Blackburn Rovers blow two-goal lead against Coventry City

Goals from Joe Rothwell and Sam Gallagher, the pair each claiming an assist, put Tony Mowbray’s side two goals to the good for the fourth time in six home games.

However, much like the 2-2 draw with Luton Town last month, that wasn’t enough to give them three points as a Tyler Walker tap-in, and Thomas Kaminski own goal, gave the visitors a share of the spoils.

Rovers again failed to build on the platform given to them by their two goals in six minutes before the break, while it was a similar timeframe that allowed the Sky Blues to level just after the hour.

There were four changes, and a formation switch, with Jan Paul van Hecke coming in for his debut as Tony Mowbray moved to a back three.

All four changes came at the back, with Ryan Nyambe and Darragh Lenihan returning from injury to take their places in the backline where Tayo Edun was handed his first start.

The sides matched up in the same formation which brought about a very even game, albeit uneventful in the opening stages.

Rovers’ wing-backs were always going to be key, and several times they got themselves into promising openings, only to lack the necessary numbers in the middle to take advantage.

The opening 20 minutes failed to bring a shot on target, those both sides did go close as the midway point of the first half arrived.

From the Sky Blues’ first corner, the ball landed to top scorer Viktor Gyokeres whose shot from the edge of the box went through a see of bodies, Thomas Kaminski seeing it late, but able to parry the ball to safety.

The same was true of opposite number Simon Moore, keeping out the unlikely source of a Ryan Nyambe left foot shot. He was played in behind by John Buckley and opted to cut on to his left side, a curling effort which would have nestled in the corner, tipped away by Moore.

Referee Matthew Donohue was letting a lot of things go, meaning for an open game, with Rovers also punished on the break as they appealed for a foul on the edge of the Coventry box. As no foul was awarded to Edun, the visitors broke with numbers to tee up Tyler Walker to the left of the box, his powerful shot beaten away by Kaminski in the 26th minute.

Buckley was walking a tightrope with the referee, booked for a foul and then guilty of two more that saw him given a talking to.

Just as Rovers looked to be heading into the break goalless, Rothwell put on the after-burners twice to see them storm into a two-goal lead.

He interchanged passes with Gallagher to run clear of the defence, lifting the ball over goalkeeper Moore and applying a second finish as the ball trickled towards the goal-line.

A loose ball across the pitch then presented Rothwell with a chance to drive into the area and square for Gallagher whose side-foot finish from 12 yards out had enough power to beat Moore who got a hand to his shot, but couldn’t keep it out.

Tyler Walker had the ball in the net in additional time for Coventry, but the flag had already been raised for offside, meaning an action-packed end to the half saw Rovers go into the break two to the good.

Both sides emerged unchanged, though Coventry did switch their wing-backs, likely to try and contain the threat of Nyambe.

An early corner for the visitors saw Kaminski take no chances with Kyle McFadzean’s dipping header and turn it over the bar as they tried to force the issue.

Rovers were equally trying not to just sit on their lead, Dolan working a shooting angle after a good spell of possession on the left, though his effort was saved comfortably on the bounce by Moore.

There was a greater threat from the Sky Blues as the game ticked towards the hour mark, a vital interception from Ayala required just as Callum O’Hare threatened to apply a finish to a dazzling run into the box.

Sloppiness was starting to creep in to the hosts’ play, and a goal back from the Sky Blues came at a point where Rovers were in control of the ball.

Gallagher’s pass was behind its intended target, and with Edun out of position, Todd Kane delivered a cross for Walker to turn home in the 63rd minute.

Fresh legs then arrived for Rovers, Ian Poveda and Jacob Davenport on for Dolan and Buckley for the final quarter.

No sooner had Rovers made those changes however, Coventry grabbed an equaliser. The turnaround was complete in six minutes, a shot from distance from Liam Kelly hit the post, but trickled over the line off the back of the unfortunate Kaminski.

Mowbray felt the best way to liven up the team, and crowd, was to send on Ben Brereton which he did with 17 minutes to play.

There was now a frailty to Rovers however, the dangerous Gyokeres getting the better of van Hecke who went into the book. The Swede then wanted a penalty as Rovers were caught short of numbers at the back, going down under an outstretched leg of Travis, but the referee waved away those appeals.

Gyokeres then thumped over a shot from distance as the visitors looked the more likely to get the next goal.

For Rovers, it was Rothwell or bust as an attacking force, several players looking out on their feet, including van Hecke who was having a tough second half up against Gyokeres.

They summoned the energy to break with two minutes to play, substitutes Poveda and Brereton linking up before the ball across for Edun was deflected just wide of the target by Michael Rose.

And the stage looked to be set for a Brereton winner in injury time, only for his header from a Rothwell cross to be kept out by the flying Moore, who gratefully landed on the loose ball after hitting a retreating defender.

Rovers: Kaminski, Nyambe, Lenihan, Ayala, van Hecke, Edun, Travis, Rothwell, Buckley (Davenport, 66), Dolan, Gallagher (Brereton, 73), Dolan (Poveda, 66)

Subs: Pears, Johnson, Clarkson, Butterworth

Coventry: Moore, Rose, Hyam, McFadzean, Dabo, Kane, Sheaf (Hamer, 63), Kelly, O’Hare, Gyokeres, Walker (Waghorn, 79)

Subs: Wilson, Jones, Allen, Shipley, Tavares