Rovers won the battle of ‘Cowboys vs Indians’ at in East Lancashire as they embarrassed Wrexham AFC on their own documentary to avoid a Monday night FA ‘Cupset’, live on BBC Wales, as Jon Dahl Tomasson’s old side, Newcastle United at Ewood Park come the end of February.
Rovers came into the game with a nine-day rest, given the game was moved to a Monday night, as Jon Dahl Tomasson was able to make five changes from the team that only managed to draw 1-1 with Huddersfield Town, on Saturday 20th January. Scott Wharton, Joe Rankin-Costello, Tyrhys Dolan, Andrew Moran and Arnór Sigurðsson all came into the team as the injured trio of Harry Pickering, Hayden Carter and Callum Brittain all missed out, whilst the ill Harry Leonard also missed the game. Adam Wharton was also absent from the starting side, despite being available from the bench amidst speculation about his future come the closing days of the transfer window, with a move to Crystal Palace pending.
Despite 7,000-odd Wrexham fans filling the Bryan Douglas Darwen End to the brim as they stood loud and proud prior to their first game at Ewood Park since 1981, it was Sammie Szmodics who got the game underway under the floodlights as the talisman looked to his 20 goals for the campaign in all competitions.
Rovers started the more dominant side in the early stages as after just three minutes, Tyrhys Dolan and Sam Gallagher combined before the latter fed the on-fire Szmodics, but the forward couldn’t open the scoring early on as his effort veered wide of the mark.
Two minutes later, Szmodics aimed to embarrass Wrexham goalkeeper, Arthur Okonkwo who was left scrambling after straying from his goal, but the former Peterborough United player failed to get the effort perfect as the dropping ball was dealt with by the away side.
With ten minutes gone, Rovers were again knocking at the door as Gallagher saw his shot blocked into the path of Andrew Moran who pulled the ball back to Jake Garrett, from the byline, but the goalscorer at The Hawthorns a few weeks ago, couldn’t make much of his effort.
Garrett was again looking to net his fifth of the season in all competitions, but the Wrexham shot-stopper was safely behind the strike.
Wrexham’s first foray forwards saw the Red Dragons win a free-kick, which Paul Mullin volunteered to take from just outside the area, but Aynsley Pears was on-hand to get watch the strike all the way and pluck the ball out the air.
With 19 minutes on the clock and Rovers dominant for most of the game, it was only fitting that the first goal of the game went the way of the visitors – in typical Rovers fashion – as Andy Cannon opened the scoring for the Welsh side. After Jake Garrett was dispossessed inside his own half, Wrexham pounced as Sam Dalby drove forwards and picked out Cannon, who needed one touch to set himself before smashing the ball, from just outside the area, towards the near-post as it zipped past the outstretched arm of Pears, who did get a hand to it before it smashed into the back of the net for 1-0 as the entire away end went mad.
Three minutes later, Rovers tried to make amends as Dolan crossed for Gallagher, but the attacker’s volley flew high and wide.
From the goal-kick, Wrexham were straight up the other end as Pears made a world-class double save to keep Cannon from scoring a brace and James McClean on the follow-up to show his reactions.
As Rovers continued to dominate possession of the ball for the next ten minutes, they continued to probe until their breakthrough finally came in the 32nd minute, courtesy of top scorer, Sammie Szmodics who made it 20 for the campaign. Garrett found Gallagher out wide who delivered a fantastic cut-back for the goalscorer whose effort proved too powerful for Okonkwo to keep out as the score was equalled at 1-1.
Just two minutes later, Rovers were ahead and managed to take control of the game fully as Sam Gallagher grabbed his first goal since his return from injury to put Rovers 2-1 ahead! The powerful running attacker drove forwards beating his man for pace before Okonkwo made an incredibly strange decision to abandon his goal to try and meet the ball, despite Gallagher always looking favourite to get to it first. The forwards, despite convergence from the goalkeeper and red shirts, kept his composure to slot the ball into an empty net from way out as Rovers took the lead for the first time in the game.
As the break loomed, referee Andy Madley called for a minimum of two minutes to be added onto the end of the first period.
With Rovers in control, Sondre Tronstad picked the ball up on halfway and lofted a delightful pass into the stride of Szmodics who let the ball bounce and then hit a fantastic left-footed strike, mid-tackle, to increase Rovers’ lead to a cushion of two at 3-1, as the half-time whistle soon followed after the restart.
Jon Dahl Tomasson would have been pleased with his side’s reaction and character after going behind, as they managed to overturn the deficit and storm clear of their fourth-tier opposition. The boss would have wanted his side to continue their domination of the ball, in order to keep control of a tie which could easier teeter back in their opponent’s favour, given their vociferous support riling their players up.
Phil Parkinson – who was serving a one-game touchline ban – had the first chance to speak to his players since they left the changing room and would have been frustrated with how easily they had gifted goals to Rovers. Although the Blues were the favourites on paper, Wrexham were partial to a cup upset as their FA Cup run last season showed – after they beat Coventry City and took Sheffield United to a replay. The former Bradford City boss would have wanted his team to continue fighting and try to bully a slow, methodical Rovers side to try and turn the result around.
As the players returned to the field, it was Paul Mullin who got the second period underway as the Welsh side were looking to try and continue their cup run which began in early November.
Rovers picked off where they left off as they continued to control the ball, bursting forwards after just two minutes as Andrew Moran found Arnór Sigurðsson whose effort edged past the post.
Jake Garrett saw the first booking of the game come his way in the 51st minute as he flew into a tackle in a way that was only natural for the young midfielder.
Wrexham were caught inside their own half trying to play out from the back in the 59th minute as Szmodics was fed through by Moran. As the brace-scorer tried to feed Gallagher, the ball was intercepted by a red shirt, before Sam Gallagher’s fantastic tackle popped the ball up for Sondre Tronstad to strike from just inside the area as the ball deflected off another away man before flying into the roof of the net for 4-1 as the tie was all but killed off.
In the 65th minute, with the game beyond doubt, Rovers made a triple change to rest some key players and offer game time to fringe players. Ben Chrisene, Yasin Ayari and Semir Telalović all were introduced as Tyrhys Dolan, Sam Gallagher and Jake Garrett all departed.
Four minutes later, Wrexham made a triple change of their own as Jacob Mendy, James Jones and Jordan Tunnicliffe replaced Ryan Barnett, Andy Cannon and Eoghan O’Connell.
James Jones’ first act of the game came after four minutes as he tried his luck from range, but Pears was easily behind it to gather the ball.
In the 76th minute, Sammie Szmodics was on the hunt for his hattrick but he couldn’t manage to strike the ball as cleanly as his brace.
Minute 78 saw Phil Parkinson signal for his two final changes as he altered his strikers as Ollie Palmer and Jake Bickerstaff replaced Paul Mullin and Sam Dalby.
Yasin Ayari was showing he was able to do the dirty work, in the 80th minute as he won the ball back with a clean tackle in the Wrexham half. The ball was worked to Telalović who picked out Szmodics, who again failed to net his hattrick as the Wrexham shot-stopper made a save.
Between the 83rd and 89th minutes, Rovers made their final changes as Tom Atcheson came on to replace Joe Rankin-Costello who departed to a standing ovation, whereas just before the 90, Dilan Markanday replaced Arnór Sigurðsson.
Rovers’ talismanic forward was again trying to go hattrick-hunting as Szmodics again crafted a shooting opportunity but Okonkwo again pulled out a save to deny the Rovers man the match ball as the clock ticked into the 90.
Despite one minute of time being allocated by Andy Madley, the game was done and dusted as the final whistle was soon blown as Rovers booked their place in the Fifth Round, which they knew prior to kick-off would see the winner host Newcastle United.
Whilst the game would have arguably been in the balance given Rovers’ poor run of form and the furore around Wrexham, many would have been forgiven for labelling the Welsh side as favourites for the cup tie, however Rovers put in a professional performance and managed to rebound from an early setback to brush their visitors aside. Jon Dahl Tomasson would have been mightily relieved to see his side in the hat for the next round as he would undoubtedly relish facing his former employers, Newcastle United at Ewood Park, who make the trip on Tuesday 27th February in a game that will be televised on BBC One.
Despite the transfer window coming and going as of writing and release of this piece, Rovers will be arguably happy with where they stand post-market, yet now face the second-half of the season to try and recalibrate their league position.
Next up for Rovers is the hosting of Queens Park Rangers on Saturday 3rd February at 3pm at Ewood Park. After that tie, Rovers host Stoke City, a week later, on Saturday 10th February, also at 3pm, before a midweek trip to see former boss, Tony Mowbray on Tuesday 13th February, with kick-off at St. Andrews against Birmingham City, scheduled for 7:45pm.
