Che cheer for Monk as a point is rescued
GARRY MONK paid tribute to Birmingham’s spirit after they cancelled out a two-goal deficit with two of their own in three second-half minutes.
Rovers appeared on course for three points thanks to goals by Danny Graham, his eighth of the season, and Adam Armstrong, who doubled the lead seconds after half-time when he fired across keeper Lee Camp into the bottom corner.
However, a rash challenge from keeper David Raya on Maxime Colin saw the visitors awarded a penalty which Craig Gardner converted.
Che Adams then swept home Lukas Jutkiewicz’s ball from close range to secure an unlikely point for Blues.
Monk admitted his side were second best in the first half but believed their comeback was testament to their character on a miserable day of freezing rain and swirling wind.
Monk said: “It’s an excellent point in the end for us. It’s a fantastic response.
“I think Blackburn did the basics much better than we did in the first half.
“And to go out in the second half and concede again straightaway doesn’t make it any easier.
“Then you need character, you need attitude and you need to be able to show a response. And we did that.”
Rovers have now lost just once in 31 league games at Ewood Park.
Monk added: “Considering how good Blackburn have been here, it’s an extremely difficult place for visitors so to come away with that point, we have to be happy.”
Rovers boss Tony Mowbray said: “We shot ourselves in the foot really.
“To be 2-0 up going into the last 15 minutes and then drop two points is quite amazing.
“But never mind, we have to accept it, be frustrated with it, and know we must be better.”
Mowbray refused to criticise his team given they are five points off the play-offs.
He added: “We have now got Leeds, Sheffield United, West Brom and Norwich – so some big, big games are coming up but we look forward to all of them.
“After coming out of those four games, we’ll see how we are really doing.”