Blackburn Rovers booked themselves a place in the FA Cup Quarter Final for the first-time in eight years, in brilliant fashion, by running riot at the King Power Stadium to shock the 5000/1 Premier League title winners, Leicester City in Brendan Rodgers’ 200th game in-charge.
After Rovers managed to secure a well-deserved victory against Queens Park Rangers on Saturday as a Sammie Szmodics goal was sandwiched between two Sam Gallagher finishes – who was making his 200th Rovers appearance tonight – for a 3-1 triumph, Jon Dahl Tomasson made three changes for the fifth-round clash with the Foxes. Harry Pickering came in for Callum Brittain, who was available from the bench, whilst Tyler Morton and Ryan Hedges started in-place of John Buckley and Sorba Thomas. Buckley was available in reserve, but Thomas was ineligible after playing in the competition for parent side, Huddersfield Town.
Although a lot of the Rovers fans had been stranded outside in the rain, queueing to be searched after being stuck on the M1, the match was kicked-off by Sammie Szmodics, following a period of applause to remember the late, great, John Motson. Rovers came into this game with nothing to lose as they aimed to test themselves against quality opponents with the aim of going unbeaten in ten consecutive games.
A lively start from Rovers saw Szmodics and Tyrhys Dolan combine inside the final-third, but some fine defensive positioning from Daniel Amartey saw the Ghanaian block the former Peterborough United midfielder’s effort.
Boubakary Soumaré and Ricardo Pereira combined as the midfielder set up the Portuguese defender for an attempt on goal, but the full-back who was playing his first game since returning from a long-term injury, dragged his attempt wide of the mark.
In the 8th minute, Aynsley Pears made a terrific double save as he kept out Tetê brilliantly, before his cat-like reactions saw him swiftly deny Belgian, Dennis Praet.
The goalkeeper was again called into action in the 15th minute as he pulled off a fantastic near-post save to deny Premier League, FA Cup winner and former England international, Jamie Vardy.
Moments later, as Rovers looked to clear the ball, Luke Thomas was booked for pulling Joe Rankin-Costello’s shirt just inside the Rovers half.
In the 17th minute, Leicester looked to play the ball out the back, but conceded the ball via a slip which saw Ryan Hedges nick the ball and slip Sam Gallagher in, but the attack’s outside of the box effort rolled straight into the gloves of Daniel Iversen.
Rovers continued their off-ball pressure as Leicester again tried to roll the ball out from the back, but Tyrhys Dolan’s press saw him win possession back, as Tyler Morton slipped Szmodics in, who broke through on goal, but Iversen made a fine save with his feet.
A 29th minute Aynsley Pears free-kick from just outside the Rovers box saw Sam Gallagher flick the ball onto Ryan Hedges, who himself flicked the ball into the path of Szmodics. The midfielder did well to take the ball into his stride before playing the ball across the box into Dolan who saw his effort well saved by Iversen, before Hedges’ follow-up was blazed over the bar via a slip.
Rovers’ early pressure eventually paid off in the 33rd minute as Tyrhys Dolan did brilliantly to finesse the Blues ahead in fantastic fashion. Daniel Amartey gave the ball away cheaply to Dolan, who cut in off the left and took aim from outside the box, taking advantage of Iversen’s lack of positioning as he tried to track back after starting the move, but Dolan’s finish was precise as the ball ended up hitting the middle of the net, sending the 2,626 Rovers fans into raptures for 1-0!
Rovers continued to frustrate Leicester as half-time approached, as referee Tim Robinson called for two minutes to be added onto the end of the first period.
The first minute of added time saw Lewis Travis charge in and block Ricardo Pereira’s second strike of the game out for a corner, as the away side cleared the set-piece just before the half-time whistle brought the end of a fantastic first-half performance.
Brendan Rodgers would have been frustrated with how his side had so easily given the ball away for the opening goal of the game. Although his side had come forward and tested Pears early in the game, Leicester didn’t really show any of the cutting edge that saw them beat Tottenham Hotspur, 4-1, a few weeks back. The Northern Irishman wouldn’t have been enjoying his milestone evening and would have demanded his side improve their composure and look to stretch the Championship side.
Jon Dahl Tomasson’s half-time reaction would have been calm but delighted with how his side had taken the game to the Premier League outfit, in the first period and would have wanted them to continue their high levels, despite the pressure the Premier League side could muster if they hit their heights. The Dane would have been quick to remind his side not to let the travelling contingency down and to keep their levels, in order to try and achieve a ‘cupset’.
After both sides returned to the pitch, it was Leicester City who got the ball rolling, as they looked to try and return to the Quarter Finals of the FA Cup for the first-time since winning the competition under Rodgers, in 2020-21.
Rovers continued brightly in the second period as the whole team persisted with their high tempo and pressing style that had worked so successfully in the first-half. The 48th minute saw them again, fashion a chance to net as Hedges intercepted Soumaré’s loose pass, but the Welshman’s left-footed attempt somehow whistled past the left-hand post, much to the confusion of the Rovers fans who were right next to the net.
The supporters didn’t have to wait long to be sent into a delirious frenzy, as four minutes later, Sammie Szmodics’ desire and composure – along with a hint of luck – saw Rovers double their lead early on in the second-half. After Luke Thomas looked to dribble out the back, Sam Gallagher’s relentless tracking saw the attacker hunt the left-back down and win possession of the ball with a slide tackle that deserves an award in itself. The attacker burst down the right before cutting inside and finding Szmodics who successfully wriggled past Wout Faes and Daniel Amartey, before sidefooting the ball past the on-rushing Iversen to make it 2-0, as he and the team celebrated in-front of the travelling fans!
