RAYA PUTS ON A BRAVE FACE AND PLAYS ON
KEEPER David Raya astonished Blackburn team-mates when he turned up to play in a Phantom of the Opera-style face mask.
The 23-year-old Spaniard smashed his nose badly at West Brom a fortnight ago and was tipped to be out for at least two months.
But he bravely decided to put off surgery until the end of the season – and play on in a protective mask.
Raya, who came through Rovers’ Academy, said: “I got some stick about the mask when I joined my team-mates, but that’s all part of the game.
“I had a chat with the gaffer and he left it up to me whether I played. I thought I’d need surgery straight away. But the specialist said if the swelling went down then he’d be happy for me to play in a mask. That was great news.”
Raya only had a couple of efforts to stop as Rovers bossed play for much of the game.
They went behind to a Michael Smith goal, when his headed effort from a Ryan Williams cross trickled over the line, with Raya helpless to stop it.
Five minutes later, Rovers’ Bradley Dack (above) bundled home his 10th of the season.
Millers keeper Marek Rodak made a string of vital saves to deny Rovers, including two in two minutes as Danny Graham and Elliott Bennett both went close for Tony Mowbray’s side.
Millers boss Paul Warne, whose side are unbeaten in five, said of Rodak: “He’s great with both feet and he tidied up well. I want my keepers to be cavalier not line stoppers, and he fits the bill.”
MATCH STATS
BLACKBURN:
Hernandez
REF: MOTM ATT: HAL ROBSON-KANU (WEST BROM)