Rovers’ march continued as they became only the third team this season to beat Bournemouth and chalk up a fourth straight win and clean sheet.

A Ben Pearson own goal and Jan Paul van Hecke header ensured Tony Mowbray got his 100th victory as Rovers manager.

Aynsley Pears made key saves in both halves to ensure that Rovers kept a fourth straight clean sheet and maintain fourth spot in the Championship.

They are now within four points of the Cherries as they claimed a seventh win in their last nine matches, with this one of the most impressive in this run.

For the third time this season Rovers named an unchanged side with the squad boosted by the returns of Daniel Ayala and Sam Gallagher who took their places on the bench.

Bournemouth were looking to call on their strong home record once again and were always expected to dominate possession.

Rovers’ task was to stay disciplined out of possession but carry a threat on the break and did just that 11 minutes in. John Buckley robbed Ben Pearson of the ball to free Ben Brereton who opted to shoot first time from the edge of the box, his curling effort not coming down in time to trouble Mark Travers.

With their next opportunity they took the lead in the 22nd minute. Harry Pickering’s floated ball was flicked goalwards by Darragh Lenihan and although Travers made a good save down to his left, Brereton’s follow-up hit the underside of the bar before hitting Pearson on the way in.

The goal was eventually credited as a Pearson own goal, the ball not quite crossing the line before hitting the midfielder and nestling in the corner.

Aynsley Pears continued to deputise for the injured Thomas Kaminski and made his first vital contribution on the half hour.

Ryan Christie wriggled his way beyond a couple of challenges and looked certain to equalise after holding off Lewis Travis, but has he attempted to lift the ball over the Rovers ‘keeper he spread himself to make the block.

Bournemouth were seeing plenty of the ball, but much of it at the feet of their back four.

Chances on the break saw Brereton and Reda Khadra denied just as they looked to get shots away but the pair were helping out the defensive effort too by tracking back.

Two minutes were added at the end of the first half and in those Bournemouth came close to a leveller twice. An incisive Christie pass freed top scorer Dominic Solanke who went through only to be denied by a smart Pears save diving away to his left.

The keeper then held a Christie free kick underneath his crossbar before the half time whistle arrived at what felt like a good time.

Bournemouth made a change at the break, Emiliano Marcondes replacing Pearson in an attacking move from Scott Parker but it was an extra intensity to their play that was most troubling Rovers.

Van Hecke blocked a Solanke shot and sending on Gallagher was Rovers’ response to that early pressure in the second half.

They soon went close to a second, Rothwell’s corner met by Lenihan but he couldn’t keep his header under the bar.

From a corner soon after Buckley tested Travers who was equal to the effort at his near post, before Gallagher did well at the other end to get back to clear after Marcondes danced into the box.

Rovers were carrying more of a threat in the second half than they had in the first and had a huge chance to double their lead moments before they did.

Buckley again freed Brereton who raced away from Cahill but his touch before his eventual shot looked a little heavy and was denied by Travis.

From the resulting corner however Rovers maximised their height as an excellent Rothwell corner was met by the powerful head of van Hecke which flew beyond Travers. He took off to celebrate with gusto infront of the Rovers fans.

There were changes for Mowbray to make soon after however, Wharton and Nyambe both going down injured with Ayala and Bradley Johnson on in their places.

Brereton was still on the look-out for a goal, stinging the palms of Travers who saved well after the Chilean had been found by Johnson on the left edge of the box.

Rovers were trying to hold on for their clean sheet, Pears making a good stop from Marcondes’ 25-yard free kick with six minutes remaining, while the keeper was in the right place to hold when Solanke deflected a Christie shot goalwards.

The clean sheet was preserved as Rovers saw out the six additional minutes before taking the deserved ovation from the away support.

Bournemouth: Travis, Stacey, Cook (Kelly, 66), Cahill, Brady, Pearson (Marcondes, 46), Cook, Christie, Lowe, Solanke, Anthony (Rogers, 72)

Subs: Nyland, Mepham, Davis, Kilkenny

 

Rovers: Pears, Nyambe (Johnson, 72), Lenihan, van Hecke, Wharton (Ayala, 67), Pickering, Travis, Rothwell, Buckley, Brereton, Khadra (Gallagher, 55)

Subs: Eastham, Edun, Clarkson, Dolan