Rovers were handing out Christmas presents at the Stadium of Light, during their Boxing Day clash against Sunderland, as a Ross Stewart first-half penalty and an Ellis Simms stoppage time winner secured the three points for the Black Cats.
Despite a fully-changed side being dumped out of the Carabao Cup, 4-1, by Nottingham Forest five days ago, Jon Dahl Tomasson made one change to the side that played in Rovers’ last league game, which was the 2-0 away win over Norwich City. Ryan Hedges came into the side at the expense of the injured Tyrhys Dolan, who picked up a groin injury against Forest. Sam Szmodics, who also played in midweek was also ruled out with a sprain. There was optimism among the Rovers supporters who had made the early trip north for the 12:30pm kick-off, as they were set to be treated to a front four of Ryan Hedges, Bradley Dack, Sam Gallagher and Ben Brereton Díaz as a late Christmas Present.
As the Sky Sports cameras very tentatively began their coverage of the game amid sound and picture problems, it was the home side who got the ball rolling after Darren Bond’s whistle, following a period of applause to remember and celebrate the lives of the Sunderland fans who sadly passed away during 2022, including former England World Cup winner, George Cohen.
Sunderland threatened the Rovers goal inside the first 90 seconds as Ross Stewart broke down the left and won his side a corner, which Rovers soon cleared.
From the clearance, Sunderland worked their way forwards again as the ball was rolled into the path of Luke O’Nien who was miles offside, but saw his snapshot crash back off the crossbar, despite the linesman’s flag already being high up in the air before the shot.
In the third minute, a Rovers corner was played by Tyler Morton out towards the edge of the area, where Bradley Dack caught the ball on the volley, but the attempt ballooned high over the crossbar.
In the 18th minute, Daniel Ballard somehow escaped a booking after he scythed down Sam Gallagher who spun in behind the home backline and had an easy cutback for Ben Brereton Díaz on the cards. The resulting set-piece did end in a goal, however, as a combination of Ross Stewart and Daniel Ayala saw Rovers go ahead as the ball trickled into the back of the net for 1-0.
The lead was short-lived, however as Ross Stewart soon found himself scoring in the right net, after John Buckley fouled the forward inside the Rovers box, to concede a penalty, three minutes later. The Scottish forward made no mistake as he sent Thomas Kaminski the wrong way, and slotted the ball into the bottom left-hand corner to level proceedings at 1-1.
In the 25th minute, Tyler Morton was booked after a hefty challenge on Jack Clarke on halfway.
A second yellow card was soon handed out by Mr. Bond and it came the way of Dennis Cirkin after he crashed into Ryan Hedges in the 38th minute.
Half-time soon approached, but four minutes of added time were allocated prior to the break, as both sides tried to edge themselves ahead before the break, but neither goalkeeper was tested as the half-time whistle soon sounded to end the first 45 minutes.
Tony Mowbray, in the Sunderland dressing room, would have been pleased with how his side had dominated most of the proceedings and the possession, but would have been annoyed at the ease with which Rovers scored their goal. The former Blues boss would have been calling upon his side to be more clinical when attacking, in order to make the most of their possession.
Jon Dahl Tomasson would have been the more disappointed of the two bosses, as he had watched his side hold less of the possession, with their attacking opportunities incredibly limited. He would have been calling upon his side to increase their urgency in order to try and get the likes of Bradley Dack and Ben Brereton Díaz on the ball, who had both ended the first period with a combined 20 touches between them.
When the sides returned for the second-half, it was Rovers who got the game back underway, as they looked to try and secure back-to-back league away wins for the first-time since, October’s victories against Middlesbrough and Hull City.
Ryan Hedges started the second-half in lively fashion as he cut in onto his left-foot and struck at goal in the 46th minute, but Luke O’Nien’s head deflected the ball behind for a corner, which failed to trouble the hosts.
Dennis Cirkin was forced to come off in the 50th minute, as injury struck with Trai Hume replacing him in Sunderland’s first change of the game.
In the 59th minute, Trai Hume was booked after a late challenge inside the Rovers half.
Sunderland upped their ante by the 68th minute as Jack Clarke streamed forwards and picked out Ross Stewart who hit a low first-time attempt that proved simple for Thomas Kaminski to stop.
Minute 71 saw Tyler Morton break through after Bradley Dack threaded the ball round the corner for the Liverpool loanee, but Anthony Patterson produced a fantastic save to deny Rovers the lead for the second time in the game.
Amad Diallo brought panic to the Rovers defence in the 72nd minute after picking up the ball on halfway and running forwards, but his effort from just outside the box again proved simple for Rovers’ Belgian goalie.
Rovers soon made their first and second changes in the 76th minute as George Hirst and Lewis Travis replaced Bradley Dack and Sam Gallagher.
Sunderland soon made changes two and three in the 79th minute as Ellis Simms replaced Patrick Roberts, whilst Bailey Wright came on for Lynden Gooch.
John Buckley was booked in the 86th minute after halting a Sunderland counter-attack led by Jack Clarke.
George Hirst was booked in the 89th minute for denying another late Sunderland attack.
As the 90th minute approached, the fourth official allocated five added minutes onto the end of the game as both sides looked to push for a winner.
From the free-kick that ticked over into added time, Sunderland managed to grab the late equaliser that their pressure in the second-half arguably deserved, as Ellis Simms proved to be the seasonal saviour. After the ball was hoisted in from the free-kick that Hirst conceded, Lewis Travis failed to clear the ball, which saw Sunderland keep the chance alive as the ball was worked out to Simms who showed outstanding composure to take the ball past Dom Hyam and stroke the ball into the bottom left-hand corner, past a frozen Kaminski, to keep the three points in the North East for 2-1.
In the 94th minute, a melee broke out as Rovers were awarded a free-kick in their own half, as Diallo and Joe Rankin-Costello traded handbags, before the pair were booked, but Rovers were unable to make use of their late possession, as the final whistle was soon blown to give Sunderland a priceless festive victory.
This result proved a stark contrast from the Norwich City victory, but proved that Rovers still have a long way to go. The players lacked any real quality going forwards and let down the travelling supporters who made the early trip up north. Furthermore, the changes that Jon Dahl Tomasson made at 1-1 proved that Rovers were trying to settle for their first draw of the campaign, a search that continues as their first stalemate of the campaign evades them. In summary, all three goals in the game could have been easily avoidable from both teams, as the clumsiness fell in favour of the hosts.
Despite such a disappointing result, Rovers will remain 3rd until they play again, as Watford were beaten 2-0 at Vicarage Road by Millwall.
The next outing for the Blues is on Thursday 29th December, in their final game of 2022, when they play host to Middlesbrough at Ewood Park at 7:45pm. Following that tie, is another home game, as Cardiff City become the first visitors to East Lancashire in 2023 for the 3pm kick-off on New Year’s Day. Following that tie, Rovers make a return to East Anglia as they again buttheads with Norwich City, this time in the FA Cup, on Sunday 8th January for the 2pm kick-off – yes, 14:00hrs.
