KHADRA’S NET VALUE
Star’s persistence pays off
THEY say if you don’t succeed try, try again — and finally Reda Khadra came up with a spectacular strike to end the
Blackburn goal famine.
Until his explosive 77thminute free-kick, the on-loan Brighton striker had been the biggest culprit as Rovers piled up more evidence over why they have been so profligate in front of goal.
A club record of five consecutive games without a goal was threatening to blow
their promotion bid off course. And with Khadra spurning inviting chance after chance, it appeared the barren run was about to continue.
The stoic German had other ideas and, at last, after more than nine hours, a rare sight for Rovers fans – a goal. The angle for the free-kick outside the QPR penalty area appeared too acute but Khadra let fly and substitute goalkeeper David Marshall misread the flight, a flailing arm getting nowhere near it.
Relieved Blackburn boss Tony Mowbray said: “We could have scored four or five but we will take 1-0 and move on to the next one.
“All the times we haven’t scored we should have done. We should have had a lot more points.
“We’ve got three of the next four games at home and we have a pretty good record here.”
Scottish international Marshall had replaced Seny Dieng, who had been bundled into his own net following a hefty challenge from Sam Gallagher just before the break and a muscle injury meant he did not start the second half.
The Marshall mistake saw Blackburn leapfrog QPR in the battle for at least a play-off place with Rangers manager Mark Warburton saying: “We lacked energy. We looked a bit weary, a bit leggy.
“Maybe it was my fault, I should have freshened it up. A lot of effort was extended on Wednesday night (a 2-1 win over Blackpool).
“We knew Blackburn would press high with real energy. We had to match that as a mere basic and I don’t think we did.”
BLACKBURN: Kaminski 6; Lenihan 7, Van Hecke 7, Wharton 7; Nyambe 6 (Zeefuik 57,6), Travis 6, Johnson 6, Pickering 6 (Giles 71, 6); Dolan 7, Gallagher 6 (Hedges 67, 6), Khadra 7.
Subs not used: Pears, Davenport, Rankin-Costello, Buckley. QPR: Dieng 7 (Marshall 46, 7); Dickie 6, Dunne 7, Barbet; Adomah 6 (McCallum 67, 6), Hendrick 7, Field 6, Odubajo 6; Johansen 6, Chair 6; Willock 6 (Gray 61, 6).
Subs not used: Amos, Ball, Thomas, Dozzell.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Reda Khadra. Missed a glut of chances but never gave up and was rewarded with the winning goal. REFEREE: Jeremy Simpson 7.