Dash of ‘arte’ can raise Rovers hopes
OLD BLACKBURNIAN
FOLLOWING Rovers rather ignominious exit at the hands of Birmingham City in the Third Round of the FA Cup, their reward was a weekend off. In fact, their reward was a warmweather training break in warmer climes in Lagos – Portugal that is, NOT Nigeria.
No such luxury for the supporters of course, robbed of our football fix, we had to go shopping, walk the dog or rely on TV to watch Shrewsbury Town try their utmost to re-kindle the flames of “the magic of the cup”.
Is it really just a month or so back that Rovers were riding the crest of a wave and speculation was rife that the January transfer window could be used to strengthen the squad? Talk was of a push for the play-offs, just a couple of prudent signings and bingo!
Since then, on-field, Bradley Dack was ruled out for the season and results wavered; off-field, Venky’s accounts revealed a continuing financial tale of woe and the squad remains resolutely unstrengthened.
Heading into Tuesday night’s encounter with QPR, Rovers found themselves firmly in mid-table but in this crazy division, still only six points off sixth-placed Preston and with a game in hand.
You could conceivably make a case for a late rush for the play-offs for any team down to sixteenthplaced Derby County. All that is needed is a bit of luck and say five wins out of six games to close the gap. But what sort of lower-ranking Championship side could possibly string together such a run?
Rovers kicked off with an unchanged side from the fabulous away win at Hillsborough.
For the kit nerds out there, QPR were resplendent in a jade green outfit enhanced by gold lettering and numbers, that on a warmer evening might have made me fancy a mint Cornetto.
It was the Angel of the North celebration that was on display early on for Rovers as Joe Rothwell sprayed a lovely diagonal ball to Armstrong. He controlled in impressive fashion enabling him to cut inside and look up, calibrate his shooting boot and curl a lovely shot inside the far post.
This mirror-image Arjen Robben routine seems to be one of Armstrong’s most effective party pieces.
Rovers continued to have the upper hand, moving the ball around impressively through a midfield axis of Rothwell, Holtby and Downing with Travis acting as minder. It was Travis who next came close, pressurising the keeper into a mistake but the attempt rolled along the line rather than over it and it was gratefully hoofed clear by Rangers.
Downing operating in midfield like a one-man DHL service; dropping deep, collecting, distributing, delivering the ball as if it was a precious Ming vase to be protected at all costs.
Nyambe too picked up right where he left off at Hillsborough, rampaging down the right at every opportunity.
Rovers were warming to their task, forcing Chair to sit back and provide a defensive cushion to cover the dangerous Rothwell. A poignant moment in the twentieth minute saw a round of applause to mark the recent, untimely passing of a young Rovers fan, Tiana Thompson.
Shortly afterwards, Rangers had their first real attack of the game, a long ball finding Hugill who frankly beasted Lenihan knocking it down to Chair who returned the favour and Hugill needed no second bidding to chip over the onrushing Christian Walton. All square, out of nothing, thanks to one lapse of concentration.
Unsurprisingly, this encouraged Rangers to be more progressive and raised anxiety in the home defence and home fans alike. Rovers were now having to work a lot harder to retain possession.
Rovers regained the lead from a corner when Rothwell placed the ball conspicuously outside the quadrant (VAR? What is it good for?), then crossed for Darragh Lenihan to power home a header across the keeper to make it 2-1.
One little cameo worthy of note towards the end of the first half had Rothwell and Armstrong combining outside their own penalty area to snuff out a QPR attack. Tenacious, determined and effective, it was lovely to see the unglamorous work being relished with such enthusiasm. The last few minutes were torrid, Todd Kane (yes, him) crossed dangerously but Rovers hung on for the half-time whistle.
The second half started with Rovers bringing on Bennett for Rothwell who had not recovered from the knock sustained right at the end of the first half. It was clear early on that Rangers were determined to impose themselves on proceedings and this they did.
The influential Eze started to dominate the midfield, probing and pressing, bringing teammates into the game. Rovers struggled to hold the ball and when Travis did, in his fiftieth Rovers start, he was fouled roughly three times in quick succession drawing the first three yellow cards of the game. Travis seems to be becoming a marked man amongst Rovers opponents these days, presumably they recognise the danger?
Chances were few and far between, the best being a free-kick from Downing, but not having the necessary whip nor dip to trouble the Rangers keeper and later, a header from Gallagher that failed to hit the target.
Darragh Lenihan imposed himself on the game once more, this time defensively, proving that Rangers most certainly had a collapsible Chair in midfield, scything him down and rightly earning himself a yellow card.
Rovers it seemed had settled for the 2-1. Pressure built, but Rangers couldn’t create a clear-cut chance, the final whistle blew and the sense of relief was palpable.
A modest attendance of 11,505 (excepting the 292 from QPR) went home relieved and happy.
Next up for Rovers, is a trip to the Mowbray/ Downing heartlands of Teesside.
Rovers find themselves in tenth but astonishingly, only four points outside the play-offs.
It will need more “arte” than was on display on Tuesday night to close that gap, but the “labore” is not an issue.
CRICKET
ENGLAND captain Joe Root hailed the all-round contribution of his squad after they completed a 3-1 Test series victory over South Africa in Johannesburg.
After being frustrated for more than 30 overs by a 92-run partnership between Faf Du Plessis and Rassie Van Der Dussen, Root’s side quickly wrapped up victory after making the breakthrough.
The home side slipped from 181 for two to 274 all out to hand England a 91-run victory with man-of-the-match Mark Wood taking four for 54 to complete match figures of nine for 100.
Root said: “We’re very satisfied with the victory. I’m very proud of the boys. It’s taken a big effort from everyone. It’s very much been a squad effort as well and we’ve had some wonderful support too throughout the whole trip.
“It’s very exciting. There’s a number of guys that have performed that played in this game, but not just that. Guys like Jofra (Archer) at the start of the series with a five-for, Dom Bess as well making a big contribution.
“It’s been a real squad effort from a number of guys that are very much at the start of their international careers and that’s a very promising sign when you put that against some very experienced players.”
Root was delighted to see players step up and take their chance when given the opportunity with the likes of Rory Burns and James Anderson ruled out through injury early in the series.
Zak Crawley took advantage of the opportunity afforded to him by Burns’ ankle injury with a maiden Test half-century that laid the foundations for England’s first-innings 400 at the Wanderers.
Wood made an eye-catching return to
Test cricket with 12 wickets in two Tests to help fill the gap left by Anderson’s rib problem.
Root added: “When that happens it provides guys with opportunities for them to take and that’s exactly what’s happened.”
Wood said: “There was a bit of doubt going into the game but boy am I glad I played now! I’m over the moon.”