The Blues continued their march to the Sky Bet League 1 title, on Easter Monday, after holding on to all 3 points following a late MK Dons rally during the final 15 minutes, which saw Rovers see off the home sides’ threat through some valiant defending.
The team that Rovers lined-up with down in Buckinghamshire saw 3 changes from the side that, 4 days earlier, dominated Bradford City at Ewood Park, as Charlie Mulgrew returned to captain the side alongside Paul Downing, who came back into the side as a result of the injury to Darragh Lenihan on Thursday. Mulgrew’s reintroduction to the side saw Amari’i Bell return to the bench, whilst Derrick Williams moved over from centre-back, into his more preferred left-back role. The 3rd change saw Danny Graham come in for Dominic Samuel, who had to settle for a spot on the bench.
The game began lively as Rovers kicked off the first-half, as inside 30 seconds, Rovers registered their first attempt through Newcastle loanee, Adam Armstrong. The striker-turned-winger, who started the game on the right-hand side did well to get past his full-back, cut inside and release a shot which, unfortunately for Rovers, dragged wide for a goal-kick.
It didn’t take long however, for Rovers to record a second shot at goal. Elliott Bennett, who was deputising at right-back in this game due to the absence of Ryan Nyambe to injury, did well to get past MK’s left-back, before crossing in a delicious ball which was waiting to be met at the far-post. The cross was eventually met by an unmarked Marcus Antonsson who took it first-time, but couldn’t keep his volley down as the home side were awarded a goal-kick.
With Rovers dominating the possession during the opening 10 minutes, it was only a matter of time before the eventual breakthrough occurred and on the 12th minute, Adam Armstrong continued his bullying of the home side’s backline, as he used his pace to latch onto the end of Danny Graham’s through ball before steadying himself and finishing in to the bottom left-hand corner to put Rovers a goal to the good.
With 21 minutes being on the referee’s watch, Graham and Armstrong combined again, but the Dons’ keeper Lee Nicholls did well to deny Armstrong his 2nd goal of the game.
On the 24th minute, MK Dons had their first chance of the game as a free kick was lofted into the Rovers box and met by Chuks Aneke, who was unmarked, but his strike was magnificently saved by David Raya, as the Spaniard did well to keep his eye on the ball and deny the 24-year old his 10th league goal of the season.
2 minutes after Raya denied the home side a leveller, Callum Brittain lined-up a shot from the edge of the Rovers box to try and test the Rovers number 1 again, but his shot was not at all handsome as the shot flew wide of Raya’s post.
With Rovers back in control of the ball, Adam Armstrong nearly doubled his tally on the 34th minute, but for the alertness of Lee Nicholls in the hosts’ goal. Armstrong picked up the ball down the right-hand side, before skipping past Dean Lewington, the full-back and putting in a cross which looked destined to strike the far-post and go in. Nicholls however, was aware of the situation and did well to push the ball behind for a corner.
With half-time only a minute away, Armstrong continued his dominance over the game by releasing another strike, this time from distance, which was aimed to test the MK Dons keeper. The loanee controlled the ball brilliantly before turning and powering a shot towards goal from some way out, but Lee Nicholls was again, equal to the attempt.
All of Nicholls’ saves were to be in vain by the time the first minute of added time was played, as Adam Armstrong got the better of the former Wigan goalkeeper for the second time in the game after, once again, receiving the ball on the counter-attack from a Danny Graham through ball. The 21-year old used his raw pace and power to get beyond Dean Lewington before cutting inside and slotting the ball through the goalkeepers’ legs to double Rovers’ lead, going into the break.
As referee Kevin Friend blew for half-time, the travelling Rovers contingency and their manager Tony Mowbray, would have been delighted with the performance that their side produced during the first 45 minutes. Rovers had come out of the starting blocks on a quick and dominant fashion which is what the players and the fans alike would have expected due to the importance of the games that are left to be played in the league. In contrast, Dan Micciche and the MK supporters would have been fuming regarding how their team applied themselves with little possession and what looked like, a lack of effort, despite them looking over their shoulder in the table.
