West Brom 1 Blackburn Rovers 1: MATCH REPORT

Already without Darragh Lenihan, they lost Charlie Mulgrew and Jack Rodwell to injury, and then David Raya in the closing stages to what was described as a ‘horrific facial injury’.

Rovers had made their three changes, so Smallwood took the gloves for the final seven minutes, plus the same number of stoppages, as they held out for a point.

It was earned courtesy of a fine strike from Harrison Reed, his second in Rovers colours, equalising a 40th minute header from Craig Dawson.

Rovers should have had a penalty for handball just before that, while Joe Rothwell will have been disappointed not to have levelled moments after going behind.

There were five changes for Rovers, with recalls for Jack Rodwell, Derrick Williams, Joe Rothwell, Kasey Palmer and Craig Conway in a much-changed side, as Darragh Lenihan missed out through injury.

It was a team selection which posed many questions, and in the opening 25 minutes proved that Rovers would be neat and tidy in possession, but lacking a presence in attack as Dack continued to drop deep.

They were enjoying more of the ball and after two successive defeats, a feeling inside The Hawthorns that the crowd were a little anxious over what they were saying.

In tricky conditions, David Raya showed good handling to hold on to a testing 25-yarder from Conor Townsend in the only noteable moment of the early stages.

There was to be an early change for Rovers, and in defence, as Charlie Mulgrew was taken off after around three minutes of treatment after paying the price for his bravery, taking a bang to the hip after winning a challenge close to halfway. Amari’i Bell was sent on, with Derrick Williams going to partner Jack Rodwell in the centre of defence.

That failed to bring any real excitement to the game as both sides struggled to get ahead of steam. Promising bursts came to nothing for Rovers, with Elliott Bennett striking their first attempt in the 23rd minute, easily deflected in to the arms of Sam Johnstone.

Set plays were always likely to be a test for Rovers against a West Brom side packed with height, and after defending a free-kick well, James Morrison blasted over from the edge of the area, while Rovers scrambled the ball clear clear after Rodwell headed clear in front of his advancing goalkeeper.

A huge moment came just after the half hour mark, with Rovers furious they weren’t awarded a penalty. Reed’s driving run saw him break in to the box, his cross hitting an outstretched arm, though referee Scott Duncan was unmoved.

And it should have been 1-0 to Albion with 60 seconds, as Jay Rodriguez pinched the ball off Derrick Williams to bear down on goal. Raya stayed big to keep out his shot, but only the striker will know how he failed to turn the loose ball in to the unguarded net from six yards.

Rothwell was looking Rovers’ main attacking threat, firing over from 25 yards at the end of what was one of several good breaks forward.

Though it was a set play that proved the way to goal for the hosts. A left wing corner was hung up to the far post, and bundled over the line by Craig Dawson.

Albion had done little to deserve the lead, but Rovers hadn’t fully tested Johnstone in the hosts goal.

That would all change though in the final five minutes of the half. A great spin on halfway by Dack allowed him to get clear of his man and put Rothwell through. But Johnstone stayed big enough to keep out Rothwell’s shot before pouncing on the loose ball.

Another Rothwell run ended with a low shot goalwards, kept out by Johnstone moving away to his left as the referee brought a halt to proceedings.

While the first half may have been a slow burner, the second half was anything but. Rovers were unchanged, but had an intensity about their play which saw them go close within two minutes.

Kasey Palmer drove clear of two challenges, but after doing the hard work, couldn’t find a finish to trouble Johnstone from the edge of the box as he spooned his shot over.

They had to be aware of the threat from balls in to their box, as Tosin Adarabioyo headed over a right wing corner, moments before Raya did well to get down to a Matty Phillips shot after good defending initially from Bell.

Injury was hit Rovers again though before the hour, with Lewis Travis brought on at centre half in place of Rodwell who limped off.

That didn’t stop Rovers’ attempts to press for an equaliser, Johnstone gathering a dipping Bennett effort at the second attempt before more penalty appeals were waved away as Bartley dove in on Palmer.

The home crowd were getting nervy as Rovers poured forward, with Dack going within inches of a leveller in the 68th minute. He bent a free-kick, well won by Palmer, up and over the wall and just wide of the far post with Johnstone beaten.

Rovers were battering down the door, and got an equaliser they both deserved and had threatened with 19 minutes to go. It came from an unlikely source, Reed curling an inch perfect effort in to the top corner from the left edge of the box.

A patched up Rovers defence were always likely to come under pressure and were just that in the 75th minute as West Brom worked an opening to put Barnes clear. His touch was slightly heavily, allowing Williams to put in a fine sliding challenge and clear the danger.

There was more drama to come though, and a huge turning point, as Raya came sliding out to pounce on the loose ball, and caught by the stray boot of Jay Rodriguez. He required extensive treatment before being stretchered off.

With all their substitutes made, Richie Smallwood donned the gloves for the final seven minutes, plus an added seven minutes.  

Balls were flying in to the box from all angles, with Smallwood punching one clear, before hanging on to a looping Dawson header.

Rovers were defending for their lives as a corner was somehow scrambled wide, before they kept out the ball on the line as Rodriguez and Hoolahan tried to turn it home.

But after seven agonising minutes of defending, they hung on to take a deserved point back to East Lancashire, to the jubilation of the near 2,000 travelling fans.

West Brom: Johnstone, Bartley (Robson Kanu, 87), Sako (Hoolahan, 60) Morrison, Livermore, Phillips, Townsend, Barnes (Brunt, 76), Rodriguez, Adarabioyo, Dawson

Substitutes:  Myhill, Mears, Field, Burke

Rovers: Raya, Bennett, Rodwell (Travis, 58), Mulgrew (Bell, 15), Williams, Reed, Smallwood, Conway, Rothwell, Palmer (Armstrong, 67), Dack

Substitutes: Leutwiler, Brereton, Evans, Graham