The Sky Sports cameras were treated to a delightful Díaz display, as Jon Dahl Tomasson triumphed in his first Lancashire Derby of the campaign, with Rovers ending their television hoodoo, courtesy of a 1-0 victory against Blackpool, at Bloomfield Road.
After Rovers lost their 100% home record at the weekend, in the 1-0 defeat to then-managerless Stoke City, Jon Dahl Tomasson made five changes to his team ahead of this midweek Lancashire Derby. Dom Hyam came in for his Rovers debut, replacing Daniel Ayala who was absent with a calf injury and he partnered Hayden Carter who came in for his first Rovers start since October, with Ashley Phillips dropping to the bench. Lewis Travis picked up where he left off in the second-half of Saturday’s game by remaining at right-back replacing Joe Rankin-Costello, which made way for the impressive Adam Wharton to replace him in midfield alongside Tyler Morton, as John Buckley had to settle on the bench. Ryan Hedges was recalled in-place of Sammie Szmodics, whilst Tyrhys Dolan came back into the side. Despite the addition of Leicester City forward, George Hirst on loan, until the end of the campaign, the attacker hadn’t been registered in time to play in tonight’s fixture.
As the world focussed on Bloomfield Road, it was Bradley Dack who got the game underway on referee Matthew Donohue’s whistle. Rovers were looking to curb a run of three straight defeats in order to get their season back on track.
After three minutes, Ryan Hedges had the game’s first chance at goal, but the January signing wasn’t able to test former Manchester City ‘keeper, Daniel Grimshaw.
In the 11th minute, a Blackpool corner was punched by Thomas Kaminski, but only as far as Josh Bowler, whose half-volley from the edge of the area was blocked by his own teammate, as Rhys Williams came to Rovers’ aid.
After Adam Wharton plucked the ball out of the sky on halfway, the 18-year-old found Bradley Dack who was able to pick up his head and slide through Ben Brereton Díaz in-behind the Blackpool backline. The Chilean attacker arguably added on another million to his price tag, as he took the ball into his stride and chipped the ball over Grimshaw in the Pool goal as he wheeled away in celebration in-front of the Rovers supporters, as the away side took a 1-0 lead.
The attacker was at it again in the 22nd minute as he latched onto a Lewis Travis through ball, but the goalscorer couldn’t add to his tally as Rovers were awarded a corner after a save from Grimshaw, which the away side wasted.
In the 24th minute, Brereton Díaz was booked after ruining a home side’s counter-attack, by fouling Shayne Lavery.
After some sloppy play round the back for Blackpool, Rovers won the ball back as Ryan Hedges teed up Harry Pickering’s low cross, which found Bradley Dack, just inside the home side’s area, but the forward was unable to keep his left-foot shot down, as he cleared the crossbar.
The 36th minute, less than 90 seconds after Dack’s attempt, Josh Bowler nearly found the top-right-hand corner of Kaminski’s goal, but the in-demand winger’s effort lacked the required curl.
Rovers were soon up the other end trying to test Grimshaw, as Lewis Travis was the next to try his luck from outside the box, but his effort only narrowly dribbled wide of the left-hand upright.
The 39th minute saw home fans call for a penalty, after it looked as if Ben Brereton Díaz had caught Dominic Thompson late, after the attacker tried to block a potential cross via a slide tackle, but Mr. Donohue waved play on.
A minute later, Rovers were nearly 2-0 up, as Harry Pickering again pulled back a low ball towards the inside of the area, but Tyler Morton’s effort lacked the curl to sneak inside the far-post.
After Ryan Hedges won the ball back inside the Blackpool half, on the stroke of half-time, the Welshman found Ben Brereton Díaz who saw his effort deflected behind for a corner, but Rovers again failed to show anything from the set-piece.
Once the set-piece had been cleared, despite only one minute being added, Matthew Donohue called time on the first-half.
Michael Appleton would have made his frustrations known at half-time, as his side had lacked any form of consistency on the ball, giving away possession far too cheaply, which left his Tangerines a bit fragile at the back. The former Rovers boss’ focus at the break would’ve been to remotivate his side and encourage them to take the game to the Ewood outfit, and rile up the home crowd in an effort to add an extra spark to their play.
Jon Dahl Tomasson would’ve been the happier of the two bosses, but not overly so. After Rovers had again started slowly in the first ten minutes, the team’s nerves would have disappeared once they had gotten their noses ahead, but went on to dominate most of the proceedings until half-time. The boss would’ve been wanted more of the same from his team, but adding an emphasis of wariness given that the home side had scored six goals in their last two games, despite only picking up two points.
The second-half was kicked-off by the home side, as they were looking to grab their first win in two games, following back-to-back 3-3 draws against Burnley and Bristol City.
In the 47th minute, a long-ball out to Ben Brereton Díaz saw the Chilean bring the ball down on his chest and run at the defence. He was able to poke the ball back to Tyrhys Dolan, who tiptoed his way into the box and worked a shooting angle, but failed to find the inside of the far-upright.
Moments later, Rovers’ press saw them again capitalise on Blackpool’s sloppy play. Ryan Hedges won the ball inside the ‘Pool half before laying off to Dack, who slipped it to Dolan. The winger turned and passed one more over to Brereton Díaz, who hit an audacious, thunderous first-time effort that just skimmed the far-post.
