Rovers saw their world come crashing down in Berkshire, as a wonder-strike from Josh Laurent, twelve minutes from time, left Rovers toiling in their ‘Royal Flushing’, as Paul Ince’s side kept their first home clean sheet since October and emerged victorious.
After snatching victory from the jaws of defeat on Tuesday night, following Rovers’ second-half comeback 3-1 victory at home to Derby County, Tony Mowbray made three changes for Saturday’s trip to Reading. In came Ryan Giles, John Buckley and Sam Gallagher as Harry Pickering, Joe Rankin-Costello and Bradley Johnson all dropped to the bench. Alongside the change in personnel, Rovers reverted to a back-four for the first-time – barring Tuesday’s second-half – since the infamous 7-0 home defeat to league leaders Fulham, in November.
As the away fans filtered into the Select Car Leasing Stadium, it was Reading who won the coin toss with referee James Linington and the home side opted for kick-off after all the pre-match formalities had concluded. Paul Ince’s side, came into this clash with his old club, off the back of a 1-1 draw with Bournemouth, following three straight defeats and were looking to grab a win over Rovers that would extend the gap between themselves and Barnsley in the relegation zone to five points.
Despite not having the kick-off, Rovers started the brighter of the two sides inside the opening quarter of an hour. On the eighth minute, John Buckley looked to secure his seventh assist of the campaign as he whipped in a cross for Sam Gallagher to attack, but unfortunately for Rovers, the striker couldn’t replicate his 97th minute winner from Tuesday, as the attempt veered wide.
The 13th minute saw another chance for Rovers, but this time down the left-hand side. Ryan Giles burst forward from left-back and tiptoed into the Reading penalty area before delivering a low cross-cum-shot that evaded everyone in yellow inside the Reading box and trickled behind for a goal-kick.
From their goal-kick, Reading managed to get themselves involved in the game straight away as less than 60 seconds after Giles’ attempt spun wide of the Reading goal, the Royals were up the other end testing Thomas Kaminski. After the home side nicely worked the ball out to Tom McIntyre who delivered a cross towards fellow Tom, in Ince. The manager’s son did well to control the ball inside the Rovers area before forcing the recently called-up Belgian into a fantastic save with his chest to deny the former Blackpool man from close-range.
In the 15th minute, Andy Yiadom became the first player to go into referee, James Linington’s book.
Rovers certainly were showing the intensity in this first-half that was missing in their previous game, as Reda Khadra and John Buckley combined in the 17th minute, with the former feeding the latter, but the Rovers academy graduate’s effort was blocked and cleared by the Royals defence.
The pressure continued for Rovers as Tyrhys Dolan – another recently called up to his international set-up – albeit for England’s under-20s – intercepted a loose pass via his pressing and managed to create a shooting angle, but Ørjan Nyland was alert enough to deny Rovers the lead.
In the 25th minute, Rovers were forced into their first change of the game as Reda Khadra was forced off, with Harry Pickering replacing him, as Ryan Giles swapped over to the right-hand side.
After half-an-hour a lovely team move by Reading nearly saw Andy Yiadom break the deadlock. After Ovie Ejaria teed up former Rover, Lucas João. The Portuguese forward feigned a shot before slipping in Yiadom who hammered an effort goalwards that forced Kaminski into a strong-handed save, despite being unable to prevent a corner, which Rovers cleared.
Just prior to the set-piece, Reading were also forced into a switch as Andy Rinomhota was forced off with John Swift replacing him.
Rovers soon had Kaminski to thank again as the Belgian denied João a seventh of the season by saving the Portuguese’s unmarked header, which came from a deep cross.
In the 36th minute, Dolan and Buckley again combined, as the latter ghosted past a few players before trying his luck with an effort that soon deflected wide.
Josh Laurent became the next Royal to test Kaminski in the first-half. João and Swift showed their talents before the substitute flicked the ball into the path of the onrushing Laurent whose effort that lasered towards the top corner was fantastically denied by Kaminski.
The 42nd minute saw Rovers again come forward as Harry Pickering picked out Tyrhys Dolan with a fine cross that proved easy for Nyland to collect.
As the 45th minute approached, Mr. Linington called for five extra minutes to be added onto the end of the first period, as both sides pushed to try and edge themselves ahead, prior to the break.
The deadlock was nearly broken in favour of the home side as João once again managed to fashion an opportunity – but this time for himself – in the second minute of added time. After the Royals pressed, Ejaria found the forward who couldn’t compose himself enough to slot past Kaminski, as the ball trickled wide.
