O’DOWDA’S A NO-DOUBTER
Luck changes at last for Callum
BLACKBURN Brereton 75
BY RICHARD LATHAM
CALLUM O’DOWDA is hoping an overdue change of luck will help reignite his career with club and country.
A switch of position might help too. The Republic of Ireland winger (right) marked an impressive display at left wing-back with City’s 34thminute goal in an improved home performance.
A series of frustrating injuries has restricted O’Dowda to just six starts since Nigel Pearson became manager at Ashton Gate in February.
But, at 26, there is still plenty to look forward to as he aims to build on 23 full international caps.
O’Dowda said: “I can’t put my finger on a reason for all the fitness issues.
“Last season I had a double hamstring problem.
“And I have also had alot of impact injuries.
“Maybe I need to manage myself better and not go into tackles when I know I am unlikely to win the ball. I think I have the attributes to make a success of wing-back.
“We have worked on it in training and I have legs and the pace to get up and down the flank.
“For a time, it seemed like every time an international call-up was due I had suffered another setback.
“But I was back with the Ireland boys for the last training camp and hopefully can take things from there.”
A sign that O’Dowda’s luck may be turning came with the shot from Andreas Weimann’s pass that took a wicked deflection to beat Rovers goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski.
City dominated the first half.
But Rovers reacted to a serious injury to winger Ian Poveda just before the break by stepping up their game and Ben Brereton Diaz rifled in a 75th-minute equaliser.
Poveda was taken to hospital with suspected ankle ligament damage.
Blackburn manager Tony Mowbray said: “It will probably be a couple of days before we know the extent of the damage.”
It was Brereton Diaz’s 14th goal of the campaign and Mowbray added: “The lad deserves all the superlatives.
“We failed to cope with City’s physicality in the first half – but the second was much better.”