There was a share of the spoils down at the Liberty Stadium as Rovers and Swansea City drew level in goals, personnel and bookings as a double helping of goals in the first-half was followed by a double helping of red cards in the second-half as Tony Mowbray’s men had to settle for a 1-1 draw in South Wales, as their winning run ended, despite their unbeaten streak being extended to five.
Rovers named an unchanged team for the fourth game in a row, which was the first time such event occurred under gaffer, Tony Mowbray. There was one milestone among the Rovers ranks, as Lewis Travis made his 50th league appearance for the Blues, whilst Danny Graham returned to a club where he enjoyed a fruitful spell in the top-flight, on the search for his 50th league goal in the colours of Rovers.
With the Lancastrians wearing black armbands in memory of former manager Jim Smith who sadly passed away on Tuesday, aged 79, it was the away side in their navy third kit who got the action underway at the Liberty Stadium as they and their 265 away fans, arrived in South Wales in search of a fifth consecutive win for the first time since October 2007- (which was in all competitions).
It was a fast start for Rovers as they soon found themselves a goal ahead after only four minutes of play, as Danny Graham marked his return to one of his former stomping grounds by securing his long overdue 50th league goal for the club, which was his second of the season and his first from open play. Corry Evans’ high press saw him win back possession in the Swansea half, before he laid the ball off to Bradley Dack, who shuffled it across to Adam Armstrong who delivered a delicious disguised pass towards the unmarked Graham who confidently netted Rovers’ 28th goal of the league campaign, to put his side ahead at 1-0 as he abstained from celebrating against his former club as a mark of respect.
Five minutes after the Rovers goal, Swansea were awarded a free-kick that saw Dack booked, after the playmaker had tripped City forward, Sam Surridge.
The subsequent set-piece saw Bersant Celina try his luck from range, but saw his effort deflected behind for a 10th minute corner, as Swansea piled forward in search of a sudden equaliser. The corner, which was taken by former Rovers loanee Matt Grimes was lofted into a crowded area but powered towards goal by Ghanaian international André Ayew who scored Swansea’s eight goal from a corner this season after finding himself unmarked inside the six-yard box, to level the scoring at 1-1.
Swansea, with their tails up, came forward in search of a quick-fire double, only four minutes after scoring as a George Byers’ volley from inside the penalty area ballooned over the bar.
Rovers had an attack of their own on the 15th minute as the period of possession the hosts had after their equaliser fizzled out. The ball was worked out to Stewart Downing as the winger-turned-full-back hung a ball up for Graham to header. Although the cross was a good one, Graham was unable to get his 51st in Rovers colours as his nod was glanced wide of the mark.
Tosin Adarabioyo nearly fell foul to a mistake, as Surridge dispossessed the on-loan centre-half and bore down on goal. Luckily for Adarabioyo, his blushes were spared as Surridge’s outside of the foot effort saw him drag his shot wide of the mark, as the on-loan Bournemouth forward failed to add to his three-goal haul in the Championship so far, this campaign.
On the 28th minute, Ayew nearly caused Rovers more troubles after he tried his luck from the edge of the area. A quick free-kick by the home side saw the ball fall to Ayew around 40-yards away from goal. The goalscorer was able to carry the ball, relatively unchallenged towards the edge of the area, before seeing his powerful drive land wide of the mark.
Ayew seemed determined to add a second as only minutes later, he had another chance to give the Swans the lead for the first time in the game. Celina picked the ball up on the turnover as the hosts looked to break forward. The Kosovan did well to slide the Ghanaian in, before the former West Ham United forward took aim. Luckily for Rovers, they weren’t punished on the counter as Christian Walton did well to deny Ayew a second, as the on-loan Brighton and Hove Albion ‘keeper saved with his legs.
Tom Carroll soon found himself the recipient of a card – a yellow one, not a Christmassy one – as he was penalised for bringing down Armstrong.
With the game finely balanced, with Swansea perhaps edging the game stats-wise, referee Jeremy Simpson soon called for two added minutes, before signalling for half-time after the game petered out into a slow battle for possession.
