Middlesbrough
(0) 1 – 1 (0)
Blackburn Rovers
Bamford 83
Gestede 90 + 5
Referee: M. Clattenberg
Attendance: 18,152
(794 Rovers)
Match Report
This was the type of performance which suggests that Rovers’ flirtation with the promotion race may well become something more permanent this season. All successful teams are able to grind out results when not at their best and when under the cosh for long periods in a game. So it was at the Riverside Stadium where a Man of the Match performance by Simon Eastwood ensured the Rovers were in a position to snatch a dramatic, late, late, late equaliser.
Rovers made two enforced changes to the side which had beaten Leeds the previous week. Jason Steele was ruled out against his parent club due to the restrictions of loan deals, whilst Tom Cairney was suspended following his red card at Ewood against Leeds. Simon Eastwood came in for the first time this season to replace Steele, whilst Ryan Tunnicliffe replaced Cairney.
Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka made five changes to the side which had been held by Wigan Athletic and included Patrick Bamford, who is presently on loan from Chelsea.
Gary Bowyer lined up with an attacking 4–4–2 formation with Tunnicliffe operating on the right of midfield and it was the Rovers who made the running in the opening minutes. A couple of early corners suggested that the Rovers had the attacking prowess to trouble the home side.
Middlesbrough’s first attack came when a Rovers attack broke down and Eastwood was called upon to come out of his area and head the ball clear.
The Rovers continued to look dangerous in the early stages and Lee Williamson played a delightful ball out to Ben Marshall, who crossed for Jordan Rhodes. Unfortunately, he was unable to control the ball on his chest but managed to get an acrobatic overhead kick on-target which Dimi Konstantopoulos collected without much trouble.
However, that was as good as it got for the Rovers in the first half. The home side began to enjoy more possession and almost opened the scoring on eleven minutes when Eastwood fumbled a shot from Bamford, but as Jelle Vossen closed in to snap up the loose ball, Shane Duffy was on hand to clear the ball off the line.
Another cross from Marshall was missed by both Rhodes and Rudy Gestede, but Tunnicliffe met it only to clip the ball high over the bar.
Eastwood was called upon to save another effort from Bamford as the home side began to employ a shoot-on-sight policy.
The Rovers, who had defended very well up to this point, received a blow just before the break when Grant Hanley succumbed to an injury and had to be replaced by Adam Henley with Alex Baptiste moving into the centre to take Hanley’s place.
Eastwood made another good save to keep out another effort from Bamford, whilst Duffy headed another cross clear as Middlesbrough ended the half in the ascendancy.
The second half began in much the same way with Eastwood again having to save from the ever-dangerous Bamford. However, Konstantopoulos was forced into action when Marshall cut inside and hit a first-time effort which the Middlesbrough ‘keeper did well to keep out.
The Rovers were starting to be overrun in midfield and Middlesbrough began to create some gilt-edged chances in front of goal. Indeed, on the hour mark they would surely have taken the lead but for a world-class save by Eastwood. George Friend managed to get behind the Rovers defence and delivered an inch-perfect cross onto the head of Vossen, who seemed a certain scorer as he headed firmly from almost point-blank range. However, Eastwood somehow managed to not only get a hand to the ball but also to push it over the bar. It was an outstanding save by any criteria.
With the home side enjoying superiority in midfield, Bowyer very wisely withdrew the ineffective Rhodes and introduced Craig Conway on the right and switched Tunnicliffe into a more central role.
The Rovers fashioned an excellent move down the left wing with Marshall finding Markus Olsson on the overlap and the young Swedish international whipped in a perfect centre which Gestede met but headed into the arms of Konstantopoulos.
This, however, was a rare moment of attacking intent from the Rovers as they found themselves having to defend in depth to keep a fluent Middlesbrough side at bay. Eastwood made save after save, but on 82 minutes there was little he could do to prevent Bamford from finding the back of the net. A Middlesbrough corner was only partially cleared and, as the ball came out to Bamford, he wasted no time in getting off a fierce shot. The ball struck Baptiste, who had flung himself in line with the shot in an attempt to block it, and deflected off him into the net with the deflection leaving Eastwood with no chance of making a save. The Rovers players protested as there was a belief that Henley had been fouled in the build-up to the goal, but the referee ignored these desperate pleas which were made more in hope than expectation.
The Rovers responded in their usual fashion these days and went straight up the other end and were unfortunate not to draw level. The ever-impressive Williamson switched the play to Conway on the right and he, in turn, crossed the ball to the back post where Duffy rose to meet it. Sadly, his header bounced off the corner of the post and bar, went across the face of the goal and just wide of Baptiste.
With five minutes or so remaining Chris Brown was thrown on to make a belated debut after all of his injury problems and was immediately in the thick of the action. Marshall played the ball in and Brown shielded it before he laid the ball back to Conway, who shot wildly off-target.
