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Day: 27/30

Season: 1997/98

Fixture: Rovers 7-2 Sheffield Wednesday (25/8/97)

Highlights

Why Chosen

I’ve referenced Rovers’ inconsistencies through this series, heaven knows, even this season we are all expecting a slide back down the table. Mowbray had his February woes, Tomasson couldn’t win after December 2023 the season of two halves is one Rovers fans are well versed in and prepared for.

The ultimate version of this has to be the 1997/98 season under new manager Roy Hodgson. Rovers exploded out of the blocks, playing some of the best football of the decade.

Two complimentary strikers in Chris Sutton and Kevin Gallacher, a reinvigorated and refreshed Stuart Ripley (whos form was good enough to earn England honours) along with left wing partner in crime Jason Wilcox gave Rovers an exciting attacking edge. This resulted in several dominant victories at the start of that campaign, none more exciting than the demolition of Sheffield Wednesday.

A blistering opening 24 minutes saw Rovers lead 5-1 with goals from Gallacher (2) a Graham Hyde own goal, Wilcox and Sutton. The Wednesday goal from, the mercurial Italian, Benito Carbone. The magical man from Calabria then scored the goal of the game to make it 5-2. A sumptuous strike from 35 yards out that kissed the crossbar on the way past John Filan. Lars Bohinen made it 6-2 before the red mist descended for Carbone, a petulant elbow and headbutt on Kevin Gallacher saw the Owls goalscorer dismissed. That allowed Rovers to make it a stunning seven as Chris Sutton tapped home his second with 16 minutes remaining. The only blemish on the night a broken arm for goalkeeper John Filan.

Aftermath 

The season that started so wonderfully turned in rather innocuous fashion. Aston Villa were demolished 5-0 at Ewood in the new year (a 9-0 aggregate on the season) and Rovers picked up a valuable point at Anfield (0-0) leaving Hodgson’s side 3rd in the table after 24 matches. A loss at home to Spurs was where it all started to go wrong as Rovers would lose 8 of their next 10 games, derailing a once fine season, leaving Rovers with it all to do on the last day to finish in the European spots in 6th and qualify for the UEFA Cup. Chris Sutton’s free-kick the match winning moment as Rovers beat Newcastle United 1-0. The goal would ensure Sutton had a share of the Golden Boot that season and saved the clubs blushes after a quite remarkable second half collapse.

This torrid run in the calendar year of 1998 (Rovers lost 20/36 Premier League games in the calendar year 1998) would carry over to the next season (see yesterday) where despite promises of The Riverside Stand being rebuilt and a European adventure, tougher times and unthinkably, relegation lay just around the corner.

Honourable Mentions 

Rovers 3-4 Leeds United (14/9/97) – Almost unbelievably, Rovers would only lose two of their opening 21 league games in the Premier League in 97/98. A torrid afternoon at Old Trafford saw Rovers humbled 0-4, but the only defeat at Ewood was against another ‘United’, this time the white rose version, as seven first half goals saw a pulsating afternoon at Ewood end in defeat.  

Arsenal 1-3 Rovers (13/12/97) – Rovers finest hour under Hodgson as a memorable away win at Highbury sent Rovers 2nd heading into the festive period. Wilcox, Gallacher and Sherwood the heroes with the Scot Gallacher scoring a wonderful ‘route one’ strike in front of the famous North Bank. Arsenal would go onto to become the third side to lift the Premier League title 6 months later.

Rovers 5-0 Aston Villa (17/1/98) – Complete domination from Rovers against Villa (who they’d beaten 0-4 at Villa Park earlier that year) with goals from Sherwood, Ripley and a Kevin Gallacher hat-trick. Whilst Sutton would claim the headlines and the Golden Boot (split with Dion Dublin and Michael Owen) it would be Gallacher’s finest season in and blue and white halves. The Scottish forward scoring 20 goals across all competitions.