Rovers reporter Rich Sharpe picks out four talking points from the 4-0 win over Derby County.

LAST SEASON SIMILARITIES

Two of Rovers’ most impressive performers in the first month of last season were Derrick Williams and Bradley Johnson. Fast forward 12 months, and they’ve been among them again in the opening three matches.

Williams profited from an injury to Tosin Adarabioyo last season to feature, helping Rovers keep three clean sheets in their opening five matches and developing a strong understanding with Darragh Lenihan which has continued when they have played together since.

Johnson meanwhile was the pick of the summer signings in the opening month of last season, proving to be a dominant force in the middle of the park.

The following months of the season were less straightforward, Johnson having a loss of form which saw him drop out of the team, and it wasn’t until after lockdown that he probably regained it. Williams meanwhile was hampered by muscle problems throughout the season and this run in the side is his longest since the back end of 2019.

The Irishman knows Daniel Ayala is close to being fit enough to push for a place in the starting line-up, while more competition could be on the way for Johnson with Corry Evans’ return, and the chance of a new midfield recruit. Their form currently means they more than merit their place.

 

PRESSED INTO ACTION

The coaching staff, as well as the players, sensed when the moments were right to press high, the animation from the dugout replicated on the pitch. One wrong pass, and Rovers were in, their lightning speed on the transition too much for Derby.

Time and again Derby players looked hurried in possession, unable to look up without seeing a red shirt on them, invariably forced to play back, or across, and from their Rovers pounced.

It’s a risky tactic, Rovers knowing there was plenty of open spaces should Derby find a way through, something they did on the odd occasion with the score at 0-0. It was a real game of cat and mouse, each side knew what the other was trying to do, but Derby weren’t good enough to carry out what was required and simply played into Rovers’ hands.

It was an exhausting watch, such was the work Rovers put in, and delivering that kind of physical output across a condensed season will be tough, and that’s why picking their moments when to do it was so impressive.

Having such pace in attack means they will always carry a threat and offers them a luxury that they can afford . If teams try and play out then Rovers can push up high. Alternatively, they could sit off and invite more pressure knowing the speed they possess on the transition. It looked a frightening prospect for the hosts.

 

STATS CORNER

You have to go back to August 1958 the last time Rovers registered better back-to-back results than the 5-0 and 4-0 against Wycombe and Derby in consecutive seasons.

Intriguingly, it was also the second and third matches of that season when they beat both Leicester and Tottenham 5-0, and actually won 5-1 at Newcastle on the opening day.

They then failed to win any of their next eight matches, manager Johnny Carey left to join Everton and Rovers finished in 10th.

Rovers now have 45 goals in the calendar year, a record bettered by only Brentford and Manchester City, scoring three, or more, on six separate occasions.

Adam Armstrong tops the Championship scoring charts with five. Of the other 23 Championship clubs, only Reading have managed more than that.

Armstrong too has scored in five consecutive league matches for Rovers, with only six players having managed better scoring runs, with seven leading the way.

Rovers’ 11 league goals this season are the most by any team in their opening three games this century. It took them 10 matches to reach that tally last season.

No team in England can better their goal difference of plus eight.

 

BRERETON NEEDS A GOAL

This may sound like an understatement for an attacker play with two goals in 50 Rovers appearances, but in recent weeks it has been the only thing missing from his performance.

Ben Brereton missed an excellent opportunity in the Carabao Cup win over Doncaster, should have done better when put clear against Wycombe, but against Derby, it wasn’t for the lack of trying.

Brereton managed eight shots, and you couldn’t fault his ambition, an effort from all of 30 yards as the ball bounced invitingly for him inside a minute was testament to that.

While some lacked placement, others blocked, there were two moments he came desperately close. 

His side-foot effort, which came back off the post, eventually tapped in by Tyrhys Dolan was particularly unfortunate, a shot which looked destined for the bottom corner when it left his boot. While his heading is an area of his game that needs work, he did get on the end of a superb Lewis Holtby cross, and did everything right by heading it down into the corner, denied by a smart David Marshall save.

The positives were undoubtedly his running capacity, far exceeding anything we’ve seen previous, while with his back to goal, his hold-up play was a significant improvement. He was an outlet for Rovers with ball down the channel, a willing runner in behind, and his link-up play was effective.

But as his manager, and Derrick Williams, put it post-match, he just needs a goal, however it comes.