With João’s miss being the final act of the half, it didn’t take long for the half-time whistle to follow, as both sides failed to create an opportunity in the remaining three minutes of time that were added.
Neither side would have been too happy with how they had performed during the first period. Paul Ince would have been encouraged that his side had managed to create as many chances as they did, against a side who have become notorious this season at keeping opponents at bay. The former Rovers boss would have been quick to encourage his side to continue their pressure and gameplan in the hope that they home advantage and the quality within their ranks, from the likes of Lucas João, John Swift and Ovie Ejaria would find them the crucial opener.
Tony Mowbray would have probably been the more agitated boss, especially given the injury to Reda Khadra that forced the German off and saw Rovers into a slightly altered system to the one they started with at kick-off. The current Blues boss would have been encouraging his side and demanding more ruthlessness in their play as they had let the hosts off easily with the chances they had created thus far.
After both managers had gotten their messages across, both teams returned to the field of play where Rovers restarted the game from the kick-off. The Blues – or Yellows! – were looking to build on their fine second-half display that they had shown in midweek and replicate such a devastating display to leave Berkshire with three points.
With less than 60 seconds gone, Rovers came flying out the blocks as Buckley and Dolan combined again. The former used his low centre of gravity to slalom past a few Royal bodies, before slipping Dolan in, but the former Clitheroe loanee couldn’t garner a clean connection on his finish as he sliced the ball wide.
Rovers again created the game’s next opportunity as this time, Joe Rothwell and Sam Gallagher combined, but the forwards failed to test Nyland as his effort flew wide.
In the 49th minute, John Buckley became the first Rover to be booked as he clattered into Premier League title winner, Danny Drinkwater.
Two minutes later, Thomas Kaminski was again called upon to keep Reading’s score nullified as Tom Holmes’ effort saw the Belgian dive down to his left to deny the 22-year-old the opener.
The sides began trading blows for chances, as the 55th minute saw Rovers on the attack as Gallagher turned provider for Buckley but the midfielder could only force Nyland into a fine save, rather than bulge the net.
On the hour mark, Rovers made their final two changes as Bradley Dack and Ryan Hedges replaced John Buckley and Tyrhys Dolan.
In the 68th minute, Ryan Giles won a corner which he subsequently took. The Wolves loanee’s cross was perfect for skipper Darragh Lenihan to connect with, but the Irishman was denied by a Nyland save.
Four minutes later, Rovers were forward again as Harry Pickering’s cross into Bradley Dack forced Nyland into a point-blank save before Gallagher failed to convert the rebound.
The 73rd minute saw Reading make their second switch of the game as another former Rover, in Junior Hoilett was introduced, as Ovie Ejaria made way.
Despite all of Rovers’ relentless pressure, the threat that Reading had carried in the first period came back to haunt Tony Mowbray and his side, as Thomas Kaminski was unable to once again, save Rovers’ bacon. John Swift showed his quality by driving into the area and causing panic in Rovers’ box, before a half-cleared effort from the substitute’s low cross fell perfectly to Josh Laurent who delivered an inch-perfect strike to finally get the better of Thomas Kaminski and send the Royals 1-0 up with 12 minutes remaining.
The host’s final change came in the 85th minute as Yakou Méïté replaced Lucas João.
As the 90th minute ticked over, Rovers were given four minutes of added time to try and salvage something from a game that they shouldn’t have really been behind in.
As time ticked away, the game’s final act saw Scott Wharton booked, before referee James Linington soon called time on a frustrating afternoon for Rovers and the fans who had travelled to watch them.
Confusion and disappointment are the orders of the day. It’s mind-boggling how a side can fluctuate in their performances throughout the course of a week, let alone a season. Emotions are extremely raw whilst typing this, and it’s hard to summarise how a game like that can go, even though we probably see it a hundred times every season. Rovers and Tony Mowbray need to have a long hard look in the mirror if they wish to keep pace with the sides around them, who are all vying for the playoff prize.
Given how the other results have gone today, Rovers find themselves in their lowest position in over 100 days, as they just cling onto 6th position, having played 39 games – with a positive goal-difference of +10.
The Blues now have the whole international break to try and sort themselves out before getting back in action on Saturday 2nd April. That day sees Rovers travel to Coventry City for the 3pm kick-off. Following that tie, it’s a non-stop run to the finish, with Rovers hosting a Lancashire Derby against Blackpool on Saturday 9th April – at 3pm, before another away trip to relegation-threatened Peterborough United on Good Friday – (15th April at 3pm).
