Blackburn Rovers moved into the Third Round of the Carabao Cup for the first-time in four seasons, as Jon Dahl Tomasson’s young, fatigued team avoided an embarrassing ‘cupset’ in Yorkshire and secured their place in the hat for the next round’s draw.
As Rovers headed to the University of Bradford Stadium to try and claim victory that would see them head into the Carabao Cup Third Round for the first-time since 2018-19, Jon Dahl Tomasson named a rotated side with 10 changes from the team who played in the weekend’s 3-0 defeat away at Sheffield United.
Aynsley Pears came in between the posts, as Joe Rankin-Costello filled in at right-back whilst Tayo Edun remained at left-back. Gibraltarian international Louie Annesley came in for his senior debut for the club at centre-back, lining up alongside Liverpool loanee midfielder, Tyler Morton who was filling in, in defence. Ahead of the backline, Jake Garrett also came in for his senior debut alongside Adam Wharton, whilst Dilan Markanday and Tyrhys Dolan were selected on the flanks. The Rovers side was rounded off with skipper Bradley Dack coming back into his natural #10 role, behind Welshman, Jack Vale. The substitutes bench for Rovers was packed with first-team quality, as well as youth as Thomas Kaminski, Callum Brittain, Sammie Szmodics, Sam Gallagher, John Buckley, Ben Brereton Díaz, Ashley Phillips, Jared Harlock and Jake Batty were all pencilled in as substitutes.
With both sides hoping to continue their cup run on Tuesday evening, it was the visitors who got the ball rolling at the famous Valley Parade, following referee Ross Joyce’s whistle. Bradley Dack got the game started as he looked to increase his fitness and try to stake a claim towards starting league games for Rovers.
The Rovers captain for the night nearly notched himself an assist inside the first 60 seconds of the game. Dack picked the ball up on the edge of the box, after the ball was played to him from a corner. He dinked a ball in towards Joe Rankin-Costello who was lurking inside the penalty area and forced Harry Lewis into a fine save, from the right-back’s header.
Rovers remained on top during the opening nine minutes as Adam Wharton looked to try and claim an assist, but both Tyrhys Dolan and Louie Annesley were unable to connect to the ball across the six-yard box.
After 13 minutes, Bradley Dack tried to grab his second goal in successive rounds, but his volley from Tyler Morton’s corner flew over the bar.
Despite a lot of early Rovers pressure, it was the hosts who opened the scoring and breathed some life into the game as Bradford’s perennial Carabao Cup scorer, Andy Cook netted his third goal in the competition – and his third against second-tier opposition – in just his second game in the cup. Scott Banks’ fantastic recovery run saw him reach the ball before it went out for a Rovers goal-kick, before crossing the ball into the box which Cook met, as he diverted the ball past Pears and into the roof of the Rovers net for 1-0 in the 18th minute.
Bradford looked to try and capitalise on their first by going close with a second after a ten-minute post-goal dominant spell. Kian Harratt looked to double his side’s lead in the 28th minute, but the attacker’s effort came back off the post.
Just after half-an-hour, Rovers managed to get back on level terms, courtesy of their talismanic attacker who rolled back the years of the 2017-18 League One season and nabbed a goal against the Bantams. Tyrhys Dolan delivered a fine low cross from the left-hand side into the box, where Dack was lurking and the maestro’s natural instincts kicked in straight away, as he coolly side-footed the ball past Lewis and into the back of the host’s net to equal the goals at 1-1 and earn his second of the campaign.
The 35th minute saw Jack Vale appeal for a penalty after he sped away from the Bradford defence and went down under a challenge from the goalie, but play was waved on by Ross Joyce, the official.
Four minutes later, Rovers were in a much better mood, after Dilan Markanday matched Dack’s Carabao Cup tally and doubled his own tally for the campaign and competition. Vale did well to keep possession of the ball and sell his man a dummy before breaking into the box and teeing up Markanday who found the back of the net with a cultured finish, to put Rovers ahead at 2-1.
In the 42nd minute, Liam Ridehalgh was booked for a late tackle on Rovers’ makeshift centre-half, Tyler Morton.
With no added time called for by the officials, the first period was soon brought to an end on 45 minutes, as Rovers ended the half on the up, with Bradford looking to try and salvage their cup hopes in the second-half.
Former Rover Mark Hughes would have been frustrated with how his side had let their lead slip away in such quick circumstances, but the ex-attacker would have been pleased with how his side had taken the game to their second successive second-tier opponents and taken the lead. The Welshman would have been calling for his players to get the home crowd whipped up and behind them in the second-half to try and regain a foothold in the tie.
