Rovers were unable to capitalise on a poor Plymouth Argyle side in their first home game after the international break as they succumbed to a 1-1 draw against The Pilgrims.
Prior to kick-off, Rovers boss Tony Mowbray threatened to make drastic changes to his line-up after seeing his side fall to a late defeat away at Oldham Athletic and the Rovers boss stuck to his word as he made three changes to the side that lined up on Saturday at Boundary Park. Mowbray introduced Danny Graham, Ryan Nyambe and Bradley Dack to the side as they replaced, Dominic Samuel, Elliott Ward and Craig Conway, respectively.
The game was started by the visitors who were looking to gain their second win of the season, but it was Rovers, who started as the brighter of the two teams, as Danny Graham’s early shot was saved by Kyle Letheren in the Plymouth goal inside the first 60 seconds of the match.
The next chance of the game came 4 minutes after the first as Charlie Mulgrew’s deep corner was met by Ryan Nyambe, who was drafted in as a centre-back this game; however the 19-year old was unable to keep his first-time attempt on goal, down.
Minutes later, Rovers’ opening spell of pressure over struggling Plymouth continued as Peter Whittingham had an attempt to open his Rovers goal-scoring account on the 9th minute. The former Cardiff City man was played through the ball on the edge of the box as he lashed out on an attempt on goal, however his shot ballooned over the bar, relieving the early pressure off of Plymouth, who were unable to gain a foothold in this game.
Plymouth were able to mount their first attack of the game as Joel Grant’s shot on goal deflected off of Ryan Nyambe for a Plymouth corner, which amounted to nothing from the visitor’s perspective, as Rovers safely cleared.
Rovers were then able to create two chances in as many minutes as Bradley Dack failed to hit the back of the net on two separate occasions. The first chance came from a far post cross by Elliott Bennett, which Dack got himself on the end of; however unfortunately for the home side and their crowd, the former Gillingham man was unable to direct the ball towards the goal, as Plymouth earned themselves a goal kick. The second Dack chance that came two minutes later was almost a carbon copy of the first attempt. Derrick Williams delivered a pin-point cross towards the back post, which Bradley Dack, once again, met with his head, but much like the previous chance, Dack headed the ball wide of the goal.
Richie Smallwood then had a chance of his own, ten minutes later; however the midfielder was unable to get his attempt on target as he blazed his shot over the bar, much to the relief of the Plymouth backline.
Three minutes later, on the 31st minute, the deadlock was broken against the run of play as Plymouth put themselves in-front courtesy of a Graham Carey strike. The 28-year old picked the ball up around 35-yards from goal and dribbled towards the Rovers defence. He skipped past challenges from Peter Whittingham and Charlie Mulgrew before lining up his shot and firing the ball into the top right-hand corner of David Raya’s goal, as the visitors went 1-0 to the good, much to the displeasure of the frustrated home crowd.
Rovers were not willing to lie down without a fight, as they came out of the blocks with an attempt on goal minutes after going behind. Elliott Bennett was the player in question as his volley looped over the bar and dropped onto the roof of the net.
As half-time approached, Rovers moved up a gear as they pushed for an equaliser. The first of three chances before half-time came on the 43rd minute as Danny Graham wriggled free in the box to craft an attempt on goal. Despite creating space in the box, he saw his shot on goal blocked by a Plymouth defender.
As four minutes were added onto the end of the first-half as a result of an injury to Argyle keeper, Kyle Letheren, Rovers were able to make their second chance from three before half-time count, as they levelled the scoring through Bradley Dack. Dack was played through on goal by Danny Graham who had plucked the ball out of the sky following a long ball by Mulgrew and the 23-year old took a touch before placing the goal under Letheren with a placed shot as Rovers drew level.
Rovers took the goal as a positive sign, as with only a minute left on the clock for the first-half, they charged forward once again in search of the goal that they needed to go in-front. Dack was once again played through, this time by Marcus Antonsson who had received the ball after a Graham knock-down. The goalscorer closed in on goal and shot with his weaker left-foot, however the Plymouth keeper was equal to the shot as he conceded a corner.
