list does not end there for Rovers, however, as next up, Rovers – again without Ben Brereton Díaz for the second and final time – make the trip down to Bedfordshire to face Luton Town at Kenilworth Road on Saturday 29th January, at 3pm, ahead of what will be a sold out away end. Following that clash, we enter February, where Rovers travel to Wales to face Swansea City – a game that has been selected by Sky Sports – on Saturday 5th February at 5:30pm. After that tie, Rovers return to Ewood Park to host an in-form Nottingham Forest side, who have seen a resurgence under Steve Cooper. That tie against the former Champions League winners comes on Wednesday 9th February at 7:45pm.