Middlesbrough looked to have weathered the five minutes of added time when the Rovers won two late corners and had sent Eastwood forward to make a nuisance of himself. The first was cleared for another corner, but the second brought the Rovers an equaliser and led to mayhem in the technical area. Marshall sent the ball over into the heart of the goalmouth and, as Duffy and Brown challenged Konstantopoulos for the ball, the Greek ‘keeper fell somewhat dramatically under the physical pressure and the ball fell invitingly to Gestede who lashed it into the back of the net. As the players and travelling fans celebrated, Karanka challenged the fourth official before Mr Clattenberg intervened and sent the Middlesbrough manager to the stands.
The Rovers saw out the final moments to earn a vital point.
Sadly, the after-match scenes were shameful as a Middlesbrough supporter and Gestede clashed with the Rovers’ striker seeming to gesture to Williamson, who had taken over the captain’s armband, and Olsson that the fan had made a racist gesture towards him. Williamson then went to the stewards and had words and was clearly incensed with what had gone on.
Whilst the performance may not have been the best, there is no doubt that Bowyer has infused this squad with a fighting spirit that ensures they keep going and never give up. There have been several late goals this season that have brought valuable points.
Player Review
Simon Eastwood was simply outstanding. Apart from one fumble it was a faultless performance and his second-half save from Vossen was breathtaking. Fears that he would be a weak link proved to be completely unfounded.
Alex Baptiste gave another solid defensive display both at full-back and then at centre-back. His versatility is proving hugely beneficial to the Rovers and he is becoming a key member of the team and another astute acquisition by Bowyer.
Grant Hanley looked in decent form until he was forced to withdraw before half-time through injury.
Shane Duffy gave another commanding performance in the centre of defence. He blocked countless efforts on goal and was later thrown forward to support Gestede.
Markus Olsson gave an excellent defensive display. He won the ball in the air and his tackling was sound. He got forward whenever he could to support Marshall and is fast becoming the ideal left-back.
Ryan Tunnicliffe started on the right of midfield and looked a little uncomfortable in truth. He did provide more defensive support for Baptiste than Tom Cairney but wasn’t influential going forward until moved into the middle in the second half.
Corry Evans worked industriously in midfield and got in several important tackles in the middle of the park. He was replaced by Brown late on as the Rovers pushed for an equaliser.
Lee Williamson showed his experience in keeping the ball and using it intelligently. However, he was, more often than not, having to win the ball in midfield and his tough tackling came to the fore. Another impressive performance from a player who has been much maligned during his time at the club by a certain section of supporters.
Ben Marshall provided a constant threat on the left whenever he could get forward. However, for much of the game he was having to defend. Nonetheless, when the opportunity came to run at Middlesbrough in the closing minutes, it caused panic and resulted in the corners which ultimately enable the Rovers to snatch a point.
Jordan Rhodes had an overhead kick in the first half which was comfortably saved, but apart from that he was fairly anonymous. He ran around a lot but never arrived in time to make tackles or blocks when the opposing defenders had the ball. Going forward he offered little.
Rudy Gestede was, once again, the main threat in terms of goalscoring. He was a constant threat at any deadball situation and did his best to hold the ball up and give the Rovers defence some brief respite. In the right place at the right time, he scored the goal that earned the point.
Adam Henley did well at right-back for the most part. Middlesbrough tried to expose him at times, but in the main he stuck to his task and didn’t let anyone down.
Craig Conway replaced Rhodes when Bowyer opted to shore up the midfield. The Scottish international worked hard but has still to hit the form of last season.
Chris Brown made a brief cameo appearance and showed what he is about. A rough, tough striker who can hold the ball up and is prepared to battle with defenders. When fully fit, he should be a more than useful addition to the squad.
Teams
Middlesbrough
Dimitrios Konstantopoulos; Ryan Fredericks (Emilio Nsue 45 + 2), Daniel Ayala (Ben Gibson 84), Kenneth Omeruo, George Friend; Grant Leadbitter, Dean Whitehead; Patrick Bamford, Lee Tomlin, Albert Adomah; Jelle Vossen (Kike 74)
Subs not used: Tomas Mejias (gk), Adam Reach, Milos Veljkovic, Yanic Wildschut
Manager: Aitor Karanka
Blackburn Rovers
Simon Eastwood; Alex Baptiste, Grant Hanley (Adam Henley 41), Shane Duffy, Markus Olsson; Ryan Tunnicliffe, Corry Evans (Chris Brown 86), Lee Williamson, Ben Marshall; Jordan Rhodes (Craig Conway 68), Rudy Gestede
Subs not used: Jake Kean (gk), David Dunn, Luke Varney, Chris Taylor
Manager: Gary Bowyer
Bookings
Middlesbrough – Lee Tomlin 56
Blackburn Rovers – Corry Evans 55