BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness admitted his relief after Rovers scraped past Walsall in the third round of the Worthington Cup last night following a dramatic penalty shootout victory.
The current holders appeared to be losing their grip on the trophy when Saddlers substitute David Zdrilic fired the visitors into a 2-1 extra-time lead.
But a late equaliser from Alan Mahon then forced the tie to penalties where goalkeeper Alan Kelly and reserve team hit-man Marc Richards then became the heroes as Rovers triumphed 5-4 to edge into the last 16.
"I'd love to say we'd practised those penalties yesterday morning but we didn't," said a relieved Souness, who had to watch the drama unfold from his seat in the Jack Walker stand as he started the first of a three-game touchline ban.
"However, the important thing is we are in the next round, albeit on penalties, and we have to be pleased with that, especially considering the team we put out."
With Rovers currently in the throes of a hectic schedule which will see them play six games in 18 days, Souness used last night's match as an opportunity to rest some of his front-line stars.
But his patched-up side still had just enough quality to survive on the night after a disjointed performance against a Walsall side intent on pulling off an upset.
"I thought we played very well in the first half," said Souness. "In the second half, Walsall came back into it and got their equaliser but I'm very pleased that we are in the next round of the competition given the team we had out.
"We looked stronger than them as the game went on and we had some young boys out there who have obviously worked hard at their fitness, so there was a lot of pleasing things to come out of it.
"We played players who have not featured much in the first team and some of them did very well.
"Without going through them one by one, I thought there was lots of positives.
"Neill Danns did well in midfield and so did young Jay McEveley at the back.
"It was a big game for Walsall but we went out there, played our football in the first half, and showed our character, at the end of the day, to win it on penalties."
The one disappointing aspect of the night was a fresh injury to Sebastian Pelzer who lasted just 30 minutes of his full debut before being replaced by Academy defender Jay McEveley.
The German defender injured himself in a challenge early on and was later seen leaving the ground on crutches.
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