CONNOR Mahoney has thanked head coach Tony Mowbray for the faith he has shown in him during his first four games in charge at Blackburn Rovers.

Mahoney came up with the assist as Rovers snatched a late equaliser against Cardiff City at Ewood Park on Tuesday to maintain their two point gap over the relegation zone.

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Mowbray sent on Mahoney 10 minutes in to the second half as Rovers went in search of an equaliser, his fourth appearance from the bench since the head coach took over.

The 20-year-old has played the role of impact sub so far in 2017, having made just one Championship start, but Mahoney says he’s been pleased by his increased game time of late.

“I’m buzzing with it,” Mahoney said of the faith being shown in him.

“The new gaffer has shown a lot of faith in me – he’s putting me on not just with five or 10 minutes to go, he’s putting me on with half an hour to go which gives me the freedom to get in to the game.

“It showed in the last five minutes when I got the assist.

“I’m thoroughly happy with the gaffer who is trusting me.”

Mowbray has talked up Mahoney’s ability during his early weeks in charge, though he believes the former Accrington Stanley man still has plenty to learn.

Mahoney’s next challenge is to force his way in to the starting line-up with 11 games of the season to go.

“I just need to keep doing what I’m doing when I’m coming on, having an impact on the game, and making things happen,” he added.

“Then when I do get the chance to start I know that I need to do it from the off and not just the last 20 or 30 minutes of a game.

“I think that will come with time and experience, I’m only 20 and still starting out, but hopefully that will come in the future.”

Rovers left it late to grab an equaliser, with Derrick Williams scoring his first for the club as he turned in from close range after an excellent Mahoney cross from the right.

It was the first time they had fallen behind in their fourth game under Mowbray, and Mahoney added: “We left it late but we got the equaliser in the end and we were all buzzing.

“But we’re slightly disappointed that we didn’t come away with all three points.

“I think it shows how far we’ve come as a team since the new gaffer has come in, he’s got his playing good football and to be disappointed at coming away with a point against such a solid team shows how far we can go.

“We fell behind and we hadn’t done that for a few games so we had to pick ourselves up and keep pushing for the equaliser.”

Contract talks are continuing between Rovers and Mahoney, with the winger seeing his current deal expire in the summer.

But he admits helping to keep Rovers in the Championship is his biggest concern right now.

He said: “This is my home-town club and I love playing for it.

“I just want to make sure we stay up this season and then we will go from there.”