Rovers finally ended their poor run away from Ewood Park, as a quick first-half was followed by a dogged performance in the second, as Jon Dahl Tomasson’s men secured their first maximum points on the road since August, by beating managerless Middlesbrough.
Rovers headed to the North-East looking to try and end a poor run of away form, after Tuesday’s 1-0 defeat away at Wigan Athletic. Jon Dahl Tomasson hoped that four changes to his starting side would help shift the luck back into his side’s favour. Callum Brittain, Ashley Phillips, Adam Wharton and Sam Gallagher all came into the side, as Rovers kept their five-back system going. Those dropping out of the team were Daniel Ayala, due to injury, Ryan Hedges and Sammie Szmodics, who were both on the bench, and George Hirst, who found himself playing for the under-21s side in their 2-2 draw against West Ham United, earlier in the day.
As both sides came into the game looking for a way to kickstart a solid run of form, it was the Rovers who won the coin toss as they got the game underway at the behest of referee Darren Bond. Jon Dahl Tomasson’s side were looking to continue their consistent inconsistency, by following up midweek’s defeat with a victory.
With just three minutes gone, Rovers won a corner after Ben Brereton Díaz’s effort deflected behind after an Adam Wharton pass. The corner brought Rovers a heap of luck, however as despite playing the original set-piece short, the ball was worked back out to Tyler Morton who delivered an inviting back-post cross to an unmarked Dom Hyam, who nodded the ball back across the face of goal which saw Sam Gallagher bundle the ball home after outmuscling ex-Rovers skipper Darragh Lenihan, for 1-0. Despite some sources crediting the Irishman with the own goal, Gallagher will furiously be claiming that for his own tally.
In the sixth minute, Duncan Watmore tried his luck from range, but forced a fine save from Thomas Kaminski.
Moments later, Ben Brereton Díaz again found himself behind the ‘Boro backline as he latched onto Morton’s long-ball forwards, but the Chilean couldn’t angle his shot on goal as the hosts were awarded a goal-kick.
The roles were reversed two minutes later, as the Chilean proved provider for the Liverpool loanee, but the midfielder’s attempt from range cleared the crossbar.
The 17th minute saw Rovers extend their lead, as Sam Gallagher – arguably – doubled his tally for the afternoon with a wonderful rocket from range that almost mirrored his opener in the 1-1 draw at the Riverside, last season. After Rovers played out from the back, Dom Hyam delivered a beautiful lofted ball down the field which Gallagher brought down with a fantastic first touch before skipping past his man and arrowing the ball into the top right-hand corner, leaving Manchester City loanee, Zack Steffen, rooted to the spot as Rovers made it 2-0.
Two should have been three straight from the host’s kick-off, as Gallagher should have added an assist to his tally, as he picked out the overlapping Callum Brittain who saw his shot saved by the feet of Steffen.
In the 28th minute, it was like a Christmas party in the Rovers box as cards were being handed out, left, right and centre by Mr. Bond. Rodrigo Muniz appeared to have stamped on Thomas Kaminski, but Lewis Travis’ intervention meant the Brazilian and the Rovers skipper saw their names taken into the book. That booking, which was Travis’ twelfth of the season, meant he would miss Rovers’ next game – a home clash against Sunderland.
Steffen was once again called into action to deny the duo of Callum Brittain and Sam Gallagher as the former found the latter, but the American again used his feet to deny Gallagher, what would have been a potential treble and the match ball.
The American soon denied the Rovers attacker again, in the 38th minute as Morton’s free-kick was perfectly delivered to the head of the ex-Southampton man, but Steffen pulled off a fantastic one-handed save to top the ball over the crossbar and keep his side, somewhat, in the tie.
The hosts burst forward in the 39th minute looking to try and make the scoreline respectable before the break, but Watmore couldn’t test Kaminski after picking up Muniz’s pass, as the former Sunderland attacker fired over the bar.
Although two minutes of added time were allocated onto the end of the first period, there was still enough time for Middlesbrough to alter the half-time team-talks of both managers, as they clawed a goal back on the stroke of the break. After being played through down the right-hand channel, Watmore twisted Ashley Phillips and latched onto the through ball from Jonny Howson, behind the centre-back. Watmore was able to keep his composure and beat Thomas Kaminski, to reduce the arrears to 2-1, as the half-time whistle blew soon after the restart.
