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Burton Albion vs Blackburn Rovers. Sky Bet Championship.

Pirelli StadiumAttendance5,496.

Burton Albion 1

  • M Sordell (54th minute)

Blackburn Rovers 1

  • M Palmer (31st minute own goal)

Burton 1-1 Blackburn: Tony Mowbray denied win in first Rovers game

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Highlights of the Sky Bet Championship match between Burton and Blackburn

Marvin Sordell lashed home a stunning equaliser for Burton that meant new Blackburn boss Tony Mowbray had to settle for a 1-1 draw in his first match in charge.

A headed own goal from Matty Palmer had given Blackburn a 31st-minute lead, as Mowbray led Rovers after taking over from Owen Coyle.

But Sordell levelled soon after the break and Burton's Lasse Vigen Christensen was then cruelly denied a late winner when his 20-yard effort hit both posts but stayed out.

Both sides were desperate for a victory to ease relegation worries but more importantly neither side could afford to lose. Albion finished the night six points ahead of the bottom three in the Sky Bet Championship after a productive five points from three games in the last week, with Mowbray left to reflect on his side sitting two points from safety.

Rovers looked anything but a bottom three side as they tore into Albion from the opening whistle and deservedly led at the break through Palmer's own goal. Danny Graham's right-wing corner flicked off the head of the Burton midfielder at the near post and looped into the opposite corner.

Although fortuitous in nature, the goal was just reward for a vibrant first-half performance from Rovers. Neat one-touch passing and intelligent movement belied a club languishing in the bottom three of the Sky Bet Championship and it was not long before they had Albion penned back for long periods.

With Marvin Emnes pulling the strings going forward, their fluidity caused Burton numerous problems. The Dutchman was constantly picking out men in blue and white and stretching the Burton defence.

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Emnes was also proving a danger in the box, his very presence just behind John Mousinho forcing two hurried clearances as crosses came into the Burton box in the first half.

Sordell's equaliser, eight minutes after the break, capped a good spell of pressure from Nigel Clough's men. Picking up the ball from Christensen he cut inside and sent a curling shot over the stranded Jason Steele from 25 yards.

Mowbray surprisingly substituted Emnes with just under a quarter of the match remaining, sending on Lucas Joao as part of a double change that saw Graham replaced by Sam Gallagher.

Although Rovers continued to press without Emnes, Albion were able to deal with the visitors attacking threat more comfortably, however Rovers' late substitute Connor Mahoney caused plenty of problems following his introduction.

Albion were only denied an unlikely stoppage-time winner by both posts. Christensen took aim and watched in frustration as his sweet shot hit both uprights before Steele was able to grab it on the line. It would have been extremely harsh on Rovers had they left the Pirelli Stadium without so much as a point.

Burton boss Nigel Clough:

"After the first half it is definitely a point gained. I thought Blackburn were magnificent in the first half and we couldn't get near them in any shape or form.

"We were hoping to get in [at half-time] 0-0 and even after they scored not concede a second they were that good. We looked tired. It's been a hard week for us but we came out and changed it around a bit in the second half and deserved the equaliser.'

"We were then an inch off winning it late on which we didn't deserve to do - but it would have been nice."

Blackburn boss Tony Mowbray:

"My dressing is sitting there disappointed that they haven't taken three points tonight. We probably deserved more than a one goal lead at half-time with the efforts that we had and the territorial advantage in the first half.

"I think you have to give credit to Nigel (Clough) for changing his (team's) shape, changing the direction of the football match. We got a grip of it in the last 20 minutes and I thought if anyone was going to win it then it was going to be us. Then they nearly scored right at the death, hitting both posts. It would have been an injustice if we hadn't taken something from this game.'

"It took me aback the support for Rovers tonight. The problems that this club apparently has, it was amazing support and I'm just disappