Tony Mowbray left deflated after Blackburn’s draw with Rotherham

Posted Sunday, November 11, 2018 by PA

Blackburn manager Tony Mowbray was frustrated at the officials and his side’s profligacy after the 1-1 draw with Rotherham.

Rovers ought to have won at a canter, but the woodwork, wasteful finishing and superb goalkeeping thwarted them.

Rotherham looked to be heading to a first Ewood Park win since 1979 when Michael Smith headed past David Raya 15 minutes from time.

But Rovers salvaged the point in the 81st minute that their performance deserved, thanks to Bradley Dack’s close-range finish – his 10th goal this season.

Only three teams have lost fewer Sky Bet Championship games than Rovers this season, which highlights the team’s character, but despite extending their unbeaten run to three, Mowbray was disappointed with just one point.

He said: “Frustration is probably the best word, I think. In the first half, we struggled a little bit with their directness and their long throw-ins, and they forced us back.

“We didn’t deal with the first ball very well first half. We managed to resolve that at half-time and played the way we like to play.

“I think the second half was as good in possession, creating chances and shots that we’ve been and there’s just a real frustration that we were only able to score one goal.

“I’m frustrated with the officials, how they let time-wasting roll on and roll on, and unbelievably only put five minutes up.

“And yet it’s done now. We have our little moans and the frustration is still in my belly.

“But there’s been a lot of good play today; lot of individual good play, got into great areas, created good chances and it just wasn’t to be.

“We’re just ultimately left disappointed and dropped two points.”

The Millers have now gone five games without defeat in the league, and although they are still yet to win away from home, the draw means it is the club’s best run on the road in the Championship since April 2016.

Rotherham boss Paul Warne was adamant that the hosts deserved the point, but put the new-found resilience away from home down to belief.

He said: “It does feel like possibly two points thrown away but on the entirety of the game I think it’s a point well earned.

“There’s no way I could look you in the face and say Blackburn didn’t deserve to score because they definitely did and the lads know that, but the good thing is when we watch the game back with the lads on Monday and show them the good and bad bits, with a point in the bag, it makes it easier for them to learn and improve.

“It’s all about when you get your opportunities away from home especially, you’ve got to be even more ruthless than at home.

“I think that, accompanied with the fact that the lads have been performing on the whole really good at home – they’re human and all want love and respect – I think they’ve taken more and more belief from the fact that their performances at home have been good, and I think we come to places like this, and have a real belief and togetherness that they can upset teams, which maybe they didn’t have at the start of the season.”