John Eustace’s return to St. Andrew’s saw the newly appointed Rovers boss fall to an abject, misfiring defeat against his former employers as Birmingham City and Tony Mowbray won their first Championship home game since November.
After the new boss made himself comfortable in the Rovers dugout at Ewood Park in the second-half of his new side’s 3-1 home victory over Stoke City on Saturday, after assistant coaches, David Lowe and Damien Johnson took charge, the former midfielder was getting stuck in from the start as he named an unchanged side from the one that returned to winning ways at the weekend.
As over 700 Rovers fans managed to get themselves to the Second City midweek in a valiant effort, it was the home side that got the game underway after Thomas Kirk’s opening whistle, as they looked to try and get back to winning ways, despite not having Tony Mowbray on the touchline, who was serving a touchline ban after accumulating three yellow cards.
The opening 10 minutes were quiet, as neither side managed to really assert themselves into the game, but the first half-chance of the game did come when Birmingham were awarded a free-kick around 20-yards away from goal, but Paik Seung-ho’s set-piece was well gathered by Aynsley Pears.
A fine through-ball from deep sent Kōji Miyoshi away on 13 minutes, but Pears was alert and quick enough to speed out of his goal and steal the ball from under the nose of the Japanese attacker.
With 18 minutes gone, Tyler Roberts was slipped through by Miyoshi’s deflected pass, as the Englishman broke through the Rovers backline and Pears came out to meet him, but the former Leeds United attacker, who hasn’t scored for over a year, since he bagged a brace for Queens Park Rangers against Reading in a 2-2 draw in January 2023. However, the winger’s poor luck continued as his effort was poked wide.
Moments later, the home side continued fine spell as the ball dropped to Jay Stansfield who tried a howitzer from range that flashed wide of Pears’ goal.
The game continued to be subdued as both sides continued to try and break down their opposing defenders, with neither goalkeeper really required to make a sudden movement, until the 34th minute when Miyoshi’s cross saw Marc Roberts – Brum’s skipper for the evening – connect with the cross as he saw it bounce behind off the left-hand post as Pears was left scrambling.
The first change of the game came in the 35th minute as Joe Rankin-Costello was forced off with an injury after he collided with Paik Seung-ho. Despite trying to shake off the knock, the midfielder was replaced by Jake Garrett.
Andre Dozzell was afforded half a yard of space in the 38th minute as he looked to try and find the inside of the near-post from range, but his shot proved simple for Pears to get down to his right and save the tame effort.
Sammie Szmodics finally managed to get himself involved in a meaningful attacking action in the game with 40 minutes gone. After some nippy build-up play around the home side’s box, Tyrhys Dolan found Jake Garrett who rolled the ball into Szmodics’ path who lined up an effort which looped over John Ruddy’s crossbar harmlessly.
As the 45th minute edged closer, referee Thomas Kirk allocated a minimum of two added minutes at the end of the first-half as the game continued to peter out into the break, as the whistle soon came.
Tony Mowbray – who would have come down from the Director’s Box to speak to his team – would have been pleased with how his side had dominated most of the game, but would have been frustrated that his current side weren’t leading his old team due to the one gilt-edged chance they had created through Roberts. The Brum boss would have wanted his side to continue their dominance on the ball to try and reward their home fans with three points to edge themselves away from the relegation zone.
Former Birmingham boss, John Eustace would have been left with a lot to discuss to his Rovers side at the break as they looked second best out there, despite being able to get to the break with their clean-sheet still intact. Although Rovers had managed some forays forward into the Birmingham final third, they never really looked like troubling the home team as they failed to muster a shot on target throughout the first 45 minutes. The new boss would have wanted his side’s tempo to increase in order for them to apply pressure on the side in Blue.
After both sides had their half-time team-talks, they returned to the field of play with Rovers ready to take the kick-off ahead of the second period. The visitors, who were aiming for their first victory on the road since the 3-0 triumph over Stoke City on 25th November 2023, wanted to send their loyal supporters home with something to talk about as they go into work on Wednesday morning.
The first chance of the second-half came Rovers’ ways as they managed to craft their first shot at goal of the game as Callum Brittain fed Szmodics in-behind and the early attempt from the Championship’s top scorer nearly caught Ruddy out who palmed the ball behind for a corner. The set-piece fell as far as Jake Garrett whose half-volley was crossed back into the box as Sam Gallagher’s connection took the speed out the ball as Ruddy claimed.
