BLACKBURN Rovers boss Gary Bowyer questioned the validity of both of the goals Huddersfield Town scored to peg his side back in yesterday’s 2-2 draw at the John Smith’s Stadium.

Rovers were on course to make it back-to-back victories after leading marksmen Rudy Gestede and Jordan Rhodes struck for the second game running.

But their respective 21st and 20th goals of the campaign were cancelled out by Jacob Butterfield’s brilliant free kick and Joe Lolley’s late long-range stunner.

While the result extended Rovers’ unbeaten away run in all competitions to nine matches, it was the 11th time this season that they have failed to take three points after going in front.

Bowyer, who was without a single fit and available centre-back, said: “We started a little bit nervously and, with the back-four we’d put together, with Darragh Lenihan making his full debut, it was always going to take time to settle into the game.

“But just before we scored we started to play some decent stuff and our first goal was fantastically worked, a mazy run from Jordan and a good finish from Rudy.

“Then we got more of the ball and Craig Conway put in another great delivery for Jordan’s goal. That was Craig’s 10th assist of the season and that’s double figures for the second season running. That’s a fantastic return from him and a great bit of business from the club to bring in a quality player like him.

“So, as I say, it was a great ball and a fantastic bit of movement from Jordan Rhodes.

“But when you are 2-0 up you know you are never done and I didn’t think it was a foul for their free kick. It was a wonderful free kick but I’m not sure their 6ft 4in centre-forward was brought down.

“We then had chances at 3-1 but we didn’t take them and you know Huddersfield under Chris Powell, with the firepower he’s got, you can’t rest, but again we thought there was a foul in the build-up to their second with a push on Lee Williamson.

“But with all that we’ve had to put up with over the last couple of weeks, in terms of bodies missing, we stuck it and we had the best chances at the end to win it.

“We come away from here nine unbeaten away from home and that is a great effort from the players.”

Bowyer also paid tribute to the 1,087 Rovers supporters who made the trip across the Pennines.

The vast majority of the players were unable to make their way over to the travelling blue and white army at the full-time whistle after Huddersfield fans ran on to the pitch.

But Bowyer, along with the likes of Rhodes and Tommy Spurr, did get to the away end and afterwards said: “I thought the supporters were magnificent.

“We wanted to get over there to thank them but obviously the pitch invasion stopped that.

“But I made the point myself because their following this season has been phenomenal for us and again they’ve turned out in their thousands again, which is a terrific effort from them.”

Huddersfield boss Powell said: “We started the game well but found ourselves 1-0 and then 2-0 down but we showed great character to come back.

“In the end we deserved at least a point if not all three.”