Report: Rovers 1-1 Millwall

Sam Szmodics scored his 20th league goal of the campaign but Rovers were forced to share the spoils with Millwall following a 1-1 draw at Ewood Park.

In a first half that lacked too many clear opportunities, the sides went into the break as they started the encounter that pitted 17th against 18th in the Sky Bet Championship.

It took until the 54th minutes for the breakthrough to arrive and it came against the run of play via Burnley loanee Michael Obafemi, who slammed into the back of the net from inside the box.

Rovers rallied and equalised nine minutes later, with Arnor Sigurdsson capitalising on an error at the back to set up Szmodics, who made it 26 for the season in all competitions.

John Eustace made two changes to the side that started at Swansea City a few days earlier, with Leo Wahlstedt coming in for Aynsley Pears, who missed out due to illness.

The other alteration came in midfield, with Jake Garrett replacing Andrew Moran, who dropped to the bench against Neil Harris’ Lions. 

Rovers were having the bulk of the ball but tested Matija Sarkic just once, with Sam Szmodics almost catching out the goalkeeper at his near post early on.

At the other end, a dangerous corner from George Saville saw his left-footed delivery flicked on by Jake Cooper and Zian Flemming snuck in at the back post but fired into the side-netting just before the half-hour mark.

With a lack of opportunities for either side, it came as no surprise to see the teams go into the break as they began the contest.

Rovers and the Lions each made a change at the interval, with Ben Chrisene on in place of Callum Brittain, whilst Michael Obafemi replaced Aidomo Emakhu in attack for the visitors.

The alteration saw Harry Pickering switch to right wing-back, with Chrisene taking the spot on the other flank.

It took just nine minutes for Obafemi to make an impact and he did it by wriggling between two Rovers defenders and firing centrally into the back of the net from inside the box after bringing down Billy Mitchell’s deep ball.

Rovers responded after being given a gift from Millwall, with Danny McNamara giving the ball to substitute Arnor Sigurdsson, who found Szmodics in space, with the division’s top goalscorer doing the rest with an excellent first-time finish that he sent past Sarkic and into the bottom corner for his 20th league goal of the campaign just after the hour mark.

Time was ticking on and neither side really did enough to earn the points, with Substitute Yasin Ayari testing Sarkic in added time as the teams were forced to share the spoils in East Lancashire.

Next up for Rovers is a home test against Plymouth Argyle on Saturday, kick-off is at 3pm.

Supporters are reminded that the clash against the Pilgrims is the first of our Five Game Package, with Adult prices beginning at £95 for all five games!

Attendance: 11,711 (331 away).