A pulsating game saw Rovers fight back from a Jón Daði Böðvarsson first-half brace, as Charlie Mulgrew matched the Icelandic forward with a brace of his own to secure a much-valued point, which sees the Blues extend their unbeaten start to the season, to 4 league games.
Before kick-off, Tony Mowbray had talked about the threat that Reading possessed, not only technically, but also mentally, after describing them as a ‘wounded animal’, following the Royals’ failure to secure a point on the league table, prior to this fixture.
The starting line-up that was tasked with the challenge of facing said ‘wounded animal’, saw 2 changes to the side that earnt a much-deserved victory over Hull City, 4 days ago. Out of the side came Bradley Dack, with a swelled knee, and Kasey Palmer, who had picked up an injury during training in midweek, and in came Joe Rothwell and Danny Graham. As a result of the changes to the starting 11, Joe Nuttall and Sam Hart both came into the side, to take up the remaining vacant spots on the bench.
As the home side kicked-off, it was Rovers who, much like they had done against Hull City, began the game in the ascendancy, as Joe Rothwell became the first player in Rovers colours to try his luck at goal, after only 6 minutes on the clock. The former Oxford United man, who was participating in his 100th career appearance as a result of being picked, received the ball from Elliott Bennett after the winger had picked up a loose ball and played it central towards Rothwell. The 23-year old then took a touch to steady himself before firing a shot towards goal that had Reading ‘keeper Vito Mannone scrambling, but unfortunately for Rothwell, he was unable to open his account in Blue and White, as his shot crashed off the crossbar, before his rebound was shanked over the bar.
On the 10th minute, Richie Smallwood, who was also breaking a milestone, by participating in his 50th consecutive Rovers league start, did well to surprise Leandro Bacuna and dispossess the former Aston Villa man. Smallwood’s tackle fell to the feet of Adam Armstrong, who took it as a chance to burst forwards towards goal, using his pace. Faced with half-a-dozen Reading defenders, the Rovers number 7 decided to curl a shot towards goal from the edge of the area, which subsequently produced a brilliant save from Mannone, who conceded a corner, which ultimately came to nothing, as Reading cleared.
Despite Rovers having the better of the opening 10 minutes, it was the away side who got themselves on the scoresheet first, after some misjudgement by Darragh Lenihan and some hesitation by David Raya, allowed Bodvarsson to put his side ahead with a fine finish. A long, but targeted ball forwards by Bacuna saw Bodvarsson gamble on Lenihan’s misjudged, weak header back to Raya, which the Spaniard failed to come out and claim. As a result of Raya’s hesitation, not to claim the ball and smash into the forward, Bodvarsson won the 50/50 challenge with a prod of the foot which allowed him to wheel away in celebration as the ball bounced over the line.
With the disappointment of the goal obvious, Rovers tried to look for an instant reply, which nearly came through Danny Graham. A cross came in as Graham looked to fight off his marker and try and get his side back on level terms, but unfortunately for the forward, his header ended up behind the goal, rather than in it.
Although Rovers had been the better side prior to the Bodvarsson goal on the 12th minute, it only took another 13 minutes before the Icelandic forward doubled his tally for the night on the 25th minute, in order to put his side 2-0 up. Some good possession by Reading, led to the away side switch the side of their attack, from right to left, as Tyler Blackett delivered in an inviting cross which saw Yakou Méïté produce a fine stop from David Raya, as the Spaniard denied the Reading number 21’s header. Frustratingly for Rovers however, Raya’s stop saw him parry the ball straight into Bodvarsson’s path, who had the simple job of lashing the ball home from close range to put his side 2-0 up.
With 39 minutes on the clock, Rovers did well to muster up an opportunity for Joe Rothwell, who had been a bright spark in a frustrating first-half performance. The midfielder received the ball on the edge of the box after Paul McShane tackled Armstrong, before powering a first-time effort at goal that looked destined the break the net, had it not been for the head of Liam Moore, who diverted the ball away for a corner, which again, came to nothing.
As the half edged closer to ending, Rovers were dealt another blow, as Adam Armstrong was withdrawn due to a foot injury, and was replaced by Craig Conway, who took up a position on the left-hand side, which allowed Rothwell to take up a spot behind Graham until the half ended.
With 3 minutes of added time being allocated by Oliver Langford, the match official, the final chance of the period fell to Darragh Lenihan, who had the chance to make amends for his fault on the first goal, by getting Rovers back into it before the break. A cleared corner only got as far as Elliott Bennett, who laid it off to Richie Smallwood, who then floated in a ball towards the back-post where Lenihan had all the time in the world to bring the ball down and shoot. Although the time was there, the defender’s composure was not, as his rushed header saw Mannone claim the ball, as the half-time whistle went.
As the 3 minutes of time ended, so did the half, as Rovers entered their dressing room, in a spot of bother. Despite starting the game well, they had seen Reading take and increase their lead as a result of some poor communication and shoddy defending.
With half-time in full swing, Mowbray would have been frustrated with the way his side had defended for the first 45 minutes and would no doubt have spent the last 10 minutes of the half and the whole 15 minutes of the break, creating and feeding the players a plan to try and salvage something from the clash. On the other hand, Paul Clement and his staff would have no doubt been delighted with their side’s strong attacking intentions, despite their defence looking shaky on a number of occasions early on in the half.
As both sides re-emerged for the second-half, to which Reading kicked-off, Tony Mowbray hatched his plan by introducing Dominic Samuel for Richie Smallwood, and changing his side’s formation from a 4-4-2, which was used until Conway was introduced, to a 4-2-3-1, which saw Bennett partner Evans in the midfield, whilst Conway and Samuel filled in the wide roles, as Rothwell and Graham made up the respective attacking midfielder and striker roles.
