Old Blackburnian's View - Pt 18 - Dack’s Double Keeps Frustrations Bottled Up

[Herbie6590]

A slightly longer version of this week's Accrington Observer column

Dack’s Double Keep Frustrations Bottled Up

Northbound on the M1 around junction 37; some political graffiti has emerged during the early days of the election campaign. One of the epithets painted onto a bridge straddling the M1 proclaims that “Barnsley doesn’t believe bullspit Boris”...at least I think that’s what it says, though I did pass at seventy miles per hour on Saturday morning (honestly officer...).

Based on sentiments expressed on fan forums and social media over recent weeks, Rovers fans are growing increasingly, similarly frustrated, with what is seen by some as the same tired, old platitudes trotted out each week from our manager. Same old problems, same old bullspit? When results are poor, it seems the performance is what matters but when performances are poor, it’s the results that take primacy. The players seem to be called out individually and collectively more frequently; referees are invariably in the firing line after defeats but as Mowbray himself admits, the buck stops with him. Indeed it does.

Mowbray is a fundamentally decent man in a sport that tends not to laud the principles of honesty and integrity as it ought, but he does sound even more world-weary than usual of late. Would Barnsley prove to be willing accomplices in helping to cheer up Tony? 

Barnsley arrived on the crest of a slump, fifteen games since their last win, but with a newly installed manager inducing the fear of “new manager bounce” in the home support, concern was widespread around pre-match Ewood. Many (your correspondent included) expressed a desire for a win by almost any means. With some tricky fixtures looming on the horizon, this was one you would simply have to mark down as a “must win”.

The team selected looked decent enough; Rothwell starting, Lenihan returning and with Williams and Nyambe unavailable, the main talking point on the bench was the inclusion of Ben Brereton following his injury rehabilitation. Once the game started though, it became clear that Sam Gallagher was to be deployed wide right and Adam Armstrong was played through the centre. 

I recall Mark Hughes once deploying Roque Santa Cruz wide right against Manchester United in order to dominate Patrice Evra in the air. Bentley, Pedersen and Reid picked out Santa Cruz with a series of diagonal balls that he won easily and Jason Roberts was then to feed on the supply. It almost worked but a Carlos Tevez equaliser late on secured an ill-deserved point for the Reds.

First Brereton and now Gallagher are being used in this fashion, but as a regular tactic and I have yet to comprehend fully the rationale or see it demonstrably pay off. The Sam Gallagher of that opening half hour at Deepdale looked almost unplayable. Rampaging through the centre, latching onto channel balls to feet or dangerous crosses in the air. This incarnation looks what it is; very much a guy playing out of position and growing increasingly frustrated with his lot. 

When Danny Graham plays, the team has a focal point. He holds the ball up. He brings others into the game. He categorically brings the best out of Bradley Dack. He is also 34 years old of course and so some kind of alternative approach is needed, with increasing urgency. I’m not convinced that continuing to play either Gallagher or Brereton as right wingers moves us closer to the ultimate answer. As a tactic, it has all the logic of asking a plumber to re-wire your house. It might work, but be careful plugging in that lamp.

Barnsley very nearly left Ewood with a point, in all honesty they could have had all three. They dominated possession, had more shots, the same number on target and in Ben Williams (a former Rovers youth player incidentally) at left back and the tricky Conor Chaplin introduced at half time, further ahead on the left flank, Elliott Bennett was a busy man, especially in the second half.

It took a brace from Bradley Dack, a first Rovers league goal for Stewart Downing and some desperate defending late on to secure a much-needed, if barely deserved victory. We tend to remember those games where our team plays well but fails to accrue just desserts and soon forget those lucky wins. A defeat here you sensed would have uncorked the genie from the bottle of pent-up crowd discontent. The mood was at best “unsettled” – with each Barnsley equaliser the frustrations grew louder and more vocal. Dack’s winner kept it in check but only just. Ten games without a clean sheet now.

Post-game, Tony Mowbray proclaimed that "Danny came on and gave us a platform to play off". He did indeed Tony, just as he so often does. Who knows, perhaps Sam Gallagher might have been able if played through the middle? Instead we had the master of the offside call, (I counted at least five in the first half) Adam Armstrong; pitted against a couple of massive centre backs as Christian Walton amongst others, launched high balls down the middle. A victory earned despite ourselves it seemed.

Brentford were next up at Ewood allowing David Raya the opportunity to state his case that he was a better keeper than Tony Mowbray believed him to be. Brentford back in February of course was the catalyst for that horrible run of form that looked like it might threaten Rovers Championship place. Should Rovers race into another two-goal lead expect a lot of knowing glances being exchanged in the stands, but that would be a nice problem to have. 

As it turned out. a single-goal lead, the result of a lovely back to front, side to side sweeping passing movement was sufficient. It was delightful move, the best Rovers conjured up in the match. I wonder how many Rovers fans polled at 7:45pm would have declared one goal sufficient to garner three points? Not me for sure but what a pleasure when it happens.

Brentford play some truly intricate passing moves and dominate possession but as we say so often, the most important statistic is the one in the goals scored column. In truth, Rovers could have had more, Raya's denial of Rothwell and Armstrong demonstrating what Rovers fans already knew. Brentford's best chance brought the very best out of Walton, who too had a decent evening. The win was a reward for effort, application and dare I say it, the manager. No Bennett in the starting XI, Graham playing through the middle, Armstrong wide right, Rothwell starting; many fans' frustrations addressed right here. Those two victories have certainly dispersed much of the gloom that was building up over Ewood.

November will be seen out on Saturday with a trip to Stoke, themselves coming into the fixture following back to back wins under their new manager, Michael O’Neill. As one of those sides currently below Rovers in the table, this fixture is another that falls into the critical category. Maintaining a healthy margin over the sides in the relegation zone would undoubtedly keep the genie in the bottle...for now at least.

 

Barnsley M1 bridge photo courtesy of @_thesaturdayboy on Twitter - a great follow if you like your quirky sports photography  www.thesaturdayboy.co.uk

 

[oldjamfan1]

Great stuff as usual Ian, thank you.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Two for the price of one. Very good.

[old darwen blue]

Loved it well done. 

[Leonard Venkhater]

Enjoyed this. Thanks.

[philipl]

Very pleasant reading.

[Vinjay]

Too many references to opposition but besides that not bad.

[Herbie6590]

1 hour ago, Vinjay17 said:

Too many references to opposition but besides that not bad.

Frankly, I’ll take that...? ??