Blackburn Rovers into the top six after victory over Blackpool

A fine goal from Tyrhys Dolan just after the half hour mark won it, with Rovers missing the chance to make it more comfortable with some wastefulness infront of goal after the break.

Yet their resilience at the back saw them over the line, this a sixth clean sheet of 2023, with Aynsley Pears well protected by those infront of him.

Lewis Travis was excellent in the middle of the park, driving his side up the pitch, and had Rovers picked better options in the final third, they could have easily added to Dolan’s goal.

However, one was enough, and means it is now 11 victories in 16 Ewood games, and only one defeat in 11 in all competitions that keeps them in the hunt for a top six finish.

Blackpool were very happy to let Rovers’ central defensive pairing of Dom Hyam and Daniel Ayala have the ball and look to cut off the supply line to the attackers.

It meant that much of the early exchanges were being played in the Rovers defensive third, with the challenge being set to try and break through the banks of Tangerine.

There was little sign of Rovers doing that, with a wild Sorba Thomas shot going out for a throw in on the opposite side to where the effort came summing up a frustrating opening quarter.

Rovers were having all of the possession, but the first shot of note came in the 25th minute, Tyrhys Dolan cutting in from the left to curl a dipping effort towards goal that Chris Maxwell tipped over.

The lack of goalmouth action, nor the pace of play, meant it wasn’t quite the rip-roaring derby atmosphere it might otherwise have been as a quiet hush went across Ewood.

Lift-off came though with 31 minutes on the watch though as Dolan finished off a neat move to put the hosts ahead.

Good work by full backs Brittain and Rankin-Costello saw the play switched out to Thomas whose low cross who powered into the roof of the net from 12 yards by Dolan.

Blackpool’s woes were then worsened by an injury to top scorer Jerry Yates that forced him off, while ex-Rovers loanee Ian Poveda had a shot well over the top before the break.

Rovers made three changes for the game, with returns for Joe Rankin-Costello, Callum Brittain and Sam Szmodics.

The switch to a back four saw Hayden Carter, somewhat unfortunately, have to miss out. But he was called for at half time as Daniel Ayala limped off with a hamstring issue.

It is the same problem that is keeping out Bradley Dack, Ben Brereton and Harry Pickering as Rovers count the cost of a busy run of games.

Rovers’ bid for a second saw them claim a penalty three minutes after the restart, but rather than a penalty as Dolan went down, the attacker was shown a yellow card for perceived simulation.

They knew the importance of a second goal, and their efforts to find one saw a backtracking Rankin-Costello head over a Szmodics delivery.

Blackpool, attacking the end where their near 3,000 travelling fans were situated, were in need of a spark and made a double switch just after the hour.

That included the introduction of Josh Bowler who had a good opportunity within three minutes of coming in. Rovers retreated as Dom Thompson got forward from left back to deliver a low cross that wasn’t cleared, but scuffed wide by Bowler.

That was the clearest opening for the visitors and a warning to Rovers that the game was far from secure.

There was suddenly a more open feel to the game, with Szmodics testing the handling of Maxwell in the 67th minute, with the ‘keeper up to the job.

The game began to become more open as it ticked into the final 20 minutes, and a feeling that Rovers could find a second if they were to pick the right pass on the break.

Gallagher scuffed a shot wide from a Thomas pull-back after excellent work by Travis whose lung-bursting run got Rovers moving up the pitch.

It was to be Gallagher’s last contribution, as Jack Vale replaced him in attack, while Tyler Morton came on in place of Sam Szmodics.

Morton was the unlikely man to be furthest forward in the 81st minute to be found by Brittain, and when he lifted the ball over the advancing Maxwell the Blackburn End began to celebrate. But the ball drifted agonisingly wide of the post, leaving the advantage at just.

There was a nagging feeling those chances may come to haunt Rovers who were having to stand tall to Blackpool’s threat, albeit limited and largely coming from set plays and long throws.

Rankin-Costello put his head in where it hurts to clear one, while Sonny Carey volleyed wide from another, as Blackpool pumped the ball forward at every opportunity.

Ryan Hedges, fresh onto the pitch, went for a more extravagant flick, than taking on a shot from a Thomas pull-back, as Rovers’ wastefulness infront of goal continued.

Rovers were defending manfully though, throwing their bodies in the way, none moreso than in the second of the four additional minutes to deny CJ Hamilton a clear strike at goal.

That was enough to see them over the line, with Pears rarely troubled, but still a sense of relief when the final whistle did sound.