Rovers ended 2022 in the worst possible manner, with a home defeat and a red card, with Michael Carrick’s Middlesbrough overcoming a half-time deficit to run out 2-1 winners at Ewood Park, after John Buckley was dismissed after 50 minutes.
Despite Rovers falling to a comeback defeat, last time out, when Sunderland ran out 2-1 victors on Boxing Day at the Stadium of Light, Jon Dahl Tomasson named an unchanged side for the final game of 2022, which meant that Dom Hyam once again led the team out. Ben Brereton Díaz was set to make the 150th start of his club career and his 100th league start for Rovers, whilst Daniel Ayala marked 50 Rovers league starts against his former club, with whom he won promotion to the Premier League with in 2016.
Just prior to kick-off, there was a period of tribute within the Rovers family for all those who we sadly lost during 2022, including Brazilian World Cup Winner, Pelé, whose sad passing was announced in the build-up to kick-off. In further tribute, both sides donned black armbands to pay tribute to all those who will be sorely missed.
With anticipation building at Ewood Park, it was Tyler Morton who got the game started after Leigh Doughty’s whistle, as Rovers looked to try and bounce back and complete a first double over Middlesbrough since 2006-07, in the Premier League.
It was the visitors who managed to muster the first opportunity at goal in the game, as Matt Crooks looked to try and beat Thomas Kaminski, after only two minutes of play, but the Belgian was awake and alert to palm the ball past his near-post for a corner, which Daniel Ayala cleared.
The deadlock was soon broken, as Ryan Hedges picked up his second goal in the Blue and White of Rovers after just five minutes, following a fantastic assist from John Buckley. After ‘Boro unnecessarily played the ball long towards the Rovers defence, the home side managed to build their way out of the back and cause the visiting side problems. Thomas Kaminski started the play by rolling the ball out for Daniel Ayala, who fed Tyler Morton before the Liverpool loanee surrendered possession to John Buckley, who was in acres of space inside his own half. The Rovers academy graduate took one touch to steady himself and glace forwards, before playing a pinpoint pass, over the whole Middlesbrough team, that slightly dragged behind Ryan Hedges who had somehow beaten the offside trap. As the Welshman tried to get the ball under his spell, he was met by former Rovers skipper, Darragh Lenihan, who tried to slow his former teammate down, but Hedges proved to be too wily, as he worked the ball into a shooting angle via his left-foot and found the bottom right-hand corner of the net, as on-loan Manchester City goalkeeper, Zack Steffen, was left rooted to the spot for 1-0.
In the 8th minute, Hayden Hackney received the first booking of the game after clattering into Buckley on the edge of his own box, as he conceded a free-kick.
Chuba Akpom came so close to equalising in the 18th minute and adding to his holiday goalscoring tally, after netting a treble in the 4-1 home win vs Wigan Athletic on Boxing Day. After Marcus Forss put in an inviting cross, the former Arsenal forward tried to guide the delivery towards goal with a diving header, but his effort fell off-target.
In the 29th minute, Bradley Dack’s tenacity saw him win the ball back for Rovers on the edge of the ‘Boro penalty box, before he played a one-two with Ben Brereton Díaz, before the midfielder’s attempt to find Sam Gallagher was intercepted by the American shot-stopper.
Sam Gallagher was eventually picked out, this time by John Buckley in the 32nd minute, but the attacker couldn’t replicate his strike from earlier in the season, against the Teessiders at the Riverside, as his effort was sliced wide.
Two minutes later, Rovers were in again as Harry Pickering’s cross was met by Dack, but Steffen again denied.
Middlesbrough once again tried to threaten the Rovers goal, as Hackney let loose from distance, but his effort nearly wrong-footed Kaminski, as the attempt deflected off Dom Hyam, yet Rovers were saved by the crossbar, before the succeeding corner was cleared as Rovers set up the counter-attack. The ball made its way to the Blue’s Chilean international, who sent in a brilliant cross for Sam Gallagher whose header lacked the power to disturb Steffen.
Just before half-time was called by Leigh Doughty, one extra minute was allocated as the final act of the half saw Ben Brereton Díaz somehow pull off a shot that dribbled nearer to the corner flag, than the two posts!
In the home dressing room, Jon Dahl Tomasson would have been pleased with how his side had executed his game plan, but the lead would have made his smile even wider. Rovers looked full of energy and prowess at both ends and arguably could have found themselves with a wider lead. The Dane would have been encouraging his side to try and keep their momentum in the second-half to try and earn a victory that would get them back on winning ways.
Former Manchester United and England midfielder, Michael Carrick would have been fuming, in contrast, after seeing his side go down to a goal that could have potentially been chalked off in the Premier League, had VAR been operational. The ‘Boro boss would have been forgiven for asking questions of his side and demanding a reaction in the second-half, whilst also reminding them of all the positive play that they had shown in the five wins they had previously accumulated during his brief tenure.
Following the return of the players for the second-half, it was Middlesbrough who got the game back underway, as they looked to try and pick up their third victory on Lancashire soil this season, after previously beating Wigan Athletic, 4-1 and Blackpool 3-0 and losing 2-1 at Preston North End and 3-1 at Burnley.
Less than 60 seconds into the second-half and Rovers saw all of their interval notes torn up, after Marcus Forss equalised for Boro immediately after the second-half resumed. ‘Boro barely gave Rovers a sniff of the ball, as they pulled off a brilliantly worked 11-pass move straight from Jonny Howson’s kick-off, as parity was restored at 1-1, after the Finnish Forss produced an aptly named forceful finish to beat Thomas Kaminski at his near-post, after his run was picked out by Crooks.
Rovers tried to retaliate in the 49th minute as Ben Brereton Díaz looked to find Gallagher, but again Steffen was on-hand to intercept the concept.
Soon, all hell broke loose as controversy fell upon Ewood Park. After Matt Crooks was booked for a late challenge on Dom Hyam in the middle of the park, Riley McGree and John Buckley had a coming together, where the Australian slightly nudged the Rovers man and possibly said a few words, which led to Buckley bouncing the ball off the back of McGree’s head. The initial incident was missed by Leigh Doughty, but after consultation with the fourth official, a joint agreement led to the Rovers midfielder’s dismissal via a straight red card, which left Rovers players and fans alike baffled and bemused in the 50th minute.
With Rovers now facing over half-an-hour with a man less, ‘Boro took the advantage and ran with it, as they managed to edge ahead courtesy of a well-executed volley from the festive pantomime villain, Riley McGree, who was fresh off his World Cup exploits. A Kaminski clearance was picked up by Darragh Lenihan, as the ball was eventually worked to Hayden Hackney, whose crossfield ball saw Forss’ cushioned header into the path of McGree, who had wandered towards the edge of Rovers’ box unmarked, before executing a first-time side-foot volley into the top right-hand corner of Kaminski’s net for 2-1, as over 4,000 Teessiders went wild behind the goal.
Rovers tried to grab an equaliser in the 59th minute as Hedges’ diagonal into Ben Brereton Díaz saw the Chilean try and curl one in, but he shot wide.
Jon Dahl Tomasson made a double switch to counteract the defensive hole in the midfielder, as Lewis Travis and Jake Garrett replaced Tyler Morton and Bradley Dack, before Michael Carrick introduced Alex Mowatt for Hayden Hackney, in the 67th minute.
The visitor’s second change soon came in the 71st minute, as Isaiah Jones came on after Marcus Forss was unable to continue due to injury.
Ben Brereton Díaz was proving to be Rovers’ brightest second-half spark, as his low shot at goal from a direct free-kick was smartly saved by Steffen.
Tommy Smith was soon booked in the 81st minute after tackling Jake Garrett.
Dom Hyam became the latest and last Rovers player to test Steffen as the central defender’s 83rd minute header proved easy for the Manchester City loanee to claim.
As the 90th minute approached, six minutes of added time were called for as the Rovers supporters looked to try and rally their team for a late equaliser.
In the 91st minute, Middlesbrough made their final change to try and go for the killer on the counter, as Duncan Watmore replaced the soon-to-be match winner, Riley McGree.
Thomas Kaminski was called into action in the 92nd minute to try and keep Rovers somewhat in the tie, after he stormed out to make a great save to deny Matt Crooks’ stabbed effort in the dying embers.
The final act of the game saw Dom Hyam booked after tripping up Watmore near the corner flag.
Despite some late argie-bargie, the final whistle soon secured Michael Carrick’s sixth victory in charge of the Teessiders, with the Rovers players and fans left wondering what things might have been like on another day.
There’s a lot of frustration surrounding this display, and rightly so, following such a fantastic 45 minutes. Rovers were brilliant in the opening half of the game and showed the fluidity, attacking play and coherence that saw the team shoot up to the top of the league during the opening weeks of the whole campaign. However the lack of concentration during the early period of the second-half is what ultimately saw Rovers surrender any chance they had of winning the game.
Whilst there has been split opinion among the fanbase regarding John Buckley’s red card, it’s important to note that Buckley must claim responsibility for his petulant actions, regardless of whether the referee or the refereeing team were up to scratch, or not. After it was confirmed that Rovers’ appeal was denied, Buckley will now miss Rovers’ first game of 2023 as well as their FA Cup clash.
Before noting those games in the diary, Rovers will be pleased to know that after Friday’s results went their way, they will end 2022 inside the top three – a feat they achieved at the end of 2021. Although they sit 11 points adrift of 2nd placed Sheffield United, Rovers will be looking optimistically towards 2023, after 25 games of the campaign.
Rovers are next in action on New Year’s Day, where a midday kick-off, live on Sky Sports, sees them host Cardiff City. After that, a long away trip is due after back-to-back home games, with currently managerless Norwich City on the cards for the FA Cup Third Round tie on Sunday 8th January at 2pm. After that tie, Rovers remain on the road, as they travel to Yorkshire to face Rotherham United on Saturday 14th January for another early 12:30 Sky Sports kick-off – yay(!)
