It was Rovers who set up an FA Cup Round Five clash with Leicester City, as the away side utilised Extra-Time to come out on top in a game that would easily be described as ‘not one for the purists’, in the FA Cup Fourth Round Replay at St. Andrew’s.
Although Rovers’ last game being the original fixture, which was a 2-2 draw, against the Blues on Saturday, Jon Dahl Tomasson decided to make five changes from the Ewood Park clash, despite his side not playing for another six days. Aynsley Pears, Lewis Travis, Jack Vale and Tyrhys Dolan came into the side, alongside Daniel Ayala who was returning following his suspension against Bristol City. Despite the changes, all five of those who dropped out were available from the bench.
Following the incredibly disappointing scenes seen at the end of the game at Ewood Park, Rovers – who were set to don their red third ensemble – emerged for their warm-up wearing t-shirts marked: ‘#OneRovers against Discrimination’, following the very serious allegations that City goalkeeper, Neil Etheridge was racially abused by a spectator in the Blackburn End after Birmingham’s equaliser on Saturday.
As both teams looked to try and put their names forward to face Premier League, Leicester City, it was the home side who got the ball rolling, after referee, Steve Martin’s initial whistle. John Eustace’s side were looking to try and get back into the Fifth Round of the competition for the first time since the COVID-19 disrupted 2019-20 season, where they – ironically – beat Rovers 2-1 in the Third Round and lost to Leicester City, 1-0, in the Fifth – after beating Coventry City on penalties following a replay where both games were played at St. Andrew’s due to the two clubs ground-sharing.
The game started rather slowly as Rovers won a free-kick in the 12th minute, around 25-yards out, but Neil Etheridge proved equal to it with a simple save.
Rovers were again on the break, five minutes later, as a cross across the six-yard box failed to see someone in red connect onto the loose ball, as the home side cleared the danger with ease.
Whilst Rovers had started the home tie poorly, they had sped out of the blocks in the replay, with the 20th minute bringing their best chance of the opening quarter of the game as Ben Brereton Díaz teed up Harry Pickering for an effort from the edge of the box, but again, Neil Etheridge got down well to deny Rovers the opening goal.
Birmingham managed to break free from Rovers’ pressure after half-an-hour to try and open the scoring, as they had done in East Lancashire a few days ago. A cross from the left-hand side saw Daniel Ayala connect, which inadvertently diverted the ball towards his own goal, forcing Aynsley Pears to be on his toes to produce an outstanding reflex save to deny his own defender.
Moments after Pears saved, he was nearly forced into action again, a minute alter, as ex-Rover, Reda Khadra looked to try and curl one in from range, but failed to panic the Rovers goalkeeper, as the ball dropped wide of the mark.
After one minute of time was added onto the end of the goalless first period, Steve Martin called time on a rather tepid first-half that saw Rovers hold most of the ball and arguably craft the better of the chances on target.
John Eustace would have wanted more bite and passion from his side, in order to try and replicate the performance they produced on Saturday just gone. The former Watford midfielder would have called for his side to play with more pace and directness to try and unsettle the Rovers back four with their speed, yet the boss would have also been aware of his options from the bench, which included the likes of Lukas Jutkiewicz, Tahith Chong and weekend equaliser, Jordan James.
Jon Dahl Tomasson would have adopted a similar call to arms for his side, given how positively they had started the first period. The Dane would have wanted his side to continue what they had started and continue to dominate and assert themselves onto the game. Any frustrations that the Head Coach would have had, would have been eased with the knowledge that Nottingham Forest midfielder, Lewis O’Brien was tentatively waiting in the wings, ahead of his proposed loan move to Ewood Park, ahead of the 11pm deadline.
Just before Rovers got the second-half underway, Jon Dahl Tomasson made the game’s first change as he introduced Hayden Carter, in place of Daniel Ayala. Although the Spaniard didn’t look injured, he was most likely withdrawn due to a precaution, given Rovers’ current low defensive numbers.
Jack Vale jolted the second-half into life in the 51st minute as he tried to copy Khadra’s first-half curler, but like the German, also saw his effort veer wide of the post.
Joe Rankin-Costello continue to build on his fine post-World Cup performances by bursting down the right-hand side and providing a cross for Bradley Dack, whose attempted dink over Etheridge landed on the roof of the Filipino’s goal.
Emmanuel Longelo and Scott Hogan soon combined in the 55th minute to test Aynsley Pears, as the West Ham United loanee’s delivery for the former Aston Villa forward saw a flick that forced Pears into making a world-class save at his near-post to deny the hosts the lead.
On the hour mark, Pears was again called upon to be Rovers’ saviour, as Brum’s on-loan captain from Wolverhampton Wanderers, Dion Sanderson looked to try and nod the hosts ahead by connecting with a corner, but the goalie was again on-hand to deny the opening goal via his legs.
Ben Brereton Díaz was causing problems down the left, int he 63rd minute, as he eventually fed the ball to Bradley Dack, whose first-time shot ricocheted out of touch via the post, to the agony of the Rovers supporters and players.
With 69 minutes gone, the home side won a deep free-kick which was sent into the box. Former Burnley defender Kevin Long reacted quickest to the loose ball as he tried to poke the ball home, but his effort lacked the accuracy to trouble Aynsley Pears, who smothered the attempt.
