HOW THEY RATED

MATTEO MINOZZI: Crucial turnover in final quarter when Irish were five metres out. Rarely tested under the high ball - a stark contrast to last week. Showed a few nice touches in the opening stages and looked threatening with ball in hand when in space. 6 ZACH KIBIRIGE: Stepped by Parton inside the first 30 seconds but then made a superb tackle and turnover win minutes later. Tends to stand narrow in defence and was caught out on a couple of occasions, including for Hassell-collins’ try. Limited opportunity to show skills with ball in hand. 6 JUAN DE JONGH: Made a terrific covering tackle on O’brien after two of his teammates missed their man. Conceded a pair of penalties at the breakdown but a decent enough shift from the South African international. 6 MICHAEL LE BOURGEOIS: Carried confidently and made a number of imposing tackles. Can be happy with his performance after being called in to the starting line up. 7

JOSH BASSETT: Another weekend where he lacked too many opportunities to impress with the ball. One grubber ahead was overhit and let Irish off the hook. Chased kicks and contested well in the air but otherwise quiet. Both Bassett and Kibirige have one try from 11 games this term. 6 JACOB UMAGA: Solid enough return to the starting line-up. Showed some glimpses of skill in the first half but wasn’t able to offer too much in the second. Was lucky not to be punished when Irish fumbled after charge down inside opening minutes of the second half. Touch kicking was solid. 6 WILL PORTER: Superb covering tackle to bring down rampaging Rob Simmons. Brought some zip to proceedings with delivery from the base and stripped the ball from O’brien when his side were defending their five metre line. One or two kicks skewed but can be happy with his shift. 7 TOM WEST: Was stripped of the ball by Mafi and penalised by referee Smales at a scrum on the stroke of half-time. Improvement on last week but yet to quite hit his straps after returning from England duty. 6 TOM CRUSE: Was unable to add to his recent try-scoring exploits and line-out faltered when in a promising position during the first half. Quiet game in first appearance since contract extension news and was replaced after just 10 minutes of the second half. 6 JEFF TOOMAGA-ALLEN: Early penalty for high shot on Parton but this was a steady effort and notable improvement on last week from the one time All Black. Nearly went the full distance but replaced in the closing minutes by debutant Nicky Thomas. 6 WILL ROWLANDS: Deemed surplus to requirements by Wales but delivered an improved performance after disappointing effort in loss to Tigers last week. Showed his physicality in both attack and defence with 15 tackles and provided a vital turnover in his side’s 22. 7

JAMES GASKELL: His indiscipline is starting to become a real issue for his side. Needlessly conceded ten metres for backchat to the referee but was able to attone with an invaluable line-out steal minutes later. 5 BRAD SHIELDS: Busy yet unremarkable shift from the skipper. Made one superb steal of the ball and tackled manfully as always. Will be disappointed he couldn’t lead his side to victory. 6 GABRIEL OGHRE: Energetic performance upon his return from ban for Covid-19 rule breaches. Will have been disappointed not to get an opportunity to display his breakdown skills over the ball but made some good yardage with the ball in hand. Made more tackles than any other player on the pitch with 19. 7

TOM WILLIS: Displayed just how lethal he is from close range when he drove over for the opening try of the game. He now has eight in his last 19 games. So effective with ball in hand and all-energy in defence. Like his big brother, Tom is proving influential in both winning and losing causes. 7.5 Changes in the forwards did not bring about much that was positive for Wasps at scrumtime as London Irish got back on top in that department.

REPLACEMENTS Tommy Taylor (for Cruse, 50): 5 Ben Harris (for West, 60): 5 Nicky Thomas (for Toomaga-allen, 77): N/A

Levi Douglas (for Gaskell 56): 6 Sione Vailanu (for Oghre, 75): NA Ben Vellacott (for Porter, 72): N/A Jimmy Gopperth (for Le Bourgeois, 72): - N/A

STARTING FORMATION: (3-5-2)

BEN WILSON: Well beaten by Brereton’s powerful free hit from the edge of the box but stuck his foot out to deny Armstrong before the break. 6.5

LEO OSTIGARD: On the front foot, alert to danger and thought he’d scored when he turned in a first half free-kick, only to be ruled out by the linesman’s flag. Sent off eight minutes from time for a professional foul, having already been booked for reacted to being fouled to put a dampener on an otherwise decent performance. 6

KYLE MCFADZEAN: Organised at the heart of the back three, the experienced head defended pretty well overall. 7

DOM HYAM: Took and calm and no-nonsense approach to defending early on but at fault for the goal when he failed to cut out the cross. Showed more composure after the break. 5 FANKATY DABO: Showed flashes of the attacking flair that have made him so popular with the fans on his first start for a month, getting forward well after the break. 6

MATTY JAMES: Provided plenty of experience and quality with his football brain and passing ability on his first start alongside Liam Kelly and scored the equaliser to get City back in the game. 7.5 LIAM KELLY: Sat just in front of the back three, helping to mop up second and loose balls while helping to defend well in the box. 7

SAM MCCALLUM: Got forward well from the first minute to help create openings and sent in the cross for City’s equaliser. 7 JORDAN SHIPLEY: Deployed deeper in a midfield five, Shipley hooked over the bar early on but lacked the intensity and energy of O’hare. 6

TYLER WALKER: Struggled to get into the game in the first half but had a hand in the equaliser, heading down Mccallum’s cross for James to score. Looked tired and eventually made way for Gyokeres. 6

MAX BIAMOU: Put himself about well in his usual hard shift up top but nothing really fell for him on the day. 6.5

SUBSTITUTES JOSH PASK (69 mins, for Dabo): Worked hard and helped see the game out. 6

GUS HAMER (69 mins, for James): Added some much needed quality and know-how but unable to spark a winner. 6 CALLUM O’HARE: (69 mins, for Shipley): Immediately injected urgency and energy as City went searching for a winner. 6 VIKTOR GYOKERES (76 mins, for Walker): Worked hard with fresh legs up top. 5.5

Subs not used: Marko Marosi, Michael Rose, Jamie Allen, Ben Sheaf, Amadou Bakayoko. BLACKBURN ROVERS (4-3-3): Thomas Kaminski; Ryan Nyambe, Jarrad Branthwaite, Darragh Lenihan, Barry Douglas; Corry Evans (75 mins, for Bradley Dack), Lewis Travis (62 mins, for Tom Trybull), Joe Rothwell (87 mins, for Tyrhys Dolan); Harvey Elliott, Adam Armstrong, Ben Brereton. Subs not used: Aynsley Pears, Stewart Downing, Amari’i Bell, John Buckley, Taylor Harwood-bellis, Elliott Bennett. GOALS: ROVERS: Brereton (27). SKY BLUES: James (50). REFEREE: Darren Bond