Rovers in freefall as Reds win
TONY MOWBRAY reckons Easter weekend will be make or break for relegation haunted Blackburn Rovers after their defeat to Barnsley.
Goals from Marc Roberts and Marley Watkins in the opening 10 minutes edged the lacklustre home side closer to League One next season.
Three straight defeats have left them four points from safety with just five games to go, but with fellow strugglers Nottingham Forest and Bristol City next up Mowbray is refusing to hit the panic button just yet.
He said: “It was always going to be a big job from the start and today’s result didn’t really help.
“We now have to get three points against Forest and Bristol and pick up points in the other games.”
And sure enough his game plan was left in tatters after a spell of unrelenting Barnsley pressure put the game beyond them before some Blackburn fans had taken their seats.
Skipper Roberts was at the back post to head home his fourth of the season after just three minutes.
Rovers were left a mountain to climb minutes later after Watkins lashed a 30 yard thunderbolt in off the bar.
“I can’t think of too many things that went our way today,” added Mowbray. “It just felt like one of those days.”
Barnsley gaffer Paul Heckingbottom beamed: “We showed a different side to our game today.
“The desire to defend, put in the blocks and win the ball was excellent.
“We set the players a target to have as many wins as losses and a positive goal difference at the end of the season and we are on target.” Possession Shots On Target Shots Off Target Blocked Shots Corners Fouls Conceded Offsides Yellow Cards Red Cards 60% 40% 2 5 5 4 8 3 9 5 9 12 2 5 2 1 0 0