Tony Mowbray: Gillingham draw is a good point

Posted Wednesday, April 11, 2018 by PA

Tony Mowbray believes that his Blackburn side should not kick themselves after falling from the top of the League One table as a result of a 0-0 draw at Gillingham.

In the latest twist in an absorbing title race, Rovers could not find a way to snatch a fifth straight victory and have been leapfrogged by Wigan on goal difference, although Mowbray’s men still have a game in hand on their north west rivals.

The Ewood Park chief is instead keen to reflect on Blackburn’s superb form, which has seen them lose just once in 32 league matches.

“Ultimately, we’re left frustrated. I think we worked hard but credit to them and their physicality at the back, and we had isolated chances but not much else,” said Mowbray.

“We have to be positive. One defeat in 30 games is fantastic. Five to go and we have to win as many as we can.

“We’ve been good on the road and maybe it’s a view on where we are, being disappointed with a point.

“We have to keep going. If we can go to Bristol [Rovers on April 14] and get three points, it won’t be a bad point.”

Corry Evans’s low 20-yard drive, which tested Gills goalie Tomas Holy, was the visitors’ first opportunity of the night while Josh Parker drew a similar save from David Raya with a close-range header.

In the second period, Rovers’ Charlie Mulgrew twice forced Holy into action from free-kicks while Parker looked to be en route to carving out the home side’s best chance of a winner but overran the ball after being put clean through on goal.

Gills boss Steve Lovell, who takes his team to relegation-threatened Oldham next weekend, was nonetheless delighted with a point against one of the division’s big guns.

He said: “We started brightly and matched them. They had possession but never really hurt us and perhaps we had better chances to win the game. My players deserved our point.

“It was a big game for them, considering their position. He (Mowbray) knew it would be a hard game here.

“Everyone put in a shift and that’s what we have to do to compete against the better sides in this league and we thoroughly deserved our point.

“(Against Doncaster on Saturday), we were flat and with no urgency and from that, they knew what they had to do.

“Josh Parker did well for us. We’ve missed him and he proved that. He brings a lot of energy to our team and a couple of goals would have crowned it off.

“Against the league leaders, it gives everyone a lift but now, against Oldham, we’ve got a different prospect as they’re fighting for their lives.”