The sun was shining on an Ewood Park that has received a summer facelift. The running track is now blue, the netting is now blue and the technical area is an eye catching shade of blue that will ensure some parts of Ewood are never dull. An impressive following of over 2500 Wolves supporters added to that opening day feeling.
Following the numerous Rovers summer departures, namely Cairney, King and Gestede, the Ewood Park faithful had mixed feelings going into this first game and the season as a whole. “I don’t know what to expect” was the most common of these, perhaps due to a lack of knowledge over the summer signings of Gutherie, Delfouneso and the lesser known Kiota and Petshi. Rovers boss Gary Bowyer made a couple of big calls in his starting XI, young keeper David Raya started ahead of Jason Steele, Grant Hanley and Shane Duffy – a pairing that received much criticism last season – reunited at the heart of the defence and Nathan Delfouneso was handed a start on the right of midfield.
For the first 20 minutes Rovers were the better team, neat interplay, crisp passing and an eagerness to close their opponents down all key features of this. Jordan Rhodes, heavily linked with a move away throughout the summer, led the Rovers frontline and looked to be on a mission to impress, almost getting on the scoresheet after just two minutes with a thunderous effort from 25 yards out.
Wolves then got a foothold in the game as Rovers were unable to make the early pressure tell or maintain the high pressing game plan. The industrious but largely ineffective Delfouneso then moved to partner Rhodes with Marshall, the focal point of the early good play, was moved to the right hand side. That change in formation from 4231 to 442 allowed Wolves’ diamond in midfield to outnumber their opponents and ensure they gained control of the game.
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