Blackburn Rovers 1 Birmingham City 1: match report

Blackburn Rovers 1 Birmingham City 1: match report

Read a full match report of the Premier League game between Blackburn Rovers and Birmingham City at Ewood Park on Saturday April 9.

PREVIEW

LIVE

REPORT

BLACKBURN ROVERS

1 - 1

FT

BIRMINGHAM CITY

Saturday, April 09 15:00

Premier League

Ewood Park

Hoilett (45+7)

(HT 1-1)

ATT: 28,426

Bowyer (32)

Away days: Lee Bowyer scored for Birmingham City as Alex McLeish's side earned a valuable point at Ewwod Park where they drew 1-1 with Blackburn Rovers Photo: PA

By Peter Gardner at Ewood Park 5:00PM BST 09 Apr 2011

Comments

Junior Hoilett is proving an exciting talent whose goals could be hugely significant in Blackburn’s continued struggle for Premier League survival.

Having scored a late equaliser as Rovers wiped out a two-goal deficit in the previous home game with Blackpool, the young Canadian again came to the rescue with a further point-saving strike in an equally crucial relegation encounter with Birmingham.

Hoilett’s fourth goal in as many games came deep into first-half injury time and achieved home parity after Birmingham had obtained a 31st minute lead through Lee Bowyer. The result, however, left Blackburn still looking for their first league victory in eight games, this being their third successive draw.

Hoilett’s presence was immense in a tight, tense struggle which left both sides bracketed on 35 points and with identical goal differences although Birmingham have a game in hand. The home threat following Hoilett’s departure because of a slight hamstring injury midway through the second half faded immeasurably. Birmingham’s better passing illuminated a tedious match, however a draw was a satisfactory outcome for both sides although it will do little to ease their relegation worries.

Hoilett is becoming something of a saviour for Blackburn and his manager, Steve Kean, said: “He is really on top of his game and is showing a lot of progress. Junior can petrify defenders. While we are taking little steps we need to take a leap. However we have got to keep chipping away and maintain the momentum.”

Blackburn achieved early dominance with a more urgent approach but it came to nothing with Jermaine Jones and Chris Samba both going close. When Birmingham responded, their first attack of note saw them take the lead. There appeared little danger when Sebastian Larsson crossed from the right, but Cameron Jerome showed good control before lofting the ball into the middle where Bowyer headed in from close range.

Birmingham came close to doubling their lead when Craig Gardner struck a post from a free kick but then, in injury time, Liam Ridgewell was dispossessed by Hoilett who sprinted beyond the exposed visiting defence before rounding Ben Foster to score.

Alex McLeish, the Birmingham manager, was disappointed at the way they conceded although he could not argue with the result.

He said: “We were punished for that mistake but overall I am happy at the point after handing them that gift. We were the better team in the first half but the goal gave Blackburn a lift and Hoilett is in such great form at present.”

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Telegraph.feedsportal.com