As both teams headed into their respective changing rooms with contrasting runs of form, with Swansea having not tasted victory since their 2-1 triumph away at Wigan Athletic on 2nd November, five games ago and Rovers currently hoping to maintain their winning run, the half-time team-talks of Steve Cooper and Tony Mowbray respectively, would be crucial and potentially season defining.
Looking into the Swansea dressing room, Cooper would have been a man of mixed emotions as he would have been pleased with the reaction of his side, having gone a goal down so early in the game, however he would have also been annoyed at the fact they had conceded in the first place. The former England-u17s World Cup winning manager would have been encouraging his side to return to the field with the same fight and intensity as they had shown from the moment they’d scored, up until the break.
Tony Mowbray, meanwhile, would have had an opposite reaction to that of Cooper. Mowbray would have been frustrated that his side had conceded from a set-piece so soon after taking the lead themselves. The Rovers boss, however would have been encouraged with his side’s possessional play throughout the half and would have been encouraging them to continue what they were doing, despite Swansea’s potent counter-attacking threat. On that threat, Mowbray will no doubt have praised his defenders and ‘keeper for their part in quelling numerous attacks by the home side, despite having little to shout about in terms of attacking chances after their goal.
As the bell rang to call the players back for the second-half, it was the home side who took the kick-off to restart the game in the hope that they could utilise the added quality they had within their ranks in order to secure their first win in five and halt a slump that could threaten their play-off ambitions.
Swansea picked up the second-half, where they had left the first, as Ayew again tested Walton with a powerful strike from the edge of the area on the 48th minute, as the Rovers shot-stopper could only palm the stinging drive behind for a corner.
The subsequent Swansea set-piece was lofted in and flicked on towards goal but stayed out after what looked like a handball by Bradley Dack, from just ahead of the line. Although it looked to have clearly struck Dack’s vertical arm, unintentionally, from first viewing, the officiating team waved play on as Dack avoided a sending off and the conceding of a penalty.
Tony Mowbray soon made the first substitution of the game on the 55th minute as Elliott Bennett came onto the pitch, replacing the underwhelming Joe Rothwell. This change saw Bennett move into left-back as Stewart Downing shuffled up to the left-hand side of midfield.
On the 57th minute, ‘twas the season for Tom Carroll to get into the Christmas spirit as he fit all the festive stereotypes as he ‘Carrolled’ his way into a receiving a red card just in time for the holidays(!) The former Tottenham Hotspur man was shown a second yellow and then a red card for a mistimed lunge on Lewis Travis, much to the disdain of the increasingly anxious home crowd. – (Apologies for that, it’s hard to resist the Christmas puns when they’re staring you in the face!)
As the game ticked over into the hour mark, Dack saw a golden chance to put Rovers ahead, flash wide, as his header trundled wide of the mark. A Corry Evans cross saw an unmarked Dack, weasel his way between both Swansea centre-backs before glancing his header wide, despite having Graham behind him, had he taken it down, or left the cross.
Downing’s waist-height cross was cleared, only as far as Corry Evans whose snapshot rolled well wide.
On the 63rd minute, Swansea thought they had been awarded a penalty as Surridge felt he had been brought down in the area, after a Rovers mix-up at the back saw the forward break free. Luckily for Rovers, Mr. Simpson deemed the fall to be a dive, as the Blues were awarded a free-kick, whilst Surridge escaped without a booking.
During the stoppage for the free-kick, Rovers saw their second change of the night take effect as Lewis Holtby replaced Corry Evans as Rovers looked to capitalise on their man advantage with the guile and mobility of Holtby.
Moments after the change, Dack managed to whip in a cross towards the back-post which Downing connected with cleanly. Although the connection was good, the accuracy was not as the volley drifted wide for a goal-kick.
In a hilariously predictable fashion, the odds were soon evened in terms of personnel on the pitch as that cross by Dack turned out to be his final involvement in the tie after he too was given his marching orders for a second yellow card after a foul on the ex-Rovers loanee, Grimes. What made the sending off more ironic, was his handball at the start of the half, which had gone unnoticed by the officials. Rovers fans will be relieved to know, however, that barring any potential disciplinary committee meeting – which shouldn’t happen as the foul was not malicious – Dack will only be absent for Rovers’ next game, which is at the weekend, away at Bristol City.
