WINGLESS WONDERS

ROVERS boss Paul Lambert sprung a surprise when he went with a new-look midfield diamond formation. It clearly threw Boro, too, as they struggled to get to grips with it throughout.

With Ben Marshall and Tommy Spurr providing width down the flanks, and Corry Evans cover in front of the defence, the system allowed Hope Akpan and, in particular, Darragh Lenihan to get forward at every opportunity, and Jordi Gomez to pull the strings in his free role behind the front two.

It has been the most threatening Rovers have looked from the middle of the park for some time and, with the likes of Craig Conway and new boy Elliott Bennett on the bench, it underlined Lambert’s belief that his squad is growing stronger and more flexible.

 

SPANISH STYLIST

THERE were several excellent individual showings within the framework of what was a very good team performance. Grant Hanley, Elliott Ward, Evans or Lenihan could have walked away with the man-of-the-match honour on any other given day.

But it had to go to Gomez after a debut display that left the 554 travelling Rovers supporters purring.

There was the delicious free kick from which Ward had a goal ruled out; there was the sweetly struck shot that flew into the back of the net to send the blue and white army into rapture, and there was just the graceful, unhurried way he went about his business all afternoon.

The Spaniard was the best player on the pitch.


POINTS DROPPED

YOU would have attracted a few strange looks, both before kick-off and after David Nugent’s equaliser, had you suggested that a draw at a team that could go clear at the top tomorrow night constitutes two points dropped.

But there was no getting away from the fact that Rovers had the opportunities to put the game to bed both before and after Gomez had opened the scoring.

The positive was they created chances – and against the most miserly defence in the league. They must, however, be more ruthless, especially if they continue to give away soft goals.

Rovers are a hard team to break down – only the top two, Middlesbrough and Hull City, have conceded fewer goals in the Championship – but ever since their last league clean sheet, eight games ago, they have been punished for lapses in concentration.