Interim ‘Boro boss, Leo Percovich would’ve been frustrated with the manner in which his team had wilted so early on in the game as Rovers could have easily gone in at the break, three or four-nil ahead with the number of chances they’d created. Whilst the Uruguayan would have been pleased with his side’s reaction after going 2-0 down and going into the break with the goal-difference of one, the former Goalkeeping Coach would’ve wanted more intensity from his side in the second-half.
Jon Dahl Tomasson would have been forgiven for not cartwheeling into the dressing room, despite a very good 44 minutes from Rovers. Whilst the Dane would have been happy with how his side had forged themselves ahead, he would have been frustrated with how the Watmore goal was created, with little to no pressure on either the assister or the scorer.
As the players returned to the playing surface, it was ‘Boro who got proceedings back underway, but not before their first change of the game which saw Isaiah Jones replace Anfernee Dijksteel.
In the 48th minute, a Rovers free-kick pinballed around in the ‘Boro area, before looping into the air and falling to Adam Wharton who saw his shot blocked by Paddy McNair.
Three minutes later, Tyler Morton was booked after hauling down Duncan Watmore.
After the hosts continued to try and pepper the Rovers goal, with the Rovers rearguard standing first to deny attempts at goal, Rovers made a double change in the 65th minute to try and shift the tide of the half. Sam Szmodics and Tyrhys Dolan came on for Adam Wharton and goalscorer, Sam Gallagher.
Two minutes later, Leo Percovich made three changes of his own as Marcus Forss and Chuba Akpom came on for ‘Boro’s scorer Duncan Watmore and Rodrigo Muniz, whilst Marc Bola replaced ex-Rover, Ryan Giles.
Thomas Kaminski came to Rovers’ rescue in the 69th minute as he managed to deny Matt Crooks’ volley, after the midfielder took a second bite of the cherry, but the Belgian made a fine save to tip the ball over the bar.
As the Middlesbrough pressure continued into the 74th minute, as Marc Bola’s cross deflected off Lewis Travis and came back off the post before Chuba Akpom snuck in and looked to tap the ball home into an empty net, but Thomas Kaminski made an outstanding, sensational save from point-blank range to deny the former Arsenal man the equaliser from single digit yards out.
The host’s frustrations increased as they made their final change in the 76th minute, as Riley McGree replaced Hayden Hackney in midfield.
Thomas Kaminski celebrated his fine save by picking up a 77th minute yellow card for timewasting.
From Kaminski’s goal-kick, Rovers worked the ball to Tyrhys Dolan who played a one-two with Ben Brereton Díaz before the Chilean threaded the substitute in-behind the ‘Boro backline, but despite Dolan’s touch letting him down, Steffen emerged from his goal to palm the loose ball away.
As time passed, as Middlesbrough continued to knock on Rovers’ door without really threatening, the 80th and 85th minute saw Rovers’ third and fourth swaps of the tie, as Hayden Carter and Ryan Hedges replaced Ashley Phillips and Ben Brereton Díaz, respectively.
Tyler Morton tried to treble Rovers’ scoring from distance, but Zack Steffen was offered an easy save to make.
As the 90th minute ticked over, Mr. Bond added on five minutes onto the end of the tie, as the Rovers away end began to bite their nails as the home support rallied behind their side.
Despite the big build-up, added time – thankfully – offered no chances for either side to put the ball into the back of the net, with Tyrhys Dolan and Paddy McNair offering the most dramatic segment of injury time, as they were both booked for a scuffle, but soon after, the whistle brought the happiness back to the travelling contingency as they celebrated their first away victory since August.
What a display from a side struggling to find consistency. Although Rovers had struggled to get going in recent games, they flew out of the blocks in this tie and found themselves 2-0 ahead inside 20 minutes. Jon Dahl Tomasson and the Rovers fans will be hoping that the resiliency shown in the second-half and the prolificacy shown in the first can both be combined to form an equilibrium of fine performances as Rovers end the first quarter of the campaign. All the players put in an outstanding shift and all deserve credit, but the attacking prowess of Sam Gallagher must be applauded, given his recent barren spell.
The league table leaves the Blues in the healthy position of 5th after 15 games played, with 24 points on the board, despite the sole positive goal-difference of 1.
As mentioned, next up for Rovers are Sunderland, who come to Ewood Park in midweek, on Tuesday 18th October for the 8pm kick-off. After that, the Blues are again hosting, this time, another set of Blues, in Birmingham City, next Saturday on the 22nd October at 3pm. Following back-to-back home games, the away games return as Saturday 29th October sees Rovers make the trip to Hull City for the 3pm start – here’s hoping they don’t catch COVID again(!)
