Late heartbreak was the order of the day, as Rovers scored three goals away at the Coventry Building Society Arena, but only managed to come away from the clash against Mark Robins’ Sky Blues with a point, following a 2-2 draw.
After a two-week international break which brought more pain to Rovers with injuries than Tony Mowbray would have liked, the gaffer made three changes to the side that fell to a 1-0 defeat away at Reading before the break, as he prepared to face his former side, Coventry City. Joe Rankin-Costello, Ryan Nyambe and Harry Pickering all came in, as injured duo, Darragh Lenihan and Reda Khadra dropped out of the squad completely, whilst Tyrhys Dolan – who scored his first international goal with England under-20s during the break – was also given a rest on the bench. There was also the long-awaited return of Chilean forward, Ben Brereton Díaz, who hadn’t appeared in Rovers colours since mid-February.
With both sides emerging to the field of play at the Coventry Building Society Arena, it was Coventry City who won the coin toss with referee Peter Bankes as they prepared to get the game underway. The home side were looking to return to winning ways having not picked up three points for two games.
Inside the first four minutes, John Buckley had two attempts to try and give Rovers an early lead, but both were blocked by the Coventry defence.
In the 7th minute, the home side were baying for a penalty after Thomas Kaminski had seemingly hauled down Viktor Gyökeres, but the referee waved play on.
Moments later, Rovers somehow found themselves a goal down after Harry Pickering poked into his own net. A through-ball by Matt Godden into Callum O’Hare saw the former Aston Villa man wriggle in the box, but as the attacking midfielder tried to jink the ball onto his right foot, the ball was intercepted by Harry Pickering, with the former Crewe Alexandra defender diverting the ball into his own net after nine minutes, as Coventry celebrated a 1-0 lead.
Just after the restart, Adi Viveash was booked by Peter Bankes.
In the 15th minute, Coventry remained on top, as a cross into Matt Godden saw the forward head wide from close-range.
Three minutes later, Rovers were allowed to attack, as Joe Rankin-Costello burst into the box before pulling the ball back to Sam Gallagher, who saw his effort saved by Simon Moore.
The 24th minute saw Matt Godden have another chance pass him by, as his second header of the game, which came from Fankaty Dabo’s cross, flew over the crossbar.
From the goal-kick, Rovers managed to get the ball up-field, as Joe Rankin-Costello tried his luck from distance, but hit the back of the stand, rather than testing Moore.
The 28th minute nearly saw Callum O’Hare secure the title of ‘Goal of the Season’. Jamie Allen flicked the ball into the path of O’Hare who managed to fashion an overhead kick that fell comfortably for Thomas Kaminski to save.
Four minutes later, Allen tried his luck from range, but he failed to test Kaminski, as the ball rolled wide.
Moments later, Gustavo Hamer also had an effort from range, but unlike Allen, the Dutchman caused more panic inside the Rovers box, as his shot came crashing back off the post.
In the 37th minute, Jan Paul van Hecke picked up Rovers’ first booking after conceding a free-kick on the edge of the Rovers penalty area.
Gustavo Hamer stood over the set-piece and he managed to test Kaminski with his strike, but the Belgian was alert enough to deny Coventry a second goal of the day.
As the 45th minute ticked over, Mr. Bankes added on six extra minutes onto the end of the first period, as Rovers pushed forward in-search of an equaliser.
In the second minute of added time Harry Pickering tried to pick out Sam Gallagher at the far-post, but Rovers’ pressure forced Coventry into conceding a corner.
Despite the set-piece, Rovers were unable to do something productive with it, as referee Peter Bankes soon called an end to the first-half, moments later.
As both sides headed back to their respective dressing rooms, both managers would have had contrasting feelings after watching their sides throughout the first 45 minutes.
Coventry boss, Mark Robins would have been delighted with how his side had reacted to their poor results prior to the break and he would have been pleased with how quick they came out the blocks in this game, to go into the break with the lead, which could have easily been doubled.
Rovers gaffer, Tony Mowbray would have been fuming with how poorly his side had played. Despite the odd pot-shot at Simon Moore, his side had failed to muster more than one shot on target throughout the whole half. The boss would have been forgiven for tearing into his side and throwing teacups at the wall during the break, as the travelling fans were beginning to see their season unravel in-front of their eyes.
