On a night that could have seen the Blues move within two points of the coveted playoffs, the home side were unable to capitalise on the visit of relegation-threatened Stoke City, as Rovers’ goalless stumble justified the age-old proverb by ‘failing to do the business on a cold Wednesday night against Stoke.’
The side that braved the near-freezing temperature saw two changes to the side that had managed a 2-2 draw away at Griffin Park against Brentford at the weekend. Joe Rothwell and Sam Gallagher returned from their respective injuries to take the places of Dominic Samuel and John Buckley, respectively, both of whom were left on the bench. As is seeming to be the norm lately, three milestones were hit amongst the Rovers ranks as Lewis Travis made his 50th league appearance for Rovers, whilst Adam Armstrong managed to claim his century, in the same category. The third milestone, which completed the Rovers hat-trick saw veteran Stewart Downing clock up his 500th league start in what has been an outstanding career.
As the 861 Stoke City fans, who had made the 73-mile journey in the appalling conditions settled in their seats high up in the Darwen End, it was their side who won the coin toss as Sam Clucas go the game underway at the behest of referee Darren Bond.
The game was less than 90 seconds old before the home crowd were up in celebration of what seemed to be the first goal of the evening, however the linesman was eagle-eyed to spot that Joe Rothwell turned home from an offside position, after the returning midfielder tapped home Jack Butland’s parry, which originated from Adam Armstrong’s initial effort.
Stoke retaliated almost instantaneously with an effort of their own as Tyrese Campbell – son of former Arsenal and Everton striker, Kevin – saw his shot from outside of the box well saved by the safe-hands of Christian Walton.
The 10th minute saw Ryan Nyambe steamroll forwards and try his luck from distance. After edging forwards from halfway, the full-back did well to bring down a crossfield ball, before setting himself to strike from around 20-yards out. Although the build-up was good, the defender, who is yet to find the back of the net in Rovers colours, saw his laced effort zip narrowly wide of Butland’s far-post.
Three minutes after Nyambe’s attempt, Darragh Lenihan received the game’s first booking after what looked like a soft foul on Campbell. Although the resulting set-piece led to nothing, the booking was significant for Lenihan as it meant that he had become unavailable for Rovers’ next two games – at home to Swansea City and away to Debry County – after the Republic of Ireland defender notched his tenth league booking of the campaign.
The defender played a major role in creating the game’s next chance, however, as his long punt downfield was flicked on by Sam Gallagher, into the path of Joe Rothwell, who was met with an out-rushing Butland. Unfortunately for Rothwell, Butland did enough to force his delicate chip over the bar, which ruled out the former Oxford Untied man grabbing his first league goal of the season.
Stoke had a rare foray forwards on the 18th minute as Jordan Thompson saw his corner narrowly miss the head of Nick Powell, who was lurking around the Rovers six-yard box.
The away side’s influence in the game had grown by the 21st minute as they caught Rovers out with a quick free-kick. The set-piece was cleverly worked as Tom Ince was slid through on the outside, before the former Blackpool man made his way into the box, unchallenged, before ruining the move with a poor finish that ended up in the Blackburn End.
Jordan Thompson soon found himself in referee Darren Bond’s notebook on the half-an-hour mark after he hauled down Joe Rothwell.
Nine minutes after the booking, Rovers again had a chance to take the lead as Gallagher again used his aerial presence to set one of his attacking partners up. This time, Gallagher’s flick-on fell to Armstrong, instead of Rothwell, however the in-form Geordie was unable to keep his volley down, as Stoke were awarded a goal-kick.
That Armstrong chance proved to be the final action of the half as after one minute of added time was allocated onto the end of the first period, Darren Bond called time on a half that lacked quality in both boxes.
Tony Mowbray would have entered his team’s dressing room with an overall sense of frustration, with his side failing to make any of their first-half possession – which amounted to 64% – pay. The Rovers gaffer would have been offering some advice and some insight to his team, whilst also encouraging them to make their home advantage count on a night that had the potential to turn into a scrappy affair.
In the opposing changing room, current Northern Ireland boss Michael O’Neill would have been relatively satisfied with his side’s defensive solidity, but annoyed that Stoke were unable to test Christian Walton more during their attacks. The 50-year old would have been wary of Rovers’ fine home form coming into this game and would have been instructing his players to focus on ‘not losing the game’ rather than sacrificing numbers and risking it all to win the tie.
As both teams returned to the Ewood Park pitch, it was Rovers who got the game back underway, as the shivering home crowd looked on in the hope that their side could find the elusive goal that would take them within touching distance of the playoff positions.
Rovers started the second-half as brightly as they did the first, as Lenihan did well to superbly chip the ball down the line into the path of Gallagher who tried his luck first-time, but his effort from a tight angle forced Butland to produce a fine reaction save to deny the forward his first Ewood Park goal, this season.