After turning the tie around, Jon Dahl Tomasson’s would have been delighted with how his youthful side had overcome the adversity of conceding the first goal in the game and come back fighting to try and quell a brief run of poor results. The Dane’s words at the break would have been ones of encouragement and praise for his side, who were looking to return to winning ways.
Following the 15 minute break, it was Bradford City who got the game back underway for the second period as they looked to try and advance to the Third Round of the Carabao Cup for the first time since 2014-15 – two years after finishing runners-up to Michael Laudrup’s Swansea City side.
With less than 60 seconds gone, Joe Rankin-Costello looked to try and assist a third, but his cross across the area was uncomfortable for Lewis who conceded a corner, which the hosts cleared.
The 48th minute saw Banks work Aynsley Pears after Ridehalgh delivered a cross into the box, but the Rovers ‘keeper stood firm to deny Bradford an equaliser.
Minute 53 saw Markanday cause panic within the Bradford ranks as his pace and trickery saw the home defenders back-peddling, however despite being eventually hauled down, Rovers were only awarded a free-kick, despite claims for a penalty from those in Blue and White.
Markanday was again causing problems just after the hour, as he fed Jake Garrett on the edge of the area, but the youngster’s effort drifted wide of the mark.
Tyrhys Dolan and Bradley Dack looked to once again combine, but the goalscorer couldn’t add a second to his tally for the night as he skewed his shot wide.
The 70th minute nearly saw Bradford hand Rovers a third, as Romoney Crichlow narrowly avoided diverting Markanday’s low cross into the back of his own net.
Mark Hughes turned to his bench during the stoppage as Vadaine Oliver and Lee Angol replaced goalscorer Andy Cook and Alex Gilliead.
Two minutes later, Dolan forced Lewis into a save after some fine footwork created an opening, but the goalie again denied the Blues a treble.
Hughes again dipped into his subs in the 74th minute as Ryan East replaced Scott Banks.
The 75th minute spelt the end of the night for Rovers’ two goalscorers, as Bradley Dack and Dilan Markanday were replaced by Ash Phillips and Ben Brereton Díaz.
After picking up the captain’s armband from the departing Dack, Ben Brereton Díaz wasted no time in making his presence felt at Valley Parade as he parted the Bradford defence, before finding Dolan who again, failed to curl his effort at goal.
The 79th minute saw another double change for the visitors as Sammie Szmodics and John Buckley replaced Jake Garrett and Jack Vale.
Mark Hughes made his final changes in the 82nd minute as ex-Rovers were all over the touchline, as Yann Songo’o replaced Richie Smallwood, whilst Harry Chapman departed and made way for the only non-Rover, Jake Young.
Four minutes later, Rovers came forward again as Dolan and Sammie Szmodics combined, but the former Peterborough United playmaker couldn’t convert from close-range as Lewis came up trumps again.
Joe Rankin-Costello marked the 90th minute by picking up a booking after infringing upon Vadaine Oliver.
Ross Joyce closed out the game by adding on three extra minutes of time onto the end of the tie.
The action didn’t end there, however, as after Rovers threw on Sam Gallagher for his 250th career appearance, in-place of Tyrhys Dolan, time overlapped as play continued into the 95th minute, with Bradford throwing the kitchen sink at Rovers to try and scrape extra-time.
Lee Angol was found inside the penalty area and he managed to get a shot away, but Gibraltar international, Louis Annesley proved to be in the right place at the right time as he denied the former Boreham Wood hitman from taking the tie all the way.
That goal-saving block proved to be the game’s last action as Rovers managed to round off a fine comeback victory with a fine performance from a stretched side desperately looking for reinforcements before the September 1st transfer deadline.
Despite the early scare, Rovers and Jon Dahl Tomasson were able to show their class and quality, despite their known squad depth issues. Rovers were able to return to winning ways, despite it being in the cup, after losing two consecutive games, 3-0 and making 10 changes to the side that played at the weekend. There were also positives in that some youngsters got some much-needed game time, including first-team debuts to Louie Annesley and Jake Garrett, whilst Bradley Dack and Dilan Markanday both moved closer to peak fitness after their recent long-term injuries.
As Rovers now wait for their Third Round opponents to be announced on Wednesday 24th August, attentions for the coaching staff will now turn to Saturday’s home fixture in the Championship, which sees Stoke City arrive to Ewood Park on 27th at 3pm. Following that tie, there’s a Lancashire Derby to contend with – Rovers’ first of the season – as Jon Dahl Tomasson and his players make the short trip to West Lancashire to battle Blackpool on Wednesday 31st August at 8pm, a game that will also be viewable on Sky Sports. Once the rivalries are out of the way as well as the transfer window, Rovers will be back on home soil on Saturday 3rd September hosting Bristol City at 3pm, in a game where Rovers fans will be hoping a few new faces will be debuting.
