A tired, lacklustre Blackburn Rovers performance saw Nottingham Forest pick up back-to-back victories at Ewood Park for the first-time since 1977, as Tony Mowbray’s men fell out of the top-two, whilst Steve Cooper’s Reds entered the playoffs for the first-time this season.
After only having four days to dwell on their surprising 1-0 away defeat against Swansea City, which came on Saturday, Tony Mowbray made two changes to the team that played in Wales, at the weekend. Reda Khadra and Ben Brereton Díaz returned to the side as Ryan Hedges and Ryan Nyambe were left on the bench, as Deyo Zeefuik was swapped over to right-wing-back, whilst Ryan Giles took control of the left-hand side, as Harry Pickering remained sidelined with injury. Sam Gallagher and Tyrhys Dolan both returned to the side to offer Rovers potential threats in the aerial and speed departments – something they lacked at the weekend.
With expectations high following Rovers’ first game back at Ewood Park in two consecutive games, the home crowd were buoyant as they welcomed out former Rover, Danny Graham, before the sides emerged onto the hallowed turf. As the Sky Sports cameras once again honed in on Rovers, it was John Buckley who got the game underway following the instructions of referee, Joshua Smith. Rovers were looking to bounce back from their defeat at the weekend, in the hope of curtailing Nottingham Forest’s fine recent run of form.
Rovers started the game brightly after four minutes as Jan Paul van Hecke fed Reda Khadra down the right, as the German tried to provide an early ball into the box, but the wild cross was well claimed by the goalie, Brice Samba.
The Dutchman was involved down the other end after 11 minutes as he went from attacking to defending, by denying Keinan Davis a shot at goal, after making a last-ditch tackle.
Rovers earnt a free-kick in the 14th minute and some quick thinking from Joe Rothwell, saw him find an unmarked John Buckley, who was lurking just ahead of the penalty spot. The midfielder received the ball on the turn and had a free shot at goal, but forced a save from Samba, before the rebound by Brereton Díaz cannoned off the post, before being cleared off the line by a retreating defender, who did well not to score in his own net.
John Buckley became the first player to be booked in the game, after his 18th minute tackle on Jack Colback, but not before referee Joshua Smith played an advantage that nearly led to Forest taking the lead. As Colback laid on the floor, his teammates rallied without him as Davis again powered forwards and pulled the ball back for Max Lowe to strike. The on-loan Derby County man saw his first attempt well-saved by Thomas Kaminski, before Darragh Lenihan’s poor clearance fell straight back to the defender, whose second bite at the cherry was skewed into the side-netting.
Forest did manage to find the back of the net, in the 22nd minute, as James Garner netted his second league goal of the campaign. Davis once again led the Forest attack brilliantly as he bulldozed past numerous challenges before finding an unmarked Garner who did well to tip-toe past some sliding tackles in the rain, prior to composing himself and slot the ball past the despairing Kaminski, as Steve Cooper’s in-form side took a 1-0 advantage.
In the 31st minute, Jack Colback was given a yellow card after he tripped Lewis Travis on the edge of the Forest box, after Rovers’ press won the ball back high up the field, but Joe Rothwell’s subsequent free-kick nestled into the wall.
Nine minutes later, the cards were out as Darragh Lenihan was carded, as Forest were awarded a set-piece from 40-yards out that Garner stood over. The on-loan Manchester United man tried to pick out the top corner from far out, but couldn’t score a goal-of-the-season contender, as the ball ended up in the home stand.
Ryan Giles showed his quality again – just as he did at the weekend – as he delivered a sumptuous cross into the box for Brereton Díaz to connect with. Although the Chilean beat his man and made good contact with the ball into the box, Samba had it covered as he claimed the attempt at goal.
As the 45th minute ticked over, Garner and Davis again proved to be Rovers’ kryptonite as the former found the latter. The on-loan Aston Villa man turned his man inside out before forcing an angle with his left-foot, but he couldn’t keep his strike down.
Just before penalty appeals were waved away, after Reda Khadra went down under pressure from Djed Spence, Mr. Smith called for two minutes of added time to be played, which soon ticked away with no action, as the first-half was brought to an end.
Everybody inside Ewood Park of a Rovers persuasion would have been seething following that first-half performance, which is how one would imagine Tony Mowbray was during the interval. Rovers had lacked any spark and looked way off the pace inside the first 45 minutes, with their once impenetrable defence looking shaky at the sight of Keinan Davis and his partner-in-crime, James Garner. Rovers were also sloppy in possession and the manager would have been firmly addressing his concerns during the break, in the hope Rovers could avoid losing back-to-back home games against Nottingham Forest, for the first time since 1977.
Steve Cooper, on the other hand, would have been delighted with how his side had executed his game-plan as they continued their fine run of form with a stellar first-half showing. One would have forgiven the Reds for taking their foot off the gas, after beating their Midlands rivals, Leicester City, 4-1 in the FA Cup at the weekend, but the former European Champions showed great energy and awareness – something Rovers lacked – as they spread Rovers’ backline apart, during the opening half. The former Swansea City boss would have been hoping for more of the same from his side, as he would have known that a victory tonight would push his side up into the playoffs.
