ROVERS 2

(Mulgrew, 62) (Armstrong, 70)

OLDHAM 2

(Nazon, 26, 38)

ROVERS came from 2-0 down at half-time to earn a point at home to Oldham Athletic in a pulsating game at Ewood Park.

A Duckens Nazon double had the visitors in front at the break in a half in which they thoroughly dominated.

Rovers made a double switch at the break and clawed their way back in to the game courtesy of a Charlie Mulgrew free-kick and Adam Armstrong’s first for the club.

But despite ending the game with 10 men when Wilfriend Moimbe was shown a second yellow card, the visitors held on for a point.

It was a frantic start to the match, with Rovers registering their first attempt on target within 40 seconds. Danny Graham won the long ball forward before teeing up Jack Payne, who on his return to the side, shot straight at Johnny Placide.

Oldham, backed by a vocal travelling sold-out following, were keen to get on the front foot aswell, going with two strikers. One of those, Craig Davies saw his penalty appeals waved away as he went down under pressure from Derrick Williams, before curling an effort goalwards which was easy for David Raya, all within the opening 90 seconds.

Rovers’ was a more methodical approach than the visitors, but neat play in the ninth minute ended with Richie Smallwood trying to square the ball for Amari’i Bell rather than have a go at goal himself.

In what was becoming a midfield battle the feeling that the first goal would prove vital was becoming more prominent. And it was the visitors who grabbed it in the 26th minute.

It stemmed from a quick delivery from goalkeeper Placide as he gathered a Dack corner but owed much to the skill of Nazon, and poor Rovers defender, as he isolated Nyambe, beat him with a nutmeg and fired beyond Raya and in to the roof of the net.

There was little by way of a Rovers response, with Oldham continuing to dominate in all areas.

And they were to score a second goal on the counter-attack seven minutes before the break. Again Nazon isolated his man, this time Mulgrew as Rovers lost the ball in midfield, and as the skipper backed off, the strike fired a shot across Raya and in to the corner.

Dack then saw a shot blocked by Gardner after linking up with Graham, but the 2-0 advantage was no more than the visitors deserved at the break.

They were second best all over the pitch and in a bid to change things Mowbray made a double substitution and a formation switch.

Lewis Travis and Adam Armstrong were sent on as Rovers switched to a back three, but the visitors were still getting far too much space in the middle of the pitch.

Rovers were certainly chasing the game, with four attackers on the pitch, however there was little by way of clear-cut chances to show it as the hour mark was reached.

Indeed, the only shot at goal in the opening 15 minutes of the second period was a Cameron Dumigan long ranger which Raya held on to.

The home crowd were trying to urge their side on, but Graham glancing a header wide from Bennett’s cross did little to trouble Placide.

And they were to be rewarded just after the hour mark as Rovers found their feet in the game.

Mulgrew had  a sighter moments before, a 30 yard free-kick which bounced infront of Placide was turned behind.

But after a Travis break was ended by a cynical Davies tackle, he had the chance from much nearer in. And he curled it over the wall and in to the far corner, with Placide rooted to the spot.

Rovers were beginning to get on top, with Graham nodding a Mulgrew corner over, before the equaliser came with 20 minutes to play.

Graham allowed the ball to run for Dack who had the awareness to pick out Armstrong who swept the ball in at the near post.  

A winner was the next target for Rovers, with Payne seeing a shot deflected wide after Dack’s short corner found him in acres of space.

It was Rovers’ turn to break on an Oldham corner, and after good work from first Travis and then Dack, Payne drew a flying save from Placide with his curling effort from the edge of the box.

The keeper then had to watch and wait as Armstrong flicked a Dack cross goalwards, only for the ball to narrowly go past the post in the 80th minute.

Oldham were then to go down to 10 men, as with eight minutes remaining, Wilfriend Moimbe was shown his second yellow card for wiping out Bennett as the Rovers man made ground down the right flank.

Dack and Armstrong both saw long range efforts flash wide as Rovers pressed to make their man advantage count, and were given hope when eight minutes of added time were shown.

Williams had a header saved while sub Aaron Holloway had a chance to win it for the visitors, only to drag wide after being found by a long boot forward from the goalkeeper.

Rovers: Raya, Nyambe, Downing (Armstrong, 46), Mulgrew, Williams, Bennett, Smallwood (Travis, 46), Payne, Dack, Bell, Graham.

Subs not used: Leutwiler, Samuel, Caddis, Conway, Evans.

Oldham: Placide, Dummigan, Moimbe, Gerrard, Bryan, Fane, Byrne (Holloway, 72), Gardner, Pringle, Nazon (Holloway, 72), Davies (Wilson, 84)

Subs not used: De La Paz, Nepomuceno, Benyu, Benteke.