BLACKBURN Rovers boss Gary Bowyer was in charge for 127 matches at the club after taking over from Michael Appleton in March 2013, initially until the end of the season.

His record in that time was won 44, drawn 46 and lost 37.

We take a look at some of his highs and lows from his time in charge.

 

THE HIGHS

Rovers 4-3 Wigan, Championship, May 3, 2014

This final day ding-dong between these Lancashire rivals extended Rovers unbeaten record at the end of the 2013/14 campaign to 12 games and left supporters, players and management looking forward to the following season with real excitement.

The strong end to the season saw Rovers finish just two points outside the play-off positions and although their charge had ultimately come too late, confidence was high that they could finish in the top six in 2014/15.

Lancashire Telegraph:

The 12 games unbeaten yielded 31 goals. On the final day Tom Cairney and Rudy Gestede scored early on, either side of an Ivan Ramis goal for the visitors.

Gestede made it 3-1 before the break, before James McLean got one back in the second half. Jordan Rhodes scored six minutes from time to extend the advantage to two, with Nicky Maynard completing the scoring for the visitors three minutes later.

 

Rovers 2-1 Leeds, Championship, November 22, 2014

The following season got off to an indifferent start but the smash-and-grab victory over Leeds at Ewood Park moved Bowyer's side into the play-off positions for the first time in his reign.

It extended Rovers' unbeaten run to eight games and with Rhodes, Rudy Gestede and Ben Marshall all hitting top form the foundations had been laid for a play-off push.

Lancashire Telegraph:

Souleymane Doukara had given the visitors a first half lead, but Rhodes equalised 19 minutes from time.

When Tom Cairney was sent-off eight minutes from the end it looked like Rovers would have to settle for a point, but Rhodes converted an 88th minute penalty to snatch victory and send Rovers into the top six.

 

Liverpool 0-0 Rovers, FA Cup quarter-final, March 8 2015

Bowyer's side were huge underdogs when they travelled to Anfield for this FA Cup tie, roared on by nearly 6,000 travelling supporters.

Brendan Rodgers' Liverpool were on a superb run at the time. They had lost only one of their last 21 matches in normal time, a Europa League clash at Besiktas, and had won six of their last seven games in all competitions.

Lancashire Telegraph:

The hosts fielded a strong side, with Philippe Coutinho, Adam Lallana, Raheem Sterling and Daniel Sturridge all starting, but they were thwarted by a magnificent rearguard effort from Rovers.

Simon Eastwood continued his cup heroics with a fine performance, and Rovers could have won it, Alex Baptise was denied by a brilliant save from Simon Mignolet.

 

THE LOWS

Bolton 4-0 Rovers, Championship, March 1, 2014

Rovers were five games unbeaten when an injury-hit squad made the short journey along the A666 to the Reebok Stadium, but they returned with their tails between their legs following a disastrous afternoon.

Neighbours Bolton had won just one of their last nine matches but Rovers were a shambles on the day.

Medo scored after 23 minutes and Joe Mason doubled the advantage on the stroke of half time. Jay Spearing made it three on 47 minutes and the scoring was completed in the final minute by Andre Moritz.

The defeat rocked Rovers, they were beaten at home by Burnley a week later and then lost at Ewood again to Bournemouth three days after that. The 12 game unbeaten run to end the season followed, but this run of three successive defeats proved to be crucial in the final reckoning.

 

Rovers 0-1 Brighton, Championship, March 21, 2015

Rovers' slim play-off hopes were all but ended four days earlier when they went down 3-2 at Ewood to Brentford, seeing a 2-1 half time advantage eroded, but they were hoping for a quick response when Brighton were the visitors on the Saturday.

Instead Bowyer's side turned in a limp and lifeless display in front of their own fans to go down to a second successive home defeat.

Lancashire Telegraph:

Matt Kilgallon's first half own-goal summed up Rovers' day and they were unable to muster much of a response after that.

Bowyer said the hectic cup run, this game came between the Liverpool tie at Anfield and the Ewood replay, had taken its toll on his players.

 

Rovers 0-1 Burnley, Championship, October 24, 2015

Now we know that Venky's have been speaking to potential new bosses for a little while this derby day heartbreak was probably the final nail in the coffin for Bowyer's Ewood Park reign.

In truth the home side deserved something from this fixture but a record of two wins from 13 Championship fixtures simply wasn't good enough, and a second successive home defeat to Burnley hurt.

Lancashire Telegraph:

Had Rhodes taken one of his four chances in the match, or Tom Lawrence had converted a simple second half opportunity at 0-0, then things may have been different.

Instead Scott Arfield scored on one of Burnley's rare forays forward and it was another hard-luck story for Rovers. And it may well have been the moment Venky's decided they needed to act.