The 56th minute nearly saw Szmodics grab a brace as after playing a one-two with Hedges, the goalscorer drifted through the Leicester defence and tried to find the inside of the far-post, but an outstanding save by Iversen’s leg halted any ensuing Rovers celebrations.
Leicester made a double change in the 57th minute as Kelechi Iheanacho and Victor Kristiansen replaced Dennis Praet and Luke Thomas, with Brendan Rodgers hoping his FA Cup hero could again net in what would be, the third consecutive round he’s scored in.
The Nigerian nearly did so, just 60 seconds after coming on as Tetê’s cross was cleared by Tyler Morton, but only as far as the substitute, whose side-footed outside the box volley fell wide.
Rovers were forced into a change in the 61st minute, as Joe Rankin-Costello had run himself into the ground after another fantastic performance, and had to hobble off to be replaced by Callum Brittain.
The 64 and 65th minutes brought two chances within moments of each other for the visitors who had continued their relentless pressure and were not letting Leicester come up for air. Morton played a low ball across the box which saw Hedges slide in and tap it wide, before Szmodics saw his curling effort from outside the area edge wide of the far-post.
Kelechi Iheanacho did manage to keep his FA Cup run up of scoring in every round thus far this season, as he reduced the home side’s deficit in the 67th minute to just one. Leicester finally woke up and decided to play football, as Tetê’s crossfield ball found a free Harvey Barnes down the left-hand side. The former West Bromwich Albion loanee was afforded the time and space to burst into the area and put in a low cross from the byline to which Iheanacho simply tapped home into the top corner. Despite sitting between Hayden Carter and Dom Hyam, neither defender was close enough to the striker to influence his finish, as the ex-Manchester City attacker made it 2-1 and set up a nervy final 20 minutes.
Sammie Szmodics thought he’d grabbed his brace on the 70th minute, as his fantastic run and finish fell to the fate of Video Assistant Referee, but the goalscorer was deemed offside, despite a clever run.
In the 73rd minute, Brendan Rodgers made a triple change, as anxiety and frustration increased inside the King Power Stadium. Patson Daka, Nampalys Mendy and Timothy Castagne replaced Tetê, Boubakary Soumaré and Ricardo Pereira.
Jamie Vardy’s frustrations were beginning to show, as the striker had barely mustered a sniff in the second period, with his first attempt of the second-half, from outside the area, flew high and wide.
Rovers were forced into a second change in the 76th minute as Sam Gallagher – who had also put in an outstanding performance – had also been forced to come off, before being replaced by Jack Vale.
‘Squeaky Bum Time’ became the order of the hour in the 81st minute as Harvey Barnes found an inch of space before he looked to curl one in from range, but his accuracy left a lot to be desired.
In the 83rd minute, it was bookings for goalscorers as Kelechi Iheanacho and Sammie Szmodics were both booked by Tim Robinson for some partaking in some handbags.
Rovers looked to freshen up their team and consolidate their name into the hat for Wednesday’s Quarter Final draw as Ash Phillips and John Buckley replaced Tyler Morton and Ryan Hedges, with Rovers moving to a 5-4-1.
Iheanacho tried to hit a long-ranged effort towards goal, but saw his attempt edge wide in the 86th minute.
The Nigerian again aimed to equalise late on, but was denied an equaliser from outside the box by the safe hands of Aynsley Pears.
Another long-ranged attempt came as the click hit 90, as Nampalys Mendy’s own sighter from distance cleared the Rovers crossbar as whistle emerged from the away end.
Come the 90th minute, the fourth official’s board was hoisted into the air, carrying six minutes, which was met by groans from the travelling support, but rally cries of encouragement from the home contingency.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s 93rd minute corner saw Daniel Amartey come agonisingly close to sending the contest to extra-time, as the defender rose highest in the Rovers box to meet the set-piece, yet the footballing Gods were smiling on Rovers, as the ball swung behind via the right-hand post.
The final act of the game saw Mendy booked for fouling Lewis Travis, as the final whistle was soon met with a pulsating roar of delight from the away fans, following Aynsley Pears’ clearance up-field, as the 2,626 Blue and White supporters began serenading their heroes after they had secured a Quarter Final spot in the FA Cup for the first-time since 2015’s 1-0 defeat to – ironically – Brendan Rodgers’ Liverpool via a replay at Ewood Park, following a 0-0 draw at Anfield.
‘Best performance of the season’ is the only narrative one can take from this game. A side with a plethora of injuries and suspensions, missing their biggest goal threat and most creative outlet – who were sat commentating in the stands! – had managed to outplay and beat a Premier League team who, 12 months ago, were playing continental football. All sorts of superlatives should be given to this team, who worked hard, pressed cohesively with each other and defied all the odds to beat an experienced side. Whilst the goal they conceded can be classed as ‘unlucky’, in truth, the only negative to the evening was the fact Rovers hadn’t already wrapped the game up by the time Iheanacho had scored, given the number of chances they had.
With Rovers into the Quarter Finals and the draw already taken place by the time this report has been written, the Blues have been given an away tie against fellow Championship side, Sheffield United, who overcame Tottenham Hotspur by a 1-0 scoreline, on Wednesday evening.
The Blades remain on Rovers’ radar in the league, as well as the cup, as Paul Heckingbottom are Rovers’ next Championship opponents. The fellow Quarter Finalists make the trip to Ewood Park on Saturday 4th March for the 12:30pm kick-off, in a game televised on Sky Sports. The game after sees Rovers again on Sky Sports, but this time on a Friday night, as they make the trip to Stoke City for an 8pm start. Following that affair, Rovers return to home soil to welcome Reading on Wednesday 15th March at 7:45pm, as the Blues face the Royals who look as though they will be slapped with a points deduction for ‘failing to adhere to a business plan previously agreed between the club and the EFL.’