In the 48th minute, Birmingham won a free-kick outside the box as Garrett was booked by Mr. Kirk. The subsequent delivery was sent in by Dozzell as Roberts’ header from close-range zipped over the crossbar in a warning sign for Rovers.
With 50 minutes gone, Aynsley Pears’ hesitant footwork saw Tyler Roberts win the ball back inside the six-yard area, but the winger again failed to convert as his close-range attempt from a tight angle went over the bar.
Two minutes later, a second Rovers booking was shown as Dominic Hyam was booked for bringing down Ethan Laird as Paik Seoung-ho’s deliver was half-cleared by Rovers before the next wave saw the danger fully removed as a counter from Rovers was cut out inside the home team’s box.
In the 58th minute, Ryan Hedges saw his left-footed strike easily tracked and claimed by John Ruddy.
Ethan Laird was booked in the 64th minute for bringing down Sam Gallagher inside the Rovers half.
A minute later, Birmingham moved to make their first changes of the evening, as Juninho Bacuna replaced Paik Seoung-ho, whilst Siriki Dembélé replaced Kōji Miyoshi.
Some fine interplay in the 68th minute saw Birmingham shuffle Rovers across the edge of their box as Tyler Roberts picked out the run of Siriki Dembélé, whose shot ballooned into the stand behind Pears’ goal.
John Eustace moved to make his first pair of changes from the bench, in a move which replicated one from the weekend as Andrew Moran and Connor O’Riordan replaced Ryan Hedges and Tyrhys Dolan as Ben Chrisene took up the left wing-back spot to allow the former Crewe Alexandra man to slot in besides Dominic Hyam and Kyle McFadzean.
After the change, Birmingham again got themselves forwards in the 71st minute as Jordan James saw his long-ranger not trouble Pears.
With calls for handball from the home crowd as a cross deflected off Ben Chrisene, the ball dropped to Siriki Dembélé who saw his effort speed wide of the far-post as Rovers were awarded another goal-kick.
As Juninho Bacuna skipped past Callum Brittain down the wing in the 77th minute, a cross into the box led to a multitude of blocked efforts as pinball began inside the away side’s penalty areas before the ball eventually broke the way of Andre Dozzell who poked out a boot to divert the ball past the unsighted Pears to open the scoring and claim his first goal for his new club, to give the Second City side the 1-0 lead.
In the 81st minute, Rovers moved to make two attacking changes as John Eustace moved to a back four as Kyle McFadzean and Sam Gallagher made way with Arnór Sigurðsson and Semir Telalović were given nine minutes to salvage something for Rovers from the game.
Dembélé was soon booked in the 86th minute after committing a foul just outside Rovers’ own box.
As the clock ticked over into the 90th minute, Thomas Kirk and his officiating team called for a minimum of four minutes to be added onto the end of the game, as Sondre Tronstad became the next player to be booked after he chopped down Jordan James just over the halfway line.
In the 95th minute, the last chance of the game fell Rovers’ way as a long throw from Callum Brittain was flicked on in the area, as Sigurðsson found Telalović whose header from point-blank range fell straight into the awaiting gloves of John Ruddy who claimed the ball with the final whistle coming moments later to condemn Rovers to a sixth consecutive away defeat.
Based on such a lacklustre display, the false dawn of Saturday has shown that there is still a lot of work to do for John Eustace as he eases into life in East Lancashire. Whilst his side only had a few days to prepare for tonight’s fixture, the lack of intensity, desire and forward-thinking movement left a lot to be desired for the travelling supporters.
With there still being some Championship fixtures to play on Wednesday evening, defeat has awkwardly seen Rovers move up the table, from 17th into 16th position, despite them remaining on 36 points from 30 games with a negative -6 goal-difference.
Things don’t get easier for Rovers, as they face a local derby away at Preston North End, this upcoming Saturday (17th February) at 3pm, before a excursion to Wales where they will play visitors to Cardiff City in another midweek away clash on Tuesday 20th February at 7:45pm. Once those back-to-back trips are complete, Rovers will be back at Ewood Park to host Norwich City on Saturday 24th February at 3pm.
