Report: A night where Rovers felt the absence of key creators

The gap closed to four points, but an expectant home crowd had thoughts of it being just two, only to be held to a goalless draw by a Stoke City side in need of points of their own as they bid to move away from the bottom three.

This was the night Rovers felt the absence of injured pair Bradley Dack and Lewis Holtby, their creative sorely missed on a night where the hosts spent long spells in possession.

It in a show of respect to Rovers’ home record, and also due to their plight, Stoke were more than happy with the point they were taking back to the Potteries.

Rovers made their now characteristic bright start, Joe Rothwell on his return to the side putting the ball in the net inside two minutes, after Jack Butland spilled an Adam Armstrong drive, only to be flagged offside.

He would have Rovers’ best chance of the opening quarter, making another late surge in to the box to meet a Sam Gallagher knockdown, but got too much purchase on his shot that he lifted over the advancing Butland, and the crossbar.

Ryan Nyambe thumped a 25-yarder wide of the post in an opening 15 minutes that belonged to the hosts, a 10th booking of the season to Darragh Lenihan, who triggered a two match ban, being the one downside on an otherwise bright start.

Tyrese Campbell was the man Lenihan fouled for his booking, and had Stoke’s first attempt on goal, a curling effort down the throat of Christian Walton who held on well.

Having weathered the initial Rovers charge, Stoke, happy to sit behind the ball when out of possession, were growing in confidence though and pushing more bodies forward as the half wore on.

Nick Powell glanced a header wide from an inswinging Jordan Thompson corner, while he, and Tom Ince, both fired over the target from promising positions inside the box.

Rovers’ early tempo had deserted them, with Gallagher and Armstrong not linking up to good effect until seven minutes before the break as the big man’s flick found his partner’s run, only for the shot to fly over the top.

There was a need for improvement from the hosts, with Stoke the happier as the game meandered towards half time all square. Four minutes in to the second half a big chance fell the way of Gallagher, spinning in behind his marker to collect a Lenihan through-ball, but Butland was able to get a good hand to the attempted lob.

They upped the tempo to good effect moments later to create a shooting angle for the previously well-marshalled Armstrong who dragged his shot wide of the far post.

Armstrong had no other thought on his mind when collecting the ball on the left touchline in the 55th than driving in to the box and getting a shot away. He did just that, with Butland equal to his shot at the near post.

Walton equally had to be alert at the other end to palm away Campbell’s strike as the ball showed signs of becoming stretched for the first time.

The home crowd sensed their support was needed as the hour mark was reached, with everything still to play for. Their side were playing too narrow, becoming too predictable and easy to defend against, as a lack of quality came in to the box.

Rovers’ subs had done the business for them in their last home win over Hull, but there was a reluctance seemingly to use them this time around.

Shots were coming from distance, both Armstrong and Rothwell shooting tamely in to the arms of Butland.

Mowbray did eventually make changes, with Dominic Samuel, Armstrong and Danny Graham all on the pitch for the final 10 minutes, but still there was a void in the number of chances created.

Lewis Travis skewed wide as a free kick fell his way, and that somewhat summed up Rovers’ night in front of goal.

Rovers: Christian Walton 6, Ryan Nyambe 7, Darragh Lenihan 6, Tosin Adarabioyo 6, Amari’i Bell 6, Lewis Travis 7, Bradley Johnson 6 (Danny Graham, 82), Stewart Downing 6, Joe Rothwell 6 (Joe Rankin-Costello, 78), Adam Armstrong 7, Sam Gallagher 5 (Dominic Samuel, 78)

Subs: Jayson Leutwiler, Elliott Bennett, John Buckley, Ben Brereton