With the half starting brightly for Rovers as they made many forays forward, despite not creating a clear chance at goal, their path to the back of the net was found, 51 minutes into the game, as Elliott Bennett was fouled in the box by Paul McShane, which resulted in the awarding of a Rovers penalty, which saw Mulgrew step up to take. Despite the Reading protests, Mulgrew stepped up, managed to keep his composure before firing the penalty straight down the middle, to get Rovers back into the game at 2-1, and breathe some life back into the dejected stands of Ewood Park.
On the 62nd minute, Reading came forward and looked threatening after a cross from Andy Yiadom looked to have found a Reading man in the centre, but Ryan Nyambe was there to intercept and clear the ball as a roar from the stands pushed Rovers out of their box.
With the ball out of play, after Nyambe’s clearance, Reading made their first chance, which saw Sone Aluko depart and Josh Sims replace him.
10 minutes after the Reading sub, Dominic Samuel, who himself was a Rovers substitute, was unable to see out more than 26 minutes against his former side, as he limped off injured and was replaced by Joe Nuttall, which signalled that Rovers were intent on applying pressure on Reading’s frail-looking backline, by pumping aerial balls into Nuttall and Graham.
Following the introduction of Nuttall, the forward had a chance to make himself an instant hero, as he was inches away from tapping in a rebound to level the scoring. A long ball into the box by Nyambe saw Mannone flap at the ball. His unorthodox clearance fell to Elliott Bennett, who tried his luck from the edge of the area, but saw his effort blocked by Andy Yiadom, who just about managed to clear the ball for a corner, before Nuttall could get his foot on the ball and turn it home.
The resulting corner, which was delivered by Conway, saw a scramble inside the box, with bodies flying everywhere. Although Rovers weren’t able to get a shot away, they were given a second penalty by Oliver Langford, after he had deemed that Paul McShane, had once again made a foul in the box, this time on Rovers’ captain, Mulgrew. With the decision being given, the skipper stepped up for the second-time in the game, as he perfectly dispatched the penalty to the left-hand side of the goal, to level the scoring at 2-2.
Following the goal, Reading sent on former Rover Modou Barrow, in place of Yakou Méïté, in an attempt to try and hit Rovers on the counter-attack, as the home side pushed forwards in search of a winner.
With the crowd getting behind Rovers as the game entered the final 5 minutes, Nuttall nearly headed the Blues into the lead, after he got on the end of Conway’s floated cross, but the youngster’s header ended up on the roof of the net.
Reading then made their final change, after Nuttall’s header went over, as they retracted Sam Baldock, and brought on Marc McNulty in his place.
Corry Evans soon went into the book, after a rash challenge in the Rovers half, saw him become the first, and only player to get booked on the night.
As the game entered 6 minutes of added time, which mostly came from the injury to Samuel and the cut to Bennett’s head – which saw the midfielder return with a bandage and a clean shirt – Reading had the first opportunity of the added time, as Marc McNulty did well to turn Charlie Mulgrew and Ryan Nyambe, before he curled in a shot that was comfortable for David Raya, as the goalkeeper earnt a goal-kick. From that, with Rovers pushing for a late winner, Nuttall and Evans combined, as the former laid the ball off to the latter, whose shot flew high and wide.
With Evans’ attempt being the last of the game, referee, Oliver Langford, called time on a game which defined the term, ‘end-to-end’.
On reflection, the game was a complete contrast to that of Saturday’s victory at Hull City, but in some respects, reflected the previous home game against Millwall, as Rovers didn’t get going until the second-half. With the absence of such crucial pivots, in Bradley Dack and Kasey Palmer, Rovers looked like they lacked a proper attacking outlet, who had the ability to link the team together and that was even more evident after losing Adam Armstrong late in the first-half to injury.
Credit however, is due to Mowbray for rallying his troops and tinkering with his tactics in an attempt to create a more attacking side in order to salvage a point. The most important thing that the players would have learnt from this game is probably, how to play without Dack in the squad, as despite being 2-0 down at the break, they managed to rally and find a way to remain unbeaten without their talisman available, which is nothing but encouraging from a fan’s perspective.
Someone who stood out, and rightfully earnt himself the club’s man of the match award, is Joe Rothwell. The new signing started the game brightly and showed off his pace and qualities both going forwards and backwards, throughout the match, and there is no doubt, that had Armstrong not been injured, the former Oxford man would have been playing in a more central role during the second-half, after the switch in formation, instead of out on the left, which is where he operated from in the first-half.
One potential negative from the game, is probably Rovers’ bench. Including the injuries sustained from this game, Rovers are now down to bare bones in the attacking department, with only Graham and Nuttall the fully fit forward players on Rovers’ list. With the loan window still open for another 8 days, it will be interesting to see whether Mowbray completes his business of acquiring a much-needed striker and/or winger, in order to increase our attacking options and add more depth.
Following the salvaging of that point, the league table sees Rovers in a brilliant 9th place and only 2 points off the playoffs, after picking up 6 points from a possible 12, with a +1-goal difference, after only 4 games played.
Looking towards the next fixtures, Rovers are next back in action on Saturday, as they play the second of their back-to-back home league games, against Brentford on 25th August, at 3pm. Following the visit of Dean Smith’s side, they then turn their attentions to the Carabao Cup 2nd round, which sees Danny Cowley’s Lincoln City travel to Ewood Park, on Tuesday, 28th August, for a 7:45pm kick-off. After Cowley’s men visit, Rovers then make the long trip to Bristol, where they face Lee Johnson’s Bristol City on Sunday, 2nd September, with the game being at an early 1:30pm kick-off.
