Mowbray on the defensive as Gallagher leaps to the rescue
BLACKBURN boss Tony Mowbray admits his side must tighten up at the back if they are to mount a promotion challenge next season.
Rovers won a seven-goal thriller against Reading after sub Sam Gallagher dramatically headed home with three minutes to go.
But Mowbray was disappointed at the goals his side conceded during the barnstorming encounter.
“The goals we conceded hurt because you can’t be at the top end of the league with 4-3 results each week,” he said.
“We started amazingly well but we put ourselves under pressure.
“The job is to try and get a team together to get out of this league.
“There is an opportunity to change the dynamics of the team and create a fast exciting football team.”
Reading chief Mark Bowen admitted he has plenty of work to do in the pre-season to bring more wins to the Royals.
“A lot of players will be leaving the club and there is a lot of work to do,” he said.
“It will be a short pre-season and we have to make sure we get the recruitment right.”
Ben Brereton got Rovers off to a flyer when he calmly slotted home in the third minute. Adam Armstrong doubled their advantage three minutes later.
John Swift got the Royals back into it with a brilliant 25-yard free-kick in the 15th minute. Joe Rothwell edged Rovers clear before goals from Sam Baldock and Yakou Meite brought the visitors level.
But Rovers hit them with a sucker-punch when Gallagher headed home at the back post.
THIS fixture was supposed to be a dead rubber – nothing to see here, and all that.
But after two Norwich dismissals for violent conduct, more VAR controversy, an opening goal from an overhead kick, a comedic second – and another shut-out for the Premier League’s golden glove frontrunner Nick Pope – it was fair to say this didn’t go to script.
Sean Dyche’s Clarets are making a late charge towards the places for Europa League qualification.
But this win was overshadowed by yet more drama – with VAR at its heart. To give the incidents that later defined the game some early context, the heat rose a little midway through the first half when Norwich defender Max Aarons was shoved over by Burnley centre-back James Tarkowski after he ran the ball out of play in front of the two benches.
That sparked a minor tussle and referee Kevin Friend pulled the two players together to issue a tellingoff. The official was initially not minded to act when Emiliano Buendia caught the head of Burnley midfielder Ashley Westwood with his elbow following another spat in front of the dug-outs moments later.
Friend, told to take a look at the decision by colleague Lee Mason, walked over to have a look at the pitchside monitor. He studied it for five seconds and immediately pulled out the red card.
It was the last thing Norwich – relegated last week – needed.
If the Canaries could feel hard done by over their first sending-off, however, they had no complaints over the second on the stroke of