A Valentine’s Day meeting saw no love lost between West Bromwich Albion and Blackburn Rovers as neither side were able to find the back of their opponent’s net, as Sky Sports were treated with a goalless draw.
After Rovers fell to their eighth defeat of the campaign, last time out, as Nottingham Forest beat them 2-0, at Ewood Park, Tony Mowbray, stuck with the same system, but made three changes ahead of his meeting with his former side. Suspended captain, Darragh Lenihan was one of the absentees after his sending off last week, with experienced head, Daniel Ayala replacing him. Ryan Nyambe returned to the starting side as he replaced the injured Deyovaisio Zeefuik and the third change saw an alteration up front, as Sam Gallagher’s aerial prowess was preferred over the raw speed of Reda Khadra, as the on-loan Brighton and Hove Albion man remained on the bench. There was good news for Rovers, as Harry Pickering was in the matchday squad for the first-time since New Year’s Day, after recovering from a hamstring injury. Joe Rothwell was also making his 150th Rovers appearance as he looked to drive Rovers’ midfield forward and be the key to unlock the Albion defence.
Around 15 minutes before kick-off, Daniel Ayala was withdrawn from the starting-eleven due to an injury he picked up in the warmup, which meant that Joe Rankin-Costello was drafted in from the bench as Ryan Nyambe tucked in to become an auxiliary centre-back, with James Brown coming onto the bench.
After the Sky Sports cameras once again focussed their lenses on Rovers, both sides emerged onto the Hawthorns pitch to try and get back to winning ways, with the home support hoping their managerial swap of Steve Bruce, who replaced Valérien Ismaël, could help get their once healthy promotion push, back on track. With everything in place, ahead of the 8pm kick-off, love was in the air as Rovers got the game underway, following referee John Brooks’ whistle. Tony Mowbray’s side were on the search for a return to winning ways having been winless from their past three league games.
In the 4th minute, Rovers had a deep free-kick whipped into the Albion area, which was cleared as far as John Buckley who was lurking on the edge of the box. The youngster, who has recently been critiqued for easy misses against Swansea City and Nottingham Forest, released a pile-driver of an effort that was deflected wide for a corner, which West Brom dealt with.
Moments after Buckley’s attempt, Ben Brereton Díaz thought he’d put Rovers ahead early on with a fine finish into the bottom left-hand corner of the goal, but he was rightly flagged for offside.
The first chance that the hosts created came in the 19th minute as Darnell Furlong whipped in a deep, but inviting cross to Karlan Grant, but the former Huddersfield Town forward could only see his tame touch crash into the side-netting as Rovers were given a let-off.
In the 23rd minute, an Albion set-piece saw Andy Carroll’s nod deflect back into his path by Sam Gallagher’s wayward header. The attacker set his sights on goal as his powerful strike proved too hot to handle for Thomas Kaminski, who could only parry before Rovers cleared.
Two minutes later, West Bromwich Albion were awarded another free-kick, this time in shooting range, as Darnell Furlong tried to catch Kaminski out at his near-post, but the goalie had the attempt covered as the attempt nestled into the side-netting.
A subdued 20 or so minutes soon ended up with another Albion free-kick, as Joe Rankin-Costello became the first player to be booked in the 41st minute after he lost the ball. The wide set-piece from Alex Mowatt was lofted into the box but headed over by Matt Clarke.
After some Albion pressure in the 43rd minute, Rovers managed to hit them on the breakthrough as Brereton Díaz broke out of his own box and carried the ball up to the halfway line before picking out Rankin-Costello after selling his defender a dummy. The late draftee into the squad was able to pick out a fine cross towards the back-post where Sam Gallagher was lurking, but a vital interception by Furlong saw Gallagher denied a strike at goal, as Rovers were forced to settle for a corner, which they failed to make count.
After one minute of time was added onto the end of the game, referee John Brooks brought the goalless first-half to an end.
Steve Bruce would have had mixed feelings about his first half at the Hawthorns. His side had managed to create chances, but had failed to show any real promise, bar the odd pot-shot. His defensive unit were also solid, despite the odd Rovers foray forwards, with Sam Johnstone yet to be tested.
Tony Mowbray’s reaction to Rovers’ performance at the break, would have been one of anger and annoyance. His side had failed to gain a proper hold on the game, despite some half-chances that didn’t really see the home defence worried. His side had lacked any real cohesiveness with the midfield looking unlikely to cause some problems, but his defenders also lacked any real communication, with the first-half being littered with errors. The former Championship winning manager, who guided the Baggies to the title in 2007-08, would have been calling on his team to try and assert their talents onto the game in the second-half, calling for more from his central players.
West Bromwich Albion soon got the second-half underway, as they looked to try and capitalise on a decent first-half performance to give Steve Bruce his first victory, in his first Hawthorns game.
After a minute had passed, Conor Townsend managed to get himself down the left and put in a high cross which saw Rovers struggling as Andy Carroll connected with the cross, but the former Newcastle United forward failed to keep his nod down.
In the 50th minute, Matt Clarke thought he’d put the Baggies ahead after he headed into an empty net, but his goal was ruled out, after Conor Townsend had backed into Thomas Kaminski, causing the Belgian to spill a deflected effort.
Five minutes later, Rovers had a great chance to try and take the lead as a low Ryan Nyambe cross saw Semi Ajayi miss the ball, as an unmarked Sam Gallagher failed to set his feet to strike at goal as Furlong cleared the ball behind hastily.
