MOW HAS NO FLOW
Sexy football... you’re kidding
TONY MOWBRAY may think you do not have to be a “sexy foreign manager” to succeed in the Premier League.
But as Blackburn ground out a dreary point on a trampoline pitch in blustery conditions, there was nothing seductive or erotic about it.
Sexy football? You’re having a laugh.
When Luton sub Harry Cornick and Rovers keeper Thomas Kaminski’s pat-acake scuffle in stoppage time is the most notable feature, you know it is a stinker.
Blackburn messiah Mowbray said in midweek he wants to “manage against Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp and prove you don’t have to be a sexy foreign manager to achieve.”
Sorry, mate. Guardiola and Klopp would catch the first plane from the airport just across town to distance themselves from such artless scuffling.
Mowbray admitted: “It wasn’t a beauty contest – thank goodness.
“It was about digging in and not making the mistakes that would cost you a 1-0 defeat.”
Don’t blame Rovers, or their manager for the drudgery.
Already without Chilean star Ben Brereton Diaz, who was on international duty, they lost striker Sam Gallagher six minutes after the break following an off-the-ball collision with Tom Lockyer.
And Luton did not have enough firepower to capitalise.
Mowbray added: “Gallagher is coughing up blood pretty badly in there and he’s going to hospital for a scan.”
Kai Naismith should have put the home side in front after half-an-hour instead of his miscued shot bobbling wide.
And Cameron Jerome could not have come any closer, but his close-range effort from Fred Onyedinma’s cut-back rebounded off the inside of post and into Kaminski’s grateful arms.
Hatters boss Nathan Jones said: “We were good value for at least a point against the second best team in the league.
“Kai and Cameron should both have scored, but Blackburn have overrun sides this season and they didn’t do that to us.”
Apart from John Buckley’s free-kick, turned over by Luton No.1 James Shea, Blackburn were blunt. But the point keeps them in the automatic promotion places.
LUTON TOWN: Shea 6; Lockyer 6, Osho 8, Naismith 7; Bree 6, Lansbury 6, Mpanzu 5, Campbell 5 (Berry, 83), Bell 5; Jerome 6 (Cornick, 70, 6), Onyedinma 5 (Muskwe 70, 6). Subs not used: Potts, Gomes, Burke, Isted. BLACKBURN ROVERS: Kaminski 6; Lenihan 7, Van Hecke 7, Wharton 7; Nyambe 6, Travis 5, Johnson 5, Edun 5 (Rankin-costello 23, 5); Buckley 6 (Ayala 76); Gallagher 5 (Butterworth 51, 5), Zeefuik 6. Subs not used: Pears, Davenport, Chapman,
James Linington 6.