Relegation threat lingers for Eustace chasing a first win
JOHN EUSTACE admitted he was “really disappointed’’ not to see an end to his agonising wait for a first win as Rovers boss.
It is now nine games in all competitions without a victory since the former Birmingham chief replaced Jon Dahl Tomasson – and the drop threat lingers.
Both sides had chances, but this would have been a damaging defeat had Boro sub Sammy Silvera not wasted a match-winning chance late on miskicking in front of goal after Isaiah Jones’ shot hit the bar.
Eustace said: “I thought we were outstanding. We’ve had a good week training and I’m really disappointed we didn’t win.
“But I’m delighted we didn’t lose. It’s another draw. I want wins of course and I want to make the gap bigger between ourselves and the bottom.’’
Boro’s three-game winning run came to an end and boss Michael Carrick conceded his side, now seven points off sixth, are “behind the eight-ball’’ in the promotion hunt.
Carrick, who revealed early hamstring victim Marcus Forss was “unlikely’’ to join up with the Finland squad, said: “We frustrated really. It was one of those games where we needed a chance to go our way.
“We’ve got to try to win games, let loose a little and see where it takes us. We’re behind the eight-ball now and we’ve got to catch up.’’
Blackburn forward Sammie Szmodics, the division’s top scorer and in line for his first Republic of Ireland cap after being named in the squad for the friendlies with Belgium and Switzerland, was soon looking to add to his 21st league goal of this campaign.
Sam Gallagher’s backheel found Ryan Hedges, who turned the ball inside for Szmodics to hit an angled shot that keeper Seny Dieng pushed aside.
But in a lively start, Boro should have gone one ahead when the unmarked Forss fired across the face of an open goal.
After the break, Gallagher forced a flying save from Dieng and the game ended as it began, with a flurry of chances. BORO: Dieng 7; Ayling 7, Mcnair 6, Clarke 6; Jones 6, Howson 8, Mcgree 6 (Greenwood (72) 5), O’brien 6 (Barlaser (72) 5), Engel 6; Forss 4 (Azaz (19) 6), Latte Lath 5 (Silvera (73) 5) BLACKBURN: Pears 7; Brittain 6, Hyam 6, Wharton 6, Pickering 6; Tronstad 5, Buckley 5 (Ayari (72) 5); Hedges 7 (Chrisene (88) 5), Szmodics 6, Sigurdsson 5 (Dolan (66) 5); Gallagher 6 (Telalovic (88) 5) STAR MAN: Jonny Howson – the Boro skipper displayed his usual calm authority in midfield. REF: Keith Stroud 6