Moments later, Blackpool gave possession away near their area again, as Adam Wharton’s press saw him win the ball back inside the home team’s box. Wharton found Dolan, who teed up Brereton Díaz, who after a chop, tried to slam one home via his left-foot, but saw his shot blocked behind for a corner, which the home side cleared.
From the clearance, Blackpool won a deep free-kick inside the Rovers half, but the visitors were able to clear the danger with no worries.
A Rovers counter saw Brereton Díaz again involved, as a Hedges flick saw Dack tee Adam Wharton up for an effort from just outside the area, which was blocked for another Rovers corner, that Grimshaw punched clear.
Josh Bowler had a 56th minute cross cleared out to Kenny Dougall, who hit a first-time ball to Shayne Lavery, who was hovering inside the area, but the Northern Ireland international missed the target.
Rovers were soon down the other end as Ben Brereton Díaz drew a fantastic save from Dan Grimshaw, but Bradley Dack somehow put the ball across the face of goal, rather than in to the back of it.
The 61st minute saw Tyrhys Dolan cut in and bend a shot towards goal, but his effort flew high and wide.
Dominic Thompson was soon booked for scything into Adam Wharton, but despite no contact occurring, Mr. Donohue produced the booking as a warning.
Jon Dahl Tomasson drew first blood when it came to substitutions, as Jack Vale replaced Tyrhys Dolan.
Michael Appleton soon made his own first change, in the 66th minute, as Theo Corbeanu replaced Shayne Lavery.
Adam Wharton – who was running the show – capitalised on a loose ball following a Blackpool corner and led the Rovers charge forwards. With two Blue and White shirts with him for support, Wharton picked out the peeling Jack Vale, who looked to pick out the far-corner, but was denied by another fine Grimshaw, who was keeping his side within touching distance.
In the 69th minute, Lewis Travis was booked for holding back Josh Bowler.
Tyler Morton wound up an effort from way out and drilled the ball towards goal, but despite his ambition, it was straight down the throat of Grimshaw.
Moments later, Rovers had thread through Jack Vale, who was brought down by Liverpool loanee, Rhys Williams, but the referee deemed it to have been a dive and booked the Welshman.
Both sides made their second changes in the 79th minute, as Rovers replaced Bradley Dack with Tayo Edun, whilst Blackpool withdrew Gary Madine and introduced former Rovers loanee, Ian Poveda.
A mistimed stretch from Tayo Edun, seconds after coming on helped Blackpool register their first shot on target, as the ball dropped to Jerry Yates, who could only find the gloves of the Belgian Kaminski.
Rovers hearts were in their mouths, as Hayden Carter hauled Jerry Yates to the ground, nearly removing the attackers shirt, but luckily for Rovers, Donohue waved play on.
Marvin Ekpiteta was soon booked for a foul on Jack Vale, which led to the substitute requiring a spot of treatment.
Theo Corbeanu looked to volley a bouncing ball in from range, but his 87th minute attempt nearly ended up on the beach, rather than anywhere near the goal.
Rhys Williams nearly equalised for the hosts after the Liverpool loanee leapt highest from a corner, but his nod landed on the roof of the net.
As the 90th minute ticked onto the clock, Matthew Donohue added on five minutes of time onto the end of the time, as Blackpool continued pushing for an equaliser.
Some late Blackpool pressure came in the final seconds of the 95 minutes as Ian Poveda looked to try and dampen the spirits of his former side by providing an assist on his debut, but the Leeds United winger’s cross was nodded over the bar by Kenny Dougall, as the full-time whistle quickly followed.
Rovers produced a perfect performance off the back of three straight defeats and no goals, in-front of over 3,000 away fans. A professional, hearty derby display saw Jon Dahl Tomasson’s very young team come away from Bloomfield Road, arguably frustrated that they weren’t leaving with a three or four-nil victory, but simultaneously delighted at claiming a clean-sheet. Despite a fine performance from Tangerine goalie, Daniel Grimshaw who denied Brereton Díaz, alone, on many occasions, it was Rovers’ midfield maestros, Adam Wharton – who picked up the Sky Sports Player of the Match award – and Liverpool loanee, Tyler Morton who captured the headlines on the tele. Dominic Hyam also produced a fine display, coming in for the injured Daniel Ayala and not putting a foot wrong as he clinched a clean-sheet on his debut for the club. As we head into Transfer Deadline Day, it will be a wonder what conjures up in the next 24 or so hours, and whether Rovers’ Chilean forward has left them with a parting gift.
After Rovers got themselves back on track, they have moved back into the playoff spots, and sit in 5th with 12 points from seven games, despite a negative goal-difference of -1.
Whether Ben Brereton Díaz will be around for Rovers’ next fixture, at home to Bristol City on Saturday 3rd September at 3pm, remains to be seen. Following that clash with Nigel Pearson’s side and the speculation disappears, Rovers’ second September game sees them back on the road to face Wigan Athletic at the DW Stadium on Saturday 10th September at 3pm. Following a second Lancashire Derby in three games, Rovers are back at Ewood Park to host Watford in a midweek clash on Tuesday 13th September at 7:45pm.