Scott Wharton soon had two golden chances in as many minutes, as two Joe Rothwell corners led to the centre-half leaping and getting first contact on both set-pieces, but both times, in the 56th and 57th minute, the academy graduate’s efforts veered wide of the goal.
Just on the hour mark, Ben Brereton Díaz thought he’d again put Rovers ahead, but once again saw his goal chalked off for offside. A deep Buckley cross bounced perfectly for the Chilean to meet at the back-post, as he produced a wonderful half-volley to fire past Sam Johnstone, but the assistant’s flag rightly again, ruled the attacker’s opener out.
A minute or so later, John Buckley went from provider to shooter as he cut inside to test Johnstone, but his effort which deflected towards goal forced the Albion goalie into a save, but he couldn’t prevent a corner.
The 62nd minute saw Buckley again turn on his assisting skills as he cut inside onto his right-foot before delivering another cross, this time from the left-hand side, which evaded the home defence, but also Sam Gallagher and Joe Rankin-Costello.
West Bromwich Albion soon made their first change of the game as Grady Diangana soon replaced Karlan Grant in the 63rd minute.
The Chilean was again testing Sam Johnstone in the 66th minute, but this time the Rovers forward could only see his effort harmlessly dribble into the goalie’s gloves.
In the 70th minute, Adam Reach came close to opening the scoring after Andy Carroll knocked the ball down into his path, but the former Sheffield Wednesday utility player’s effort spun over the crossbar.
After the ball went out of play, Rovers made their first change as Ben Brereton Díaz was unable to continue after picking up a knock, with Reda Khadra coming on to replace him.
Rovers’ second change of the night saw Tyrhys Dolan replace Joe Rankin-Costello after 74 minutes.
In the 76th minute, Reda Khadra picked the ball up down the left-hand side and took on his man. The on-loan Brighton and Hove Albion man did extraordinarily well to keep the ball in-play as he got to the byline, before nutmegging a second and forcing a save from Sam Johnstone, before Albion cleared.
In the 79th minute, Albion made their second substitution of the game, as Taylor Gardner-Hickman came on to replace Jayson Molumby.
After 84 minutes, Joe Rothwell won a free-kick high up in the Baggies half, which Reda Khadra stood over, but the German’s attempt from quite a way out didn’t trouble Johnstone.
Two minutes later, Tyrhys Dolan managed to burst forwards and cut the ball back from the byline, before John Buckley’s shot was blocked and cleared.
In the 89th minute, the Baggies’ late pressure saw them win a corner which was lofted, by Alex Mowatt, straight onto the head of Andy Carroll, who again forced Kaminski into a save. The parry by the Belgian, saw danger remain in the Rovers box, as the ball fell to Adam Reach who again tried to nod his side ahead in the dying embers, before a fantastic goalline clearance from Tyrhys Dolan saw the Rovers clean sheet remain intact.
Dolan’s impact was not done there, as risky one-two inside the Rovers box saw him pick the ball up on the edge of his own box and speed away, before springing a counter-attack that forced the Baggies into conceding a corner, as all the pressure was taken off Rovers’ shoulders.
Prior to the set-piece being taken, Tony Mowbray added a bit of height and defensive awareness as Bradley Johnson came on to replace John Buckley.
The game was soon ended after three minutes of added time were played, as neither side could really force the ball into the back of their opponent’s net, despite the late flurries towards the latter part of the second-half, as Sky Sports were doomed to pick the bones out of a goalless draw. Sky aside, the result ended up being a decent point for both sides, with Steve Bruce receiving a clean-sheet to build on, whilst Tony Mowbray and his team were able to curtail a potential hattrick of defeats.
From a Rovers perspective, that game was a bit of a ‘game of two halves’. Although Rovers’ first-half performance was by no means disastrous, the side felt more comfortable after the break and looked as though they wanted to score a goal, rather than getting forward and ‘hoping for the best’, as it felt like at times during the first 45 minutes – aside from Ben Brereton Díaz’s first offside goal. Tony Mowbray’s men came out for the second-half with a better attitude and more assertiveness at both ends and were arguably very unlucky not to come away with all the points, after the likes of Brereton Díaz, Scott Wharton, John Buckley and substitute Reda Khadra all tested home goalie, Sam Johnstone.
Credit also must be given to the defensive unit, who were all outstanding in their efforts as they were patched up moments before kick-off and rallied to deny a very strong attacking force, who although haven’t shown their worth recently, are top players in this division. Additionally, the goalline clearance and sprint up field from Tyrhys Dolan should see the youngster earn huge plaudits after his late interventions not only saved Rovers their clean-sheet and a point, but nearly opened up the opportunity for them to snatch all three and break Baggies hearts.
The only negative that has emerged from tonight, is the Ben Brereton Díaz injury. Although innocuous, it didn’t look rather serious, given the fact he was walking off, so we all sit and pray it won’t be anything serious.
After that performance, Rovers have narrowed the gap down to Bournemouth, to four points, but have played a game more than the Cherries. Mowbray’s men sit in 3rd with 54 points from 32 games played and a positive goal-difference of +12.
Up next for Rovers, is a home clash against Millwall which falls on Saturday 19th February at 3pm. After that clash, Mowbray and his team are back on the road, as they travel to the steel city, to face a recovering Sheffield United on Wednesday 23rd February at 7:45pm. Following those fixtures, the Blue and White halves are back at Ewood hosting another London side, in fellow promotion rivals, Queens Park Rangers, on Saturday 26th February for the league’s early kick-off, that weekend, at 12:30pm.