After both sides had been briefed ahead of the second-half, the teams returned to the pitch to get the second period back underway, as Rovers restarted the game with fire in their bellies, as they looked to turn the game on its head in the second 45 minutes, to try and secure their second victory from their past five games.
Just before Rovers got the ball rolling, Tony Mowbray made two changes at the break as Bradley Dack and Ben Brereton Díaz replaced Joe Rankin-Costello and Ryan Giles, as Rovers reverted back to the 4-2-3-1 system that had suited them well during Mowbray’s first season in-charge at Ewood Park.
After only being on the field for less than 90 seconds, Bradley Dack reaped the rewards of the hard work that he had put in, over the past two years, as within moments of coming onto the pitch he provided the Midas touch that Rovers desperately required, in order to level the scoring at 1-1. Some hard-work by Ryan Nyambe down the right-hand side saw him feed John Buckley who wasted no time in hooking in a cross towards the six-yard box that Dack latched onto and guided home, past Simon Moore, as the away fans went delirious after their hero had grabbed his long awaited 50th goal in Rovers colours.
In the 49th minute, Sam Gallagher was booked for a late challenge on Jake Bidwell.
Rovers continued in the ascendency as nine minutes after they had drawn themselves level, John Buckley nearly turned provider again, as he looped in a cross towards Sam Gallagher, but the forward failed to keep his header down.
The 59th minute saw Ben Brereton Díaz nearly combine with Bradley Dack, for the attacker’s second of the game. The Chilean showed his pace and power by making a driving run that culminated in an inviting low cross for Dack, which the maestro couldn’t convert.
In the 63rd minute, Ben Brereton Díaz was booked, but four minutes later, he nearly doubled Rovers’ goal tally as he won the ball back with his press before skipping past two defenders and firing a shot that spun wide of the mark.
After Brereton Díaz’s 67th minute effort flew wide, John Buckley was soon booked for persistent fouling.
In the 72nd minute, Rovers looked the more likely to end the game with the three points as Sam Gallagher replicated Ben Brereton Díaz’s low cross from the opposite side, a few minutes ago, but again Dack couldn’t get to the ball.
Ian Maatsen was soon booked for fouling his fellow Dutchman, Jan Paul van Hecke in the 76th minute.
The cards came flying out of Mr. Bankes’ pocket, as two minutes later, Scott Wharton became Rovers’ fifth player to be booked in the game.
Rovers’ final change of the game came in the 81st minute as Ryan Hedges came on to replace John Buckley.
A minute after the change, Rovers managed to fly ahead after Scott Wharton grabbed his second goal in three games, after he rose highest to connect to a Joe Rothwell cross and give Rovers a 2-1 lead!
In the 86th minute, Ian Maatsen tried his luck with a cross-cum-shot, but his effort flew wide of the upright.
Coventry City’s only change of the game came in the 89th minute as Fábio Tavares came on to replace Jake Bidwell in an attacking change for the hosts.
As the 90th minute approached, Peter Bankes decided to replicate his first-half stoppage time actions by adding another six minutes onto the end of the second-half, as the nerves grew among the away end.
The drama was never going to stop for Rovers, as they somehow managed to throw the game away in the 99th minute, after Viktor Gyökeres nodded home a late equaliser for the Sky Blues. Fábio Tavares pulled the ball back for Fankaty Dabo to cross, as the looping delivery fell kindly for the Swedish forward to finish at the back-post, as the home crowd erupted in delight at making it 2-2, so late on.
There was barely time to get the game back underway before Mr. Peter Bankes blew the whistle for the final time, leaving Rovers to wonder what on earth had just happened before their very eyes.
It was a shock to the system of all the Rovers fans, whether they were in the ground or tuning in at home, but the game arguably sums up our story of the season. Although we managed to stop the run of not scoring away goals – with it being 10 hours and 30 minutes since Rovers’ last goal on the road – it’s getting to the point where it’s becoming increasingly hard to put into words how we feel, but we have six games left to get our season back on track.
Rovers now have a straight run to the finish line coming up, with a Lancashire Derby coming up in a week’s time as Blackpool come to Ewood Park on Saturday 9th April for a 3pm kick-off. After that clash, Rovers travel to the Weston Homes Stadium to face relegation-threatened Peterborough United on Good Friday – 15th April at 3pm. Following on from that away trip, the Blues are back home as they host Michael O’Neill’s Stoke City side on Monday 18th April at 3pm.
