MATCHES

1975: Halifax Town 1–1 Rovers Tony Parkes helped Rovers to the first of four consecutive draws in April, which contributed towards the Division Three league championship. 

1978: Southampton 5–0 Rovers A hammering from third-placed Saints effectively ended Rovers’ hopes of promotion, as the season fizzled out following the departure of manager Jim Smith to Birmingham City in March.

1988: Oldham Athletic 4–2 Rovers Memories of a 23-match unbeaten run and top of the table were fading as Rovers limped to a fifth-place finish. Colin Hendry and Simon Barker provided the goals.

1991: Middlesbrough 0–1 Rovers Three massive points against high-flying Boro in the quest to avoid relegation. A diving header won it – Paul Shepstone's only goal for the club.

1995: Everton 1–2 Rovers Chris Sutton scored after 13 seconds and Alan Shearer doubled the lead soon after. Game over? Not quite… Rovers faced an onslaught in the second half as Everton pushed for an equaliser. Colin Hendry recorded a 10/10 performance as crucial Championship points were taken home.

2000: Rovers 5–0 Sheffield United A third consecutive win for recently appointed manager Graeme Souness as Damien Duff (2), Ashley Ward, Egil Ostenstad and substitute Matt Jansen kept alive hopes of a late play-off push.

2001: Rovers 5–0 Burnley The second consecutive 5-0 at Ewood on April Fools’ Day as Rovers marched towards promotion with Craig Short as a surprising goalscoring hero. See more from that day by clicking here.

2002: Rovers 2–0 Southampton An evening kick-off for Sky TV meant Rovers had slipped into the bottom three again, but Damien Duff’s wizardry and a Yordi header made Ewood erupt with relief.

2013: Cardiff City 3–0 Rovers Rovers found themselves plummeting towards relegation as Gary Bowyer tried to sort out the mess of 2012/13. David Bentley made his last appearance as a professional footballer at the age of 28.

2014: Rovers 3–3 Brighton Jordan Rhodes looked to have won the match with an 86th-minute penalty but Dale Stephens equalised, as crucial points were lost in the hunt for the play-offs. 

2023: Birmingham City 1–0 Rovers Former loanee Reda Khadra struck the second-half winner during the late-season collapse of form which saw Rovers miss out on the play-offs on goal difference.

2024: Sunderland 1–5 Rovers Plummeting towards the relegation zone after just 1 win in 18 matches, manager John Eustace recorded his first Rovers victory with a stunning away performance. Sammie Szmodics (2), Ryan Hedges, Tyrhys Dolan and Andy Moran helped themselves to goals.

BIRTHDAYS

Dominic Samuel, born 1994 (aged 30). Scored some crucial in the League One campaign, but his Rovers career is remembered for bad injuries and inconsistency.

John Bailey, born 1957 (aged 67). Full-back from the late 1970s who moved on for a successful spell at Everton.

Les Bruton, born 1903, died 1989 (aged 86). Prolific striker in the late 1920s, alongside his unrelated namesake Jack Bruton.