After both sides re-emerged from the tunnel, it was Nottingham Forest who got the game back underway, as they looked to extend their fine run of form, to what would be 9 wins from their last 12 games in all competitions, if they picked up all three points at Ewood Park.
Five minutes into the second-half, Joe Rothwell clashed with Keinan Davis, as the retreating midfielder scythed into the attacker, as he earned a booking.
Darragh Lenihan was awarded a second-yellow card after the Rovers skipper went in with a ridiculous lunge that gave Joshua Smith no choice but to produce the red, as Rovers were forced to go down to 10 men.
As Lenihan departed the field, Rovers made their first change of the game as Sam Gallagher replaced John Buckley in the 54th minute.
Two minutes after the change, Forest nearly went 2-0 up, as Davis again showed how much of a handful he was, as he turned van Hecke and forced Thomas Kaminski into a save.
Gallagher showed his quality as he cut in from the left-hand side and released a cannon that was blocked, before Forest countered and within moments forced another save from Thomas Kaminski, as Brennan Johnson tried to double the Reds’ lead.
In the 58th minute, Rovers again made a switch as Tyrhys Dolan came on for Reda Khadra.
Ben Brereton Díaz was soon booked on the hour mark, after his frustrations with the match official boiled over.
The Chilean was soon registering shots on goal, as moments after being booked, Brereton Díaz saw his effort from distance trickle into the hands of Brice Samba.
The 67th minute nearly saw Rovers draw level, as Tyrhys Dolan’s fine footwork saw him stand up a cross for Sam Gallagher, but the attacker’s nod was straight down the throat of the goalie.
James Garner, Lewis Travis and Ben Brereton Díaz ended up in a 69th minute scuffle, as the Forest goalscorer practised some martial arts moves on the two Rovers players and despite some handbags between the two teams, Garner only left the crime scene with a booking.
Just before play was restarted, Sam Surridge was introduced in-place of Keinan Davis, who had run himself into the ground with his team and left the field with an assist to his name.
With the action turned up, Surridge nearly made an instant impact as, after he beat the offside trap, the former Stoke City forward fed Brennan Johnson, whose shot was saved by Kaminski, before the rebound was narrowly dragged wide by the substitute, Surridge.
Brereton Díaz soon pulled the trigger from distance in the 75th minute, but his effort, which deflected towards goal, was well followed by Samba, who claimed the loose strike.
In the 78th minute, Ryan Yates saw his strike from distance veer wide of the mark.
Sam Surridge had the chance to put the game to bed in the 82nd minute, as he was threaded through, after Rovers temporarily went down to nine men, as Deyo Zeefuik was being treated for an injury. The forward did everything right, except the finish, as he lost all of his composure and hit his own fans in the away stand.
Rovers made their final change of the game during the stoppage, prior to Kaminski’s goal-kick, as Ryan Hedges replaced the injured Deyo Zeefuik.
Sam Surridge was soon booked, in the 87th minute, for auditioning for Strictly Come Dancing, with Scott Wharton, after the forward shoved the defender.
The 89th minute saw Rovers concede their first spot-kick of the season, as Jan Paul van Hecke was turned again by Sam Surridge, before being hauled down by the Dutchman. Brennan Johnson stood up and held his nerve to send Kaminski the wrong way, as Forest wrapped up the points with a 2-0 lead.
As seven minutes were added onto the end of the tie, Forest made their second change of the game, as they wrapped up Brennan Johnson in cotton wool, and introduced Xande Silva, in his place.
In the fourth minute of the added time, Rovers weren’t even able to grab a consolation goal, as despite all of Dolan’s hard-work and his twisting and turning, his left-footed effort proved easy for Samba to save.
Despite some transitions by Forest, which left them wondering how they didn’t net a third, there wasn’t much to scream and shout about, from a Rovers perspective as the final whistle was soon blown.
Tonight, was a game that arguably harked back to last season. Lots of the ball and no idea what to do with it. Nottingham Forest came to Ewood with a plan and executed it perfectly, but that does not excuse the turgid performance Rovers put on. You can never question the desire of this group, but they seemed tired, lacklustre and out of ideas, particularly after going down to 10 men, and Forest set up their bank in-front of Brice Samba. Despite being able to craft a few chances – whilst arguably playing better with 10 than they did with a full complement – Rovers never really looked like they had the spark that was going to turn the game around.
An indifferent start to 2022 has seen Rovers tumble down the table following the teams around them winning their games in hand. After 31 games, Rovers now sit 3rd, still with 53 points but now a slightly decreasing positive goal-difference of +22.
Rovers now have five days to get their house in order before they’re back on the grass, as they travel to the Midlands to face West Bromwich Albion, on St. Valentine’s Day – Monday 14th February – for the 8pm kick-off, that is also live on Sky Sports. Following that tie, Rovers return to Ewood to host Millwall on Saturday 19th February, for the 3pm kick-off. After that, Tony Mowbray’s men are back on the road as they make the trip over to Yorkshire to face Paul Heckingbottom’s Sheffield United side, on Wednesday 23rd February, with kick-off in the Steel City at 7:45pm.
