MX23RW : Saturday, February 20 09:42:49| >> :120:48270:48270:

Tony Mowbray admits Blackburn handed Wednesday goal "on a plate"

Tony Mowbray admits Blackburn handed Wednesday goal
© Reuters
Tony Mowbray blamed a "defensive lapse" for his side conceding.

Blackburn boss Tony Mowbray felt his side handed Sheffield Wednesday a goal "on a plate" after a frustrating 1-1 draw.

Adam Reach's strike four minutes before the break spectacularly put the visitors ahead after a defensive mix-up, before Blackburn finally responded in the 76th minute through Joe Rothwell's powerful run and assured finish.

Rovers have won once in their last six outings and find themselves further adrift in the race for the top six.

Although Mowbray said his side's defensive lapse "handed" the goal to Reach and also highlighted the disruption caused by injuries.

He said: "For me, we handed it to him (Reach) on a plate really didn't we? It wasn't dangerous, it wasn't an attack as such, it was miscommunication between defenders who should have been in control.

"In their defence, it hasn't been a very consistent backline. Bradley Johnson played centre-half last week. It's not easy to be out two to three weeks and come back into the intensity with a manager on the sidelines trying to drive you.

"It's not as if we have had weeks and weeks of working on our back four because they haven't been fit. Daniel (Ayala) was thrown in again having been injured on crutches a week ago. I don't want to be too harsh on them.

"It's not as if we've conceded loads of chances and the keeper is making save after save. And yet they are all tight games.

"We have not been as clinical as early season and teams have been more defensive-minded against us."

The wait for a first away win under Tony Pulis goes on.

The Owls have not won on the road in the league since October, and although the performance was encouraging, Pulis described his side's habit of surrendering a lead as a "real concern".

He said: "Ever since I've come into the football club, the players have been giving everything they've got.

"They worked really hard today against a good Blackburn team, who've got good players and are always a threat. They play very open and expansive.

"Overall, you would have taken a point before the game. But then, that's the fifth time this year, and I've only been here 10 games, where we've been winning and not seen it out, which is a real concern in lots of ways.

"We've had chances at the other end to make it two, and that finishes the game.

"Really disappointing (equaliser). That's twice now, people have backed off.

"Norwich did similar to us around the edge of the box. People have to get up to the ball and squeeze inside the pitch.

"They've got to be really brave in their decision-making to get to the ball. He's in the box when he side-foots it in, which is completely and utterly ridiculous.

"But for the rest of the time, apart from them hitting the post, I thought we handled them really well."

ID:428057:cQx

Click here for more stories about Tony Mowbray

Click here for more stories about Blackburn Rovers

How you voted: Blackburn vs Sheff Weds

Blackburn Rovers
74.5%
Draw
19.1%
Sheffield Wednesday
6.4%
47
Share this article now:
Did you know...?
Todd Cantwell celebrates scoring for Norwich City against Cardiff City in the Championship on December 19, 2020
Read Next:
Saturday's Championship predictions including Watford vs. Norwich City
>
Latest Sports Video
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.

rhs 2.0
Todays Game Header Right
Premier League
Championship
Scottish Premiership
La Liga
Serie A
Bundesliga
Ligue 1
Eredivisie
Primeira Liga
League One
League Two
National League
National League North
National League South
Scottish Championship
Scottish League One
Scottish League Two
Turkish Super Lig
Belgian Pro League
Greek Superleague
Swiss Super League
Ukrainian Premier League
NIFL Premiership
Segunda Division
Serie B
2.Bundesliga
Ligue 2
Eerste Divisie
Brasileiro
Copa Diego Maradona
Uruguayan Primera Division
Liga MX
Australian A-League
Gallagher Premiership
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Norwich CityNorwich30187541241761
2Brentford30169556322457
3Watford31169640211957
4Swansea CitySwansea28168436152156
5Reading30156944341051
6Bournemouth301310744281649
7Cardiff CityCardiff30127114233943
8Middlesbrough30127113431343
9Stoke CityStoke30101283433142
10Barnsley29126113335-242
11Millwall3091473027341
12Blackburn RoversBlackburn291161243331039
13Preston North EndPreston30123153438-439
14Bristol City30123152941-1239
15Luton TownLuton29107122331-837
16Queens Park RangersQPR2899102833-536
17Derby CountyDerby3097142232-1034
18Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3089132531-633
19Huddersfield TownHuddersfield3096153444-1033
20Coventry CityCoventry30710132742-1531
21Rotherham UnitedRotherham2885153339-629
22Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds2997132131-1028
23Birmingham CityBirmingham30610142137-1628
24Wycombe WanderersWycombe2947182251-2919

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Transfer Talk Daily
Match previews - twice weekly
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
Ultra close-up image of Kevin De Bruyne [NOT FOR USE IN ARTICLES]Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!