COYLE’S RELIEVED AS OLLIE SEETHES Rovers snatch victory at death
BLACKBURN boss Owen Coyle vowed his relegation-threatened Rovers would beat the drop after seeing striker Sam Gallagher grab a late winner against fellow strugglers QPR.
Coyle said the 90th-minute winner was no less than his third-bottom team deserved, having thrown caution to the wind towards the end in search of all three points.
He said: “There’s been a number of times when we’ve lost points late on – it happened the other night against Leeds United. It was nice to turn that on its head and go and turn that one point into three.
“It had been coming. We were pushing forward and, of course, leaving ourselves open, but we were so keen to win the game.”
Rovers may also have referee Tony Harrington to thank for their victory. He ruled QPR forward Conor Washington’s second-half header had not crossed the line, despite strong appeals after his effort bounced down off the bar.
Rangers boss Ian Holloway demanded that the technology used in the Premier League to ensure correct decisions are made must now be extended to the Championship.
He said: “It’s truly the first time I’ve ever scored a goal and lost 1-0. I can laugh about it, but I shouldn’t really because of the enormity of it in the context of that game when it happened.
“I just ask for professionalism. We’re asking referees, fourth officials, assessors to be professional when you’re not giving them the equipment.
“That man (the fourth official) needs to be upstairs watching a screen talking to the referee and he would have seen it and could have had a rerun of it.”
Holloway’s team took the initiative from the first whistle and looked dangerous when Washington set up team-mate Jamie Mackie, who fired straight at Blackburn goalkeeper Jason Steele.
Next QPR midfielder Massimo Luongo saw an effort blocked in the box before Hoops centre-back Joel Lynch had a header tipped over by Steele from team-mate Ryan Manning’s corner.
Blackburn’s first attack came nine minutes in when winger Liam Feeney’s right-footed shot drifted wide of Rs stopper Alex Smithies’ right-hand post.
As half-time beckoned Blackburn striker Danny Graham failed to connect with an acrobatic effort, while teammate Charlie Mulgrew fired a free-kick straight at Smithies.
Following the break Washington fired wide of Steele’s right-hand post after being picked out by Manning, while Blackburn winger Craig Conway saw his dangerous cross punched clear of a congested box by Smithies.
Next Washington went within inches of opening the scoring when his header bounced off Steele’s crossbar and onto the line before the Blackburn backline cleared the danger.
At the other end Feeney fired wide before Washington’s scuffed shot drifted past Steele’s right-hand post, and then centre-back James Perch shot straight at the Blackburn stopper.
But with chants of “Owen Coyle, he’s taking us down,” starting to ring round Ewood Park, Gallagher popped up at the perfect time with his 90th-minute winner, placing substitute Marvin Emnes’ cross beyond Smithies.