Blackburn stored themselves within the hunt to succeed in the Championship play-offs as Hayden Carter’s dramatic late header earned a 1-1 draw with Luton on Financial institution Vacation Monday.
Tom Lockyer’s second-half header had appeared to have earned the Hatters – who later hit the crossbar by means of captain Sonny Bradley – all three factors at Ewood Park and inflicted irreparable injury on the hosts’ top-six cost.
Nonetheless, Carter headed residence an 86th-minute equaliser to reinvigorate what had been quickly reducing hope from the house followers.
Jon Dahl Tomasson’s facet keep ninth within the desk, degree on factors with sixth-placed Sunderland and seventh-placed West Brom and two factors behind sixth-placed Millwall, who they face at The Den on the ultimate day subsequent Monday.
How Blackburn took their play-off hunt to the ultimate day
Rotherham’s 1-0 win over Middlesbrough earlier within the day had ensured Luton would end the season as one of the best of the remainder in third, which means there was little worth of their remaining two video games earlier than the play-offs. They had been nothing greater than workout routines in sustaining momentum. It was fairly the alternative for Blackburn.
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Tom Lockyer scores to dent Blackburn’s play-off hopes
With out a league win since March 15 and solely 4 objectives scored in six video games in April, time was operating out for Tomasson’s group to complete within the high six, so it was maybe no shock once they established management of the sport.
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Sonny Bradley’s header rattles the crossbar towards Blackburn
They racked up 9 first-half pictures, however Harry Pickering’s half-volley huge after 14 minutes was, arguably, probably the most threatening. When Ryan Hedges’ cross was minimize out simply simply earlier than the break, the house followers started to make their frustration recognized.
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Hayden Carter’s heads in Blackburn’s equaliser
Inside 5 minutes of the second half, Luton had the lead, leaving Blackburn with a mountain to climb. Carlton Morris held the ball up properly, discovered a pocket of house after which clipped a cross in direction of the penalty spot, the place Lockyer was available to use the completion to his second strike in seven days.
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The crossbar denies Sammie Szmodics a match winner towards Luton
They virtually had a second when Bradley met one other ball from Morris and nodded onto the crossbar when it appeared as if it might need been simpler to attain, however Rovers salvaged some extent from the jaws of defeat with 4 minutes of the 90 to play when Carter headed in Sorba Thomas’ nook.
There was even time for yet one more likelihood for the hosts as their momentum constructed, however Sammie Szmodics was denied a winner when his thumping effort got here again off the crossbar with Ethan Horvath crushed all finally ends up.
Participant of the match – Lewis Travis
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Hayden Carter and Lewis Travis mirror on Blackburn’s draw with Luton
The managers
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Jon Dahl Tomasson says his Blackburn facet wanted luck to win with out a goalscorer towards Luton
Blackburn’s Jon Dahl Tomasson:
“The sensation is disappointment and frustration. Then again, in case you are coming from 1-0 behind towards an excellent facet, you might be joyful to get the draw, which was the least we deserved. I feel we performed a superb first half, creating probabilities; it is the identical sample because the final weeks and, in fact, there is a cause for that. We’re not scoring that simple, we all know that, nevertheless it was good to see the spirit throughout the squad, combating till the top. There’s one remaining left and we’re nonetheless in it.
“We have had an awesome season to date and it isn’t over but. Hopefully, with this effort we will win at Millwall. We are going to go there to win the sport and also you by no means know.”
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Rob Edwards believes some extent for every group was a good outcome
Luton’s Rob Edwards:
“It is all the time irritating to not see it out once you go 1-0 up. It was most likely a good outcome. They actually wanted it and you possibly can sense that; you possibly can sense the apprehension from the supporters the longer the sport went on. We performed the entire of the primary half in third gear and it is most likely probably the most pissed off I’ve ever been at half-time since I have been right here.
“We all know what’s coming so it’s extremely tough to seek out that edge in the meanwhile. We lacked it final week towards Middlesbrough as properly. These are actually essential video games for us to try to hold that momentum going as a result of you’ll be able to’t simply change it on. We need to journey the wave we’re on; we have had a protracted unbeaten run and we need to hold that going. We solely do this by operating actually exhausting, doing the fundamentals properly and combating for one another.”
What’s subsequent?
Each groups are again in motion at 3pm on the ultimate day of the common season, Monday Might 8.
Blackburn journey to The Den to face Millwall, whereas Luton host Hull at Kenilworth Street.