BLACKBURN Rovers boss Gary Bowyer labelled his side’s defending as unacceptable in the 3-3 home with Brighton & Hove Albion – before hailing Jordan Rhodes’ landmark 50th goal.

Rhodes brought up the major milestone with four minutes of normal time remaining when he converted a penalty to put Rovers back in front for the second time in Tuesday’s thrilling clash.

But more slack play at the back allowed Brighton, from just their fourth effort on target, to snatch an instant equaliser and condemn Rovers to a fourth successive draw.

Bowyer said: “Our first goal was an outstanding finish, the second was an unbelievable move and the third goal was a penalty.

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“Then you look at the goals we’ve conceded and we have to be majorly disappointed by the standard of them.

“We’ve scored eight goals in the last three games and we’ve got three points to show for it and it’s not acceptable.

“We’ve kept 12 clean sheets this season and we’ve got to get back to that quickly because we’re scoring goals and our attacking play is looking very good. We’ve got to pick ourselves up.

“We’ve got seven games to play – two to come at home on Saturday and Tuesday – and turn these performances into results and start winning games instead of drawing games otherwise it’s going to cost us.”

Rovers would have moved within five points of the play-off places had they been able to hold on to the late lead Rhodes gave them when he put away the first penalty at Ewood Park this season.

It was the prolific striker’s 50th goal in 89 appearances for Rovers since his club record £8m move from Huddersfield Town in August 2012, his 22nd of the season and his second of the match having earlier turned in a Tom Cairney free kick. Bowyer said of the Scottish international reaching the half century: “It’s a magnificent effort. In under two years that’s some going.

“The first goal was an outstanding finish and the second goal, he’s so cool taking the penalties.

“Then we’re naive in thinking we’ve won the game.

“We’ve proved in the last two games that it’s never over so we’re disappointed in the manner of how we didn’t see the game out.

“We have to work hard on the training ground and get back to that mentality of not conceding goals, clean out the individual errors and piece it all together for a final push.”