The 52nd minute saw Gallagher remain involved in Rovers’ attacking play, but this time as a provider, rather than a finisher. He did well to get the ball under his control, before laying it across to Armstrong whose effort from the edge of the area sneaked round the wrong side of the post, as Stoke racked up another goal-kick.
Four minutes later, Armstrong tried another shot, this time after cutting inside from the left-wing, however his low, powerful drive was one that Butland was equal to, as the England international ‘keeper did well to quickly get down to his right to deny Armstrong a near-post finish.
From the save by Butland, Stoke soon found themselves up the other end with a chance of their own as Walton was forced into conceding a corner, following Campbell’s shot that stung his palms. Luckily for the hesitant Rovers players, Stoke were unable to hark back the years and convert their corner.
The 59th minute saw Rovers received a free-kick from just outside the area, however Stewart Downing was unable to replicate his younger self, as his effort deflected over for a corner.
From the corner, the ball made its way out to Amari’i Bell whose cross towards the back-post was met by Gallagher. Unfortunately for the forward, the fact that he was being man-marked didn’t help his chances at converting as his header lacked the power to test Butland, who claimed the ball with ease.
The former Birmingham goalie was soon tested minutes later, as an effort from Rothwell deemed certain to curl inside the right-hand upright, but for the large frame of the ‘keeper, who again denied Rovers the opener.
Downing tried his luck from way out on the 68th minute but found his shot veer wide of the target.
As Stoke looked to try and ease themselves back into the game from an attacking perspective, they decided to play the first change of the game as former Millwall forward Lee Gregory entered the pitch at the expense of Tyrese Campbell, who departed.
The 75th minute saw Rovers earn a corner that Downing took short towards Rothwell. The attacking midfielder, who was under little Stoke pressure, had the time to pick out Armstrong on the edge of the area, who had gravitated towards the ball. Despite ‘Mini-Shearer’ being in the form of his life, he was unable to convert his subsequent effort, as Butland again did well to hold onto the ball.
Moments after Butland saved, his manager decided to make a second substitution as Jordan Cousins came on for Jordan Thompson. Rovers soon retaliated with a double change on the 78th minute as Dominic Samuel and Joe Rankin-Costello came on for the returning duo of Sam Gallagher and Joe Rothwell.
That double change had little effect on Rovers before the third and final home substitution was made which saw Danny Graham come on for Bradley Johnson, in a move that screamed ‘attacking.’ The alteration in the forward line saw Downing fill the Johnson’s vacated spot besides Lewis Travis, whilst Rovers lined-up with a quartet of Armstrong, Rankin-Costello and Samuel all behind Graham.
The 88th minute saw Stoke shut up shop as they introduced on-loan Welsh centre-back James Chester – who came from Aston Villa – in-place of Nick Powell.
The final act of the game, before three minutes of added time were called for, was the awarding of a yellow card to Sam Clucas by Darren Bond, as a result of dissent for kicking the ball away.
The game soon ticked down to a conclusion with little to no goalmouth action, in the final stages that warmed up either sets of fans. Although a few things dropped and bounced around in either box, neither side was able to fashion that one opening that would seal them the points. Whilst there were a few Rovers slips that allowed for Stoke breakaways, as well as Rovers crosses that saw Stoke scrambling, none of the chances – bar a stoppage time miss by Danny Graham from around the penalty spot – saw either set of supporters up in anticipation or delight.
Although Ryan Nyambe was awarded with the Man of the Match award by the club’s sponsor, the tie lacked the quality that it needed, as Darren Bond soon called an end to a ‘missed opportunity’ for Rovers.
Whilst one can only apologise for such a lacklustre report, in truth, the players never really showed anything that would liven it up. Although the great disappointment is the fact one has had to relive this game in order to write this report, after initially sitting through the game in sub-zero temperatures, there are some positive signs available that all is not lost in terms of Rovers’ late surge.
In complete contrast to Saturday’s pulsating 2-2 draw away at Brentford, this game seemingly proved that Rovers have a lot of work to do in being able to break down a side that comes to Ewood Park with a ‘low block’, ‘park the bus’ mentality. Whilst, what can only be described as ‘two-points dropped’ isn’t exactly the outcome the home fans would have wanted, some solace can be taken knowing that the sides around them lost across both Tuesday and Wednesday. Additionally there is another chance on Saturday for the Blues to ‘right the wrongs’ of this game and get the three points Rovers need to continue their late playoff charge.
After another gameweek that had twists and turns, the league table leaves Rovers in 8th with 52 points and a positive 10 goal-difference from the 35 games they’ve played so far this season.
Looking ahead, as mentioned previously, Rovers now prepare to host Swansea City on Saturday 29th February, with kick-off pencilled in for 3pm. After that, there’s an eight-day wait before the Blues are back in action at Pride Park against Derby County on Sunday 8th March at 3pm, with the game moved to a Sunday due to Derby’s FA Cup exploits. Following that trip, Rovers return to Ewood Park to host fellow playoff hopefuls Bristol City on Saturday 14th March, at 3pm.
