Welcome to Roger’s Rovers Advent Calendar - read the full story behind it and add your comments HERE.

Day: 8/30

Season: 2016/17

Fixture: Rovers 2-2 Preston North End (18/3/17)

Context: Sliding doors moment for Gallagher as poor game management costs Rovers…badly!

Highlights:

Why Chosen

Relegation seasons aren’t decided by one game in particular. Over the course of a season if you are in the bottom three by the conclusion of the campaign a lot of things have probably gone wrong. But for Rovers fans 18th March 2017 will live on in infamy. Rovers had steadied the turbulent ship under new gaffer Tony Mowbray and were unbeaten in six (though just two of those were victories) with heartening draws at Norwich and at Fulham leading into a mouthwatering Lancashire derby at home to North End. Stoppage time goals were a theme of those early Mowbray fixtures, we had been warned! Agent Benno and Craig Conway managed to get Rovers in a winning position as Lucas Joao ran riot against the Lilywhites. But we know why this is here. “JUST RUN IT INTO THE CORNER!” young loanee striker Sam Gallagher decided to cross from the touchline to an empty penalty box, thus surrendering possession with just seconds left. Everything seemed to go in slow motion from that point on. Paul Gallagher’s composure, McGeady’s finish, heartbreak.

Aftermath

The late goal against and loss of two vital points, knocked the stuffing out of the players as well as the supporters. Rovers would go on to lose the next three games, including a dismal display at home to Barnsley. Despite a late rally, Rovers would go down on goal difference. Famously leading the fans to think “If only Gallagher had run to the corner!”. Little did we know Sam would be back in a Rovers shirt a couple of seasons later and enjoyed a solid (if unspectacular and latterly injury plagued) Rovers career. 

Honourable Mentions

Rovers 1-4 Norwich (5/8/16) - No one goes down on the opening day, but the enormity of the challenge ahead was evident for all as Rovers were three down inside the first 25 minutes of the season on Owen Coyles first match in charge.

Rovers 1-0 Newcastle (1/1/17) – Of course ‘football being football’ saw Rovers relegated whilst completing a double over the eventual champions Newcastle. Classic Championship.

Rovers 1-2 Manchester United (19/2/17) – A spirited cup performance against Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United, Danny Graham scored a cracker, whilst mercifully, it would be the last we’d see of Coyle in the home dugout.