Not Rovers and out yet
BLACKBURN 2 Gallagher 25, Johnson 90+5 SWANSEA 2 Brewster 45, A Ayew 48 (pen)
BRADLEY JOHNSON’S late, late show rescued Blackburn in the battle of the promotion play-off wannabees.
The sub’s 95th-minute strike, with a deflection from Ben Cabango, left Swansea and hero keeper Freddie Woodman, who had saved a penalty, deflated.
The visitors had conceded twice in added time in their previous three games, so boss Steve Cooper would have looked on in horror when the illuminated board showed seven minutes.
Trailing 2-1 it was the lifeline Blackburn needed, although it seemed they had blown it when
Sam Gallagher headed at Woodman from six yards.
To Rovers’ boss Tony Mowbray’s relief, a couple of minutes later Johnson kept his cool when an attempted clearance fell to him just outside the area.
It was cruel on
Woodman, who made a brilliant stop from former Swansea striker Danny Graham’s penalty following a trip on Ben Brereton. Graham also stuck the post with a header.
Mowbray said: “It would have been nice if that had been the winner, although we were trying to break the door down and we got our reward.
“Everyone seems to be stumbling but we have at least moved forward.”
This feisty affair ebbed and flowed, Gallagher opening the scoring and ending a five-game run without a goal with a clinical finish from Ryan Nyambe’s low cross, nipping in ahead of Woodman and Cabango.
Liverpool loanee Rhian Brewster then had the last laugh on the fans who had mocked his miscue from an inviting chance. In Swan’s next attack he let fly from the edge of the area, beating Christian Walton.
The teen then stood in front of the fans who had goaded him with a finger over his lips. It earned him a yellow from ref Peter Bankes, who deemed it celebrations excessive and provocative.
Three minutes after the break Andre Ayew slotted home a penalty following a trip on Jordan Garrick by Tosin Adarabioyo.
Graham then failed from the spot and chances were spurned by Rovers before they used their get-out-ofjail card.
Cooper said: “It was gutwrenching, we should have put the game to bed.
“But I know my players have given their best. We will just
keep going.”