Tomasson: Blackburn Rovers 'believed until the end' in West Brom draw

Ben Brereton’s first goal since November saw them come from behind to earn a point at The Hawthorns.

They had looked set for another defeat after Jayson Molumby put the hosts ahead with 17 minutes remaining.

Yet Tomasson felt Rovers got the point their efforts deserved, a fourth successive draw and second in the space of four days after leaving Watford with a 1-1 scoreline at the weekend.

“After the circumstances, being 1-0 down, it’s brilliant to score and for the players to be believing in themselves,” Tomasson said.

“We all know that West Brom’s home record has been excellent so it was a tough task for my players.

“I asked for my players to be brave, I think they were brave on the ball, created chances, excellent opportunities.

“I think we defended extremely well and could argue that we could have won it.

“It was a big, big effort from the boys and believing until the end that we could come back.”

Tyler Morton lost the ball on the edge of his own area before West Brom eventually made their pressure count, with Molumby the man to nod home from close range.

Tomasson was disappointed with how the hosts kept the ball alive in the box just as much as the failure to clear the lines.

The goal came when Lewis Travis was down after an earlier challenge, and Tomasson added: “You are always disappointed when you conceded goals.

“I don’t know if it was a free kick on Trav, but the opponent got many first contacts when we failed to get rid of the ball.

“When you concede goals there are always players involved that make mistakes and that’s part of football.

“I loved the attitude of the lads at the end, a big shift, they were going for it and you could see that togetherness.

“We could have even been infront earlier on.”

Morton has been a virtual ever-present for Rovers since joining on a season-long loan deal from Liverpool.

He won his place back at Watford after being left out against Wigan, and of his role in the goal, Tomasson added: “Of course you should get rid of the ball in that situation but the opponent also got contacts in our box, we should have done better with that. I also think about that.

“He’s going to be an extremely good player over time.

“Playing that many games at this level is good for him and I think he’s deserved to play this many games.”

Rovers hadn’t scored an equalising goal in the league since April 2022, and had lost every match in which they had conceded first.

They ended those runs with Brereton’s 90th minute free kick which sparked celebratory scenes in the away end.

“It was great to see one of our strikers grab a goal and give our fans a party at the end,” the head coach said.

“It was brilliant for Ben, he deserves it.

“He’s been working hard, getting chances and as I’ve said it’s tough to be a striker.

“You need your goals but you keep getting chances, he had plenty of shots on goal and he got it, so I was delighted for him.”

West Brom had won seven in a row at home in all competitions without conceding leading into the visit of Rovers.

They looked set to extend that run until Brereton’s late goal.

While it is only one win in eight league games for Rovers, they have picked up valuable points on the road of late heading into back-to-back home games with Swansea City and Blackpool.

“Especially coming here against an opponent who’s had a great record at home.

“The way we did it, being brave, creating opportunities on the ball it was really satisfying and the way we defended.

“In 2023 we lost the game against Rotherham but we’ve had an okay record. Going to Watford and coming here, playing the way we did, a big compliment to all of the lads.

“We all knew at the beginning of the season we weren’t favourites to go up, or get into the play-offs, but are we going to try our best? Of course we will go for it.

“You saw that, it’s a great feeling for the lads to get that result that they deserved.”