MK Dons started the second period, but not before making two changes at the break which involved the withdrawal of Ousseynou Cissé and Robbie Muirhead which allowed Kieran Agard and Scott Golbourne to replace them.
3 minutes after the restart, MK Dons had seemingly regrouped and learn how to attack Rovers as Golbourne and Aneke combined for the hosts’ second chance of the game. On the counter-attack, Golbourne found himself charging towards the Rovers backline before spotting and then playing Aneke through, but the former Arsenal youth graduate’s header couldn’t keep his header on target.
On the 51st minute, Rovers made their first change of the game as Marcus Antonsson was withdrawn and replaced by Jack Payne.
3 minutes after Payne’s introduction, Rovers had a penalty shout waved away by Kevin Friend as Adam Armstrong looked to have been brought down under a tackle by Brittain. Despite the Rovers protests however, play continued.
After an hour had gone, Adam Armstrong could have earnt his hattick had his effort been on target. The forward was played in on goal by Bradley Dack, who was having a strangely quiet game. Armstrong however received the ball and struck a curling effort at goal which unluckily veered wide from the upright.
5 minutes after Armstrong narrowly missed, it was Payne’s turn to try and get on the scoresheet. The Huddersfield-loanee fired a shot in from range, but his effort didn’t trouble Nicholls as the ball went behind for a goal-kick.
On the 70th minute, Peter Pawlett tried to get his side back into the game, but was superbly denied by another great David Raya save.
Despite Raya’s best efforts however, Pawlett soon managed to put the ball into the back of the Rovers net, 3 minutes after Raya’s save, as a lack in concentration within the Rovers ranks saw Pawlett pop up and nod the Dons back into the game, after he met Agard’s cross, with just over 15 minutes left.
In reaction to the goal, Tony Mowbray made his final 2 substitutions as he withdrew Danny Graham and Bradley Dack and replaced them with Dominic Samuel and Amari’i Bell, as the Blues switched to a 5 at the back formation to hold onto the lead.
With over 10 minutes to go, MK Dons withdrew Dean Lewington, who had a hard time defending against Adam Armstrong and replaced him with Brandon Thomas-Asante.
With 83 minutes on the clock, Rovers had a great chance to finish the game off after breaking away on the counter-attack through Armstrong who played in Dominic Samuel. Samuel, the substitute, set up his angles perfectly before somehow firing over the bar.
On the 88th minutes, David Raya produced another sublime save as he put his body on the line to earn Rovers the 3 points.
As the MK Dons barrage came forward, they had a penalty appeal turned down by Kevin Friend, but as the clock ticked into added time, Aneke saw the ball drop to him inside the Rovers penalty area before striking towards goal first time, but luckily for Rovers, Richie Smallwood threw his body on the line as he flung himself into the shots’ path as his teammates were able to clear, which signalled to Kevin Friend to blow for full-time.
With only 7 games left in the league season, Rovers today showed that they were more than deserving of a place in next seasons’ Championship after a dominant display, despite having to deal with a nervy last 15 minutes. This game showed that, although the overall skill of finishing had departed the likes of Graham, Dack and Samuel for this game, the strength in depth within the squad would remain key until the seasons’ end.
With Wigan playing Portsmouth as the days’ 17:30 kick-off, live on Sky Sports, Rovers fans will be anxious to see whether Pompey could do them a favour and defeat the Latics, which would see Rovers finish Easter Monday, atop of the league. The current standings, with 7 games remaining for Rovers, sees the Blues lead the league with 82 points, Shrewsbury – who have now played a game more than Rovers – close in behind on 81, following their victory over Oxford United, whilst Wigan – who have a game in-hand over Rovers – remain on 80.
Rovers’ next outing sees them host Southend United on the 7th April, before, once again, travelling down to the Priestfield Stadium to face Gillingham after the original game was postponed due to adverse weather. Once these two hurdles are overcome, Tony Mowbray’s Blue and White army then travels down to The Memorial Stadium to face Bristol Rovers.
