Blackburn stop the rot with a welcomed point against fellow strugglers Coventry

Ben Brereton’s second goal in as many games wasn’t enough to see off Coventry as the Sky Blues fought back to take a share of the points at Ewood Park.

With both sides coming into the game in search of a much needed three points, it was neither team who were able to capitalise and in a game with little quality on show, a draw was a fair result.

Rovers boss Tony Mowbray made two changes to his team that lost to Watford in the week, with Darragh Lenihan and Ben Brereton coming in to replace Bradley Dack and Taylor Harwood-Bellis.

Coventry, who began the day in 20th position, started the brightest as left wing-back Sam McCallum went close in the first minute.

It was his skewed cross that brushed the cross-bar almost catching out the Rovers keeper, Thomas Kaminski, who watched on helplessly as the ball clipped his upright and deflected agonisingly behind for a goal kick.

McCallum again was involved just minutes later as Mowbray’s men were struggling to cope with the Coventry set up, the wing-back found himself in space just outside the area however his shot was dragged wide.

As the half went on Blackburn grew into the game and did in fact take the lead just before the half-hour mark.

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Brereton grabbed his second goal of the week as he lashed in a half-volley giving Ben Wilson in the Coventry goal no chance.

Minutes later it was almost two. Barry Douglas’ free-kick crashed against the post as the Coventry goalkeeper remained rooted to the spot, the ball rebounded out before being cleared to safety.

Despite ending the first half well, Blackburn were slow out of the blocks after the break and conceded just four minutes into the second-half.

The goal came out of nothing as Rovers failed to deal with McCallum’s cross, the ball dropped kindly to Matty James who was on cue to fire home the equaliser.

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In a second-half where chances were few and far between, the best one fell for Blackburn’s Jarrad Branthwaite however he headed wide from close range.

Seven minutes from time Coventry were reduced to ten men as Norwegian full-back Leo Ostigard was shown a second yellow card for a cynical foul.

The Sky Blues did manage to see out the game as it finished 1-1, but manager Mark Robins believed his side deserved more out of both the Blackburn game as well as their defeat to Swansea during the week.

“This week’s away performances have proven we can play to a really good level even though we’ve not got the points that we feel we should have. We deserved something from Swansea and we certainly deserved the three points today.”

This result leaves his side in 20th position in the Championship, lying precariously just six points above the relegation zone.

Games are coming thick and fast at the minute with Neil Warnock’s Middlesborough next up on Tuesday night. Robins will be hoping his side can get back to winning ways as they look to push away from the chasing pack below them.

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