Rankin-Costello and Dack tried some one-twos before the defender looked to try and score in consecutive game in the 70th minute, but he failed to replicate his smashing half-volley on Saturday, as his attempt was blocked at the near-post.
Birmingham City soon made a double change in the 75th minute as Jordan James and Lukas Jutkiewicz replaced Reda Khadra and Juninho Bacuna.
Four minutes after the change, Tyrhys Dolan was blitzing forwards on the counter-attack, but the winger’s eventual attempt failed to test Neil Etheridge, as the sliced shot spun wide of the post, with Rovers wondering if it would be their night.
John Eustace again turned to his bench in the 85th minute, as Gary Gardner and Tahith Chong replaced Kevin Long and Hannibal Mejbri.
Rovers soon made a double change, not long after the home side’s own, as Sammie Szmodics and Sam Gallagher replaced Bradley Dack and Jack Vale in an attempt to add some freshness to Rovers’ attacking line-up, particularly on the break.
If Aynsley Pears hadn’t etched his name into the ‘Team of the Round’, he had by the 88th minute as he pulled off a double save in the 88th minute, to keep his side in the competition, as Birmingham began to pile on the pressure late on in the tie.
Just as the 90th minute ticked over, Aynsley Pears again proved his worth to the Rovers fans and proved why he remained at the club instead of being loaned out to Portsmouth by pulling off another save to deny Jutkiewicz the winner in the final moments of the tie.
With Rovers still holding on despite the late rally by the hosts, referee Steve Martin added on three minutes to the end of the tie before signalling for another additional 30 minutes at the end of the game.
In the 93rd minute, moments before time was called on the game, Tahith Chong became the game’s first player to be booked after infringing upon Dolan’s movement.
Following the booking, Steve Martin brought normal time to a close, as another 30 minutes were pencilled in, with both sides failing to notch a goal between them, despite each having their fare share of chances, arguably providing a great metaphor for both team’s campaigns.
John Eustace would have been encouraged with the attacking display that his side had shown prior to the addition of Extra-Time. His side should have arguably wrapped up the game, but not for the inspired performance of Rovers’ shot-stopper, Aynsley Pears.
Jon Dahl Tomasson’s message would have been solely on trying to exploit the tired legs that were expected to appear with the extra 30 minutes. The Dane would have no doubt been looking to the fresh attacking options that he introduced towards the end of normal time to try and add a spark to Rovers’ already potent attack.
With the first-half of Extra-Time beginning, John Buckley soon became the game’s second player to be booked as he flew into a late tackle on Gary Gardner.
All of Rovers’ patience and chances soon paid off in the 100th minute as Sammie Szmodics managed to break the stalemate, courtesy of a very unlucky deflection via Auston Trusty, which left Neil Etheridge completely stranded, as the American turned the ball into his own goal by diverting the substitute’s cross into the back of his own net for 1-0.
Moments before the break in the additional 30 minutes, Steve Martin called for one more minutes onto the end of the first-period.
Just before the game was restarted, Rovers made their third change of the game as Tayo Edun came on to replace Harry Pickering.
Just two minutes into the second-half of Extra-Time, Ben Brereton Díaz managed to see yellow – and not that of Villarreal – as he was booked for dissent after kicking the ball away during a stoppage.
Lukas Jutkiewicz was again causing havoc for Rovers’ backline as he managed to craft half-a-yard of opportunity to open up a shooting opportunity which he failed to keep on target.
Rovers looked to see the game out in the 111th minute, as Ash Phillips was brought on to replace Tyrhys Dolan, as Rovers looked to sure their backline with another defender.
It had been over five months since Lewis Travis netted two goals in as many games to start the campaign off, and he came looking to reignite his goal tally with an audacious 40-yard chip that would immediately be chopped from any highlights package on TV, due to how far wide it ended up.
Lewis Travis marked his ridiculous effort with an almost customary booking, moments after the ball had landed from the stratosphere the away side’s midfielder put it in.
As the 120th minute approached, two minutes of added time were allocated onto the end of the game as the hosts looked to try and push themselves forward to try and snatch another late equaliser to further compile the misery onto Rovers.
That second consecutive equaliser didn’t happen as the game’s final action saw the scorer of the equaliser at Ewood Park, Jordan James, booked in the 122nd minute, as the game was soon brought to a close, with Rovers being awarded a tie with 2015-16 Premier League winners, Leicester City in the Fifth Round.
Jon Dahl Tomasson would have taken a lot of positives from the gritty performance that his side had put in during the 120 minutes played at St. Andrew’s. The Dane would have been forgiven for potentially stumbling across a goalkeeping selection headache, given the inspired form that Aynsley Pears showed in this tie. This thought would have been further encouraged by the dip in form of the usually reliable, Thomas Kaminski.
With Rovers knowledgable of their Fifth Round opponents – a game that will be played in the week commencing Monday 27th February – they can now turn their focus on their push for the playoffs which will encapsulate the remainder of their league campaign.
Next up for Rovers is a Monday Night Fixture, under the Ewood Park lights, as they host Wigan Athletic at 8pm on Monday 6th February – a game that will be televised on Sky Sports. After that local clash is a trip to Hertfordshire to face Slaven Bilić’s Watford on Saturday 11th February at 3pm, before another road trip to a club that the Croat has managed, in West Bromwich Albion. That tie against the Baggies will be on Wednesday 15th February at 8pm, a game watchable via Sky Sports’ Red Button feature.
