Opening day encounters…

With the release of the 2023-24 fixtures now less than 24 hours away, we’ve gone through the archives to see how Rovers have got on in their opening day battles of the past!

Last term, with the break for the FIFA World Cup, saw the season begin at the end of July, with Queens Park Rangers visiting Ewood Park in game one of 2022-23.

With the rain pouring down for the first competitive game of the Jon Dahl Tomasson era, newly-appointed captain Lewis Travis marked getting the armband full-time in some style, with his outrageous long-range effort enough to secure a 1-0 win against the Hoops, who has Michael Beale in charge for the first time.

A year earlier and an excellent performance saw Rovers triumph against Swansea City on the first game of 2021-22, with goals from Sam Gallagher and a Ben Brereton Diaz penalty securing a 2-1 win against the Swans, in what was Russell Martin’s first match at the helm for the visitors.

However, the 2020-21 and 2019-20 openers proved to be disappointing starts for Rovers, who have suffered defeats at AFC Bournemouth and at home to Charlton Athletic.

Bournemouth ran out narrow winners at the Vitality Stadium back in September, with Arnaut Danjuma’s strike proving to be the match-winning moment down on the south coast in a 3-2 win for the Cherries.

It was a frustrating start to 2019-20 as well, with Lyle Taylor’s effort winning the game for Charlton Athletic at Ewood Park late on in August 2019.

Dillon Phillips’ unfortunate own goal had equalised for Rovers following Ben Purrington’s first-half strike for the visitors.

Back in 2018-19, Rovers picked up a point at Portman Road with current Rover Tayo Edun’s fortunate cross-shot earning a draw for Ipswich Town in an entertaining 2-2 draw in Suffolk.

After Gwion Edwards’ early opener, strikes from Danny Graham and Bradley Dack put Tony Mowbray’s side in command before Edun’s dramatic leveller in the 90th minute.

The season before – our promotion-winning campaign in League One – Rovers suffered defeat on the road at Southend United.

With five debutants on show, Charlie Mulgrew’s stunning free-kick meant nothing as goals from Ryan Leonard and Michael Kightly earned the points for the hosts at Roots Hall.

Prior to 2021-22, our last opening day victory came at the start of the 2010-11 season against Everton at Ewood Park.

A solitary strike from Nikola Kalinic was the difference between the two sides in East Lancashire, with the Croatian pouncing on a mistake from visiting ‘keeper Tim Howard.

A year earlier we kicked off the campaign against moneybags Manchester City at Ewood, with goals from Stephen Ireland and Emmanuel Adebayor earning all three points for the visitors.

The start of our Premier League-winning campaign in 1994-95 didn’t get off to the greatest start down at Southampton either.

Played at The Dell, Alan Shearer bagged against his former side on the hour to smuggle a point for Rovers on the south coast, equalising after Nicky Banger gave the hosts an early lead in Hampshire.

We’ve highlighted the good and the bad opening day encounters and we can’t wait to see who we’ll face on the opening day of this coming campaign.