That sudden shock for Rovers forced Tony Mowbray into his final change of the evening on the 71st minute, as Sam Gallagher was introduced in place of Danny Graham, who despite not celebrating his goal, received mixed reactions from the home crowd.
The 75th minute saw Celina try his luck, but fail to hit the target, as the pendulum swung back in Swansea’s favour.
That attempt proved to be Celina’s last act of the game, as four minutes later, he was hauled off and replaced by on-loan forward, Aldo Kalulu.
The substitute Kalulu had an immediate impact as he was played through on goal, but saw the ball bravely stolen off his feet by the on-rushing Walton, on the 82nd minute, who took a whack for his troubles.
Two minutes later, Rovers were up the other end in search of a late winner. A Blues corner was only cleared as far as Darragh Lenihan whose cross fell to Lewis Holtby, who tried to steer in an effort from close-range, but saw his shot blocked before being cleared.
An 87th minute counter-attack spearheaded by Sam Gallagher nearly resulted in the forward notching his second goal in successive away wins as he superbly galloped past numerous Swansea players after picking the ball up in his own half. Although the Messi-like run required a Messi-like finish, Swans ‘keeper Freddie Woodman – on-loan from Newcastle United – did enough to deny the forward his second successive goal off the bench, as the goalie’s leg was enough to avert the danger.
With both sides looking weary, having been reduced to 10 men apiece, it wasn’t a surprise to see the gave end as a 1-1 stalemate, following the addition of four added minutes, given the effort exerted on the pitch during such a busy period. Despite there being some opportunities for both sides to snatch victory, both sets of defenders did enough to curtail their opposing attackers enough to settle the proceedings in Wales at a point each.
On reflection, there is nobody in this league who would turn their nose up at an away point, especially having gone down to 10 men, with just over 23 minutes remaining, as what happened with Dack. Although we are seemingly in a time where cards are at their peak, what with polling cards and Christmas cards being all the rave at the moment(!) – sorry, couldn’t resist the topical comment again! – both Carroll and Rovers’ talisman can deem themselves ridiculously unlucky to have received red cards. Given Dack’s attempt at getting the ball, which led to him stamping on the foot of Grimes, was akin to how he usually wins back possession with his backside being used as a point of strength he can deem himself extremely unlucky. His absence for Rovers’ next game, however can be seen as a positive, given the hectic fixture list and the opportunity it gives for players to stake their claim in the team for a role behind the striker – à la Joe Rothwell or Lewis Holtby – whilst Dack himself gets a much-deserved rest. On the game as a whole, there will undoubtedly be a frustration from Mowbray’s perspective surrounding the goal they had conceded, given it was a set-piece, however the gaffer would probably masquerade that as a positive, as Rovers managed to keep Swansea at just the one goal, given the record the Blues have had in recent times with heavy away defeats. Whilst some would say that the game was there for the taking after Carroll’s dismissal, and that Rovers should have taken the lead with the couple of chances they had, the players do have to be applauded for escaping the Liberty Stadium with a point, given the force with which Swansea attacked, when the personnel had been reduced to 10-apiece.
Averting attention to the league table, nothing has changed in terms of position, as far as Rovers are concerned as they remain 10th with a goal-difference of zero after 21 games. The only noteworthy change to the table was the added point from tonight, which saw their tally rise to 31 and with the playoffs only three points away, Mowbray and his men will be hoping that they can take their solid form into their feisty festive fixtures.
Speaking of said feisty festive fixtures, a Dackless ‘Dackburn Rovers’ as many have billed them, will remain in their digs in Wales for the next few days as they train and prepare for a trip even further south of Lancashire, as they are pencilled in to play playoff hopefuls, Bristol City at Ashton Gate on Saturday 14th December at 3pm. Following that affair, Mowbray and his men get an extended break as they next see action back at Ewood Park on Monday 23rd December, where they play host to relegation-threatened Wigan Athletic at 7:45pm, live on Sky Sports. After that, the Boxing Day fixture, which kicks-off at 3pm, sees FA Cup opponents, Birmingham City make the trip up north to Ewood Park as the sides lock horns for the second of three times this campaign.
