BLACKBURN Rovers boss Owen Coyle praised his side’s character, but not their defending, after they battled back from two goals down to win their EFL Cup second-round clash at home to Crewe Alexandra 4-3 after extra-time.

Rovers seemed set to be knocked out of the competition by lower-division opposition for the sixth season running after Billy Bingham and Chris Dagnall fired League Two Crewe into a commanding lead.

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However goals from Hope Akpan, Scott Wharton and Craig Conway turned the tie on its head before Dagnall struck for the second time to take it into extra-time.

But Championship basement boys Rovers were not to be denied a morale-boosting victory as the returning Shane Duffy headed in a 97th-minute winner.

Coyle said: “Whoever you play in cup ties it is never easy. I know that from my own career as a player and as a manager. I’ve been to semi-finals and finals as an underdog all the way through so we always knew it was going to be a tricky tie.

“But what we did do is make it difficult for ourselves. We started really well and then found ourselves 1-0 down with what was another wonder goal.

“With their second goal David Raya will know on another day he should save that. But, credit to him, he made some good and important saves in the second half.

“At 2-0 down a shock looked on the cards, the fans got nervous and edgy, and that’s when you need your players to stand up and be counted, and they did that.

“They showed character and grit to drag ourselves back in it when it would have been easier to feel sorry for ourselves. It was all about character.

“At 3-2 we should have put the game beyond doubt. Young Stephen Hendrie makes a poor header and young Alex Kiwomya, who’s on loan from Chelsea, and who we think is a very good player, plays it to Dagnall, who has scored goals all his career, and it’s a wonderful finish.

“We had to go and do it again. We picked ourselves up, made good chances, and then Shane Duffy scores, which shows you how football can change in a week.

“The important thing is we are in the draw for the next round and it could bring a big financial game or a glamour tie.

“But the thing is we have won from a difficult position and a lot of players have shown real character and a lot of fight for Blackburn Rovers.”

The match was watched by 3,448 supporters, Rovers’ lowest crowd for a league, FA Cup or League Cup encounter since September 1986 when Simon Barker scored twice in a League Cup first-round second-leg 2-0 home win over Wigan Athletic.

Coyle said: “You’ve got to understand there is three home games in a week, a lot of people are on holiday, finance is important, but the ones who came tonight have certainly seen a fair share of enjoyment.

“They will have seen a lot of good goals and they will have seen a team that were working hard to win a game for them.”

The draw for the third round takes place live on Sky Sports tonight after Accrington Stanley v Burnley.