MATT Kilgallon cut a delighted figure after ending his four-and-a-half-year goal drought to earn Blackburn Rovers a thoroughly deserved 1-1 draw at home to Championship leaders Leicester City.

With two minutes of the first half remaining the defender rose to meet a corner from Craig Conway and headed in his first goal for Rovers – and his first goal since he scored the winner for Sheffield United at Derby County in September 2009.

“I’m really happy and it’s nice to get off the mark,” said Kilgallon, who missed a good chance to put Rovers in front after Rudy Gestede flicked on another Conway corner.

“We worked on it in training and I’m glad it came off although I was disappointed with the one in the second half.

“My last goal was so long ago it was with one of those medicine balls!”

Kilgallon and fellow centre-back Michael Keane – hailed as ‘immense’ by Rovers boss Gary Bowyer – had to defend manfully in an open second half in which both teams had chances to win it.

“You can tell why they are top of the league with the pace they’ve got throughout the side and I’m sure they’ll go on to win it,” said Kilgallon.

“But I thought we matched them and for 15-20 minutes at the start of the second half we were well on top of them.”

Bowyer felt his side were denied a penalty in injury-time when stand-in skipper Jordan Rhodes appeared to be dragged down in the box by Marcin Wasilewski.

“From where I stood it looked a penalty,” said Bowyer.

“Jordan is as honest as the day is long and he said he felt contact.”

Leicester assistant manager Craig Shakespeare praised Rovers’ performance and admits they deserved at least a share of the spoils.

Shakespeare said: “It was a point gained. I thought they gave us as good a game as we’ve had all season.”