Eu sees red after pushing his luck

BLACKBURN boss John Eustace was sent off for pushing a Coventry player as tensions boiled over in a fiery clash at Ewood Park.

Eustace was banished to the stands for handling Kasey Palmer after the Sky Blues forward held on to the ball in the technical area five minutes into the second half.

Palmer and Tyrhys Dolan were involved in a needless scuffle – and there was also no reason for Eustace to get involved.

But just 12 minutes later Liam Kitching was deservedly sent off for deliberately hauling down last man Sam Gallagher, leaving Coventry clinging on for half an hour as they saw their faint hopes of reaching the play-offs finally ended.

“I thought it was a harsh red card, but the fourth official has told me that you cannot grab anybody,” said Rovers assistant boss Keith Downing, acutely aware that the Lancashire club are still not safe.

“I’m not sure John literally grabbed anybody, but those are the rules.”

Downing added: “We just need that one big effort next week. We’ve had opportunities to score.”

Josh Eccles rifled wide for Coventry while keeper Brad Collins thwarted Dolan and Sammie Szmodics.

Skipper Liam Kelly hit the post for the visitors with the best chance of the second half.

Rovers had 30 shots but Kelly and his team stood firm to end a run of three defeats in a row.

Manager Mark Robins said: “It was frustrating because we were lacking in energy a little bit.

“But when we went down to 10 men the players worked their socks off.”

BLACKBURN: Pears 6; Carter 6, Mcfadzean 6, Hyam 6; Brittain 6, Tronstad 7, Rankin-costello 5 (Ayari (63) 5), Pickering 5 (Chrisene (73) 6); Szmodics 6; Gallagher 6, Dolan 6 (Moran (88) 5) COVENTRY: Collins 6; Van Ewijk 6, Thomas 6, Kitching 3, Dasilva 6; O’hare 6 (Bidwell (86) 5), Kelly 7, Eccles 6 (Allen (72) 6), Wright 6 (Dausch (86) 5); Palmer 6 (Latibeaudiere (65) 5); Simms 5 (Godden (72) 6) STAR MAN: Brad Collins – Sky Blues’ keeper impressed between the posts. REF: Anthony Backhouse 7