As the whistle blew for the break, there was evident discontent from the stands from a Rovers perspective, whereas the same could not be said for the Plymouth supporters, who were delighted with their team’s performance so far, as they left the field of play to a smattering of applause from their 415 supporters who made the long journey to the North West.
Rovers kicked-off the second-half with the intent of grabbing the goal that would put them in-front, but it was Plymouth – who made a half-time substitution in goal as Kyle Letheren was replaced by 18-year old debutant Mark Cooper – who had the first chance of the second period only two minutes into the half. Joel Grant once again found himself through on goal after being played through; however his low strike was well saved by David Raya in the Rovers goal.
Rovers were able to craft their first chance of the second 45 minutes, as Paul Caddis played in Antonsson who was in acres of space at the back post following an attack breaking down seconds earlier, and despite the Swede scoring three goals for Rovers already, the on-loan striker was unable to hit the target as he, disappointingly, blasted the ball over the crossbar.
Rovers began to pile on the pressure from this point as they pushed ever so closer to the goal that would put them ahead and this was shown as they crafted 3 chances inside 6 minutes. The first attempt, which came in the 57th minute, came from a Danny Graham header, which he headed over following an Elliott Bennett cross. The second attempt Rovers had, came two minutes later as Dack’s shot on goal deflected behind for a corner that was eventually cleared. The final attempt within the 6 minute spell came courtesy of Paul Caddis whose low shot, was cleared off the line.
Tony Mowbray called upon his bench for some replacements as the 68th minute approached as he introduced Harry Chapman to the fray in place of Richie Smallwood, who was on a yellow card; and minutes after coming on, Chapman put Plymouth in a defensive scramble as he beat three defenders and shot toward goal from an acute angle, however the debuting substitute in goal did well to block Chapman’s effort.
Mowbray decided to play his hand again, 6 minutes after bringing on his first sub, as he brought on Dominic Samuel for Bradley Dack, the goalscorer, as the manager cemented his intent on going for the win, rather than settling with a draw, by bringing on an extra striker.
As Rovers made attacking changes, Plymouth emphasised their play towards breaking on the counter attack as they soaked up the Rovers pressure. Their best chance of the second half came a minute after Samuel was introduced for Rovers, as Graham Carey produced a magnificent save from David Raya in the Rovers goal.
Rovers added the pressure on with 10 minutes remaining as Danny Graham once again came close to putting Rovers in-front as he headed an Elliott Bennett cross wide. Six minutes later, Rovers again came agonisingly close to going ahead as Derrick Williams rose the highest in the box to meet Peter Whittingham’s corner, however the left-back was superbly denied by Mark Cooper’s reaction save to keep the score level.
Each side then made a substitution as full-time approached as Rovers threw on Ben Gladwin for Peter Whittingham whilst Plymouth introduced Nathan Blissett in place of Jake Jervis.
As the game was extended by another four minutes due to stoppages, Rovers thought they had snatched the three points right at the death as Ben Gladwin’s point-blank effort was superbly tipped over the bar, by Plymouth’s defender, Aaron Taylor-Sinclair. Harry Chapman had started the move after picking up the ball from Raya in goal, the teenager ran down the wing, skipping past two challenges and cut inside to play Dominic Samuel through, who was making a run inside the left-hand channel. The forward then cut the ball back across the box and after taking a few deflections, it landed at the feet of Ben Gladwin who had the simple task of placing the ball into the back of the net; however the defender had other ideas as he was perfectly placed on the line to block the shot.
Gladwin’s attempt was followed up by a Harry Chapman corner, which was headed towards goal by Marcus Antonsson; however Mark Cooper was equal to it as he fell on the ball to secure a point for the away side. Rovers left the field of play to a chorus of boos – not for the first time this season – as the players in Blue and White lay scattered across the field of play in disbelief following Gladwin’s missed opportunity.
This game showed that although Rovers were able to create chances, they were not able to finish them which is ultimately what has cost them for many years now, not just this fixture or season in isolation. This draw keeps Rovers in 10th, 2 points off the playoffs with 20 points from 12 games as their goal difference remains at +6. Tony Mowbray will be hoping that his players find their finishing boots for their next game at the weekend, which is a 3pm kick-off on Saturday at home to newly-promoted Portsmouth.
