July

ROVERS cancelled the contracts of strikers Dickson Etuhu and DJ Campbell.

Later in the month the club also came to an agreement with Alex Marrow that allowed the midfielder to join Carlisle United.

Forward Luke Varney penned a one-year deal with Rovers after his contract from Leeds expired.

Star striker Jordan Rhodes then put pen to paper on a new and improved contract that tied him to the club until 2019.

Rovers also handed new deals to Markus Olsson and David Dunn before signing defender Alex Baptiste on a season-long loan from Bolton.

Gary Bowyer’s side opened their pre-season programme with a 4-0 victory at AFC Telford United.

Rovers then headed out to Portugal for a week-long warm-weather training camp. Back at home an internet video to launch the club’s new kit, featuring super-fan Alan ‘Birdy’ Birkbeck’, went viral.

On their return to England Rovers continued their preparations for the new Championship campaign by drawing 2-2 at Accrington Stanley, 0-0 at Bradford City and 1-1 at Bury.

Gary Bowyer quote of the month: “I’m delighted to get Jordan Rhodes’ contract done. It has been going on for a number of months so to finally get it all sorted is great news for the football club.”

 

AUGUST

ROVERS drew their final friendly of the summer 1-1 at home to Mark Hughes’ Stoke City.

Ruben Rochina signed a permanent deal with Granada while fellow striker Leon Best joined Derby County on a season-long loan.

A Tom Cairney cracker ensured Bowyer’s boys drew 1-1 with relegated Cardiff on the opening day.

But disappointment followed four days later when Rovers were knocked out of the Capital One Cup by Scunthorpe United.

Better followed on the weekend when Rudy Gestede scored twice to seal a 2-1 triumph at Blackpool.

But three days later Rovers’ 14-match unbeaten league run, stretching back to March, was ended after they went down 3-1 at Norwich.

The build-up to the weekend clash at home to Bournemouth was dominated by Rhodes’ on-off move to Hull City.

But, after owners Venky’s blocked a final £10-plus bid from the Tigers, Rhodes scored in a 3-2 win. The month ended with a 3-1 loss at Wolves.

Gary Bowyer quote of the month: “Credit to Jordan for putting in a performance like he did with all the speculation surrounding him – it goes to show how professional and mentally tough he is.”

 

SEPTEMBER

ROVERS signed defender Shane Duffy on a permanent deal from Everton before agreeing season-long loan deals for Middlesbrough goalkeeper Jason Steele and Fulham midfielder Ryan Tunnicliffe.

After the international break Ben Marshall scored twice in a rousing 3-1 home success over Wigan. A 3-2 home loss to Derby followed in midweek.

But, with Steele making his first appearance for the club, Rovers returned to winning ways with a 1-0 victory at Fulham.

Tunnicliffe then scored the first goal of his career in a 2-2 draw at home to Watford before Bowyer’s side limped to a 2-0 defeat at Rotherham.

Gary Bowyer quote of the month: “Shane Duffy is only 22, Ryan Tunnicliffe is 21, and Jason Steele is another really hungry lad. I’m really delighted because if you look at the squad it looks like we’re really building something for the future.”

 

OCTOBER

ROVERS drew 0-0 at home to Huddersfield in which striker Rhodes missed a penalty against his former club.

Chris Brown was moving closer to his first appearance for the club, the striker having not a kicked a ball since his summer switch from Doncaster because of a knee injury.

A fabulous last-gasp Marshall free kick earned Rovers a dramatic 1-1 draw at Ipswich Town.

Marshall was also the hero in the 1-0 midweek win at home to Birmingham City.

Rhodes then ended his five-game scoring drought in a 3-1 victory at Nottingham Forest that had boss Bowyer beaming.

Gary Bowyer quote of the month: “After beating Forest it is important for us to get on a run now.

“But if you look at the Championship there are probably 15 teams who could break into the play-off places with a couple of wins.”

 

NOVEMBER

ROVERS delivered what their manager was asking as they went through the month unbeaten.

November started with a 3-1 home victory over Reading in which the recalled Gestede scored twice.

Bowyer’s boys looked on course for a fourth straight victory when Duffy and Gestede put them two up against Millwall but the 10-man Lions hit back to snatch an unlikely 2-2 draw.

Another draw followed when Rovers came from behind to take a share of the spoils at Brighton courtesy of another Gestede goal.

Rhodes bagged a brace in a dramatic 2-1 Roses win at home to Leeds before Eastwood kept Rovers in the game at Middlesbrough before Gestede smashed in a 95th-minute equaliser to earn a 1-1 draw.

Gary Bowyer quote of the month: “Easty was outstanding – there is no other word to describe him. Some of the saves he made were unbelievable.”

 

DECEMBER

THE FA launched an investigation into claims that striker Gestede had been the victim of a racial abuse in the 1-1 draw at Middlesbrough.

Rovers’ nine-match unbeaten league run came to an end in their next outing as a late sucker-punch condemned to a 2-1 home loss to Sheffield Wednesday.

More than 1,500 fans were then left disappointed as Bowyer’s side were then beaten 3-1 at Brentford.

Rovers’ first back-to-back defeats since March was compounded when the Football League confirmed the club was one of three to be hit by a transfer embargo for failing Financial Fair Play.

Five days later and the club’s huge financial losses for last season, £42.1m before tax, came to light.

But the mood was lifted somewhat when Rhodes scored twice to secure a 2-0 home win over Charlton.

Rovers then lost to Bolton on Boxing Day before ending the year with a 0-0 home draw with Middlesbrough.

Gary Bowyer quote of the month: “We all know that every player in the world has their price so I’m not kidding myself that we might not get an outstanding bid from somebody.

“But I’ve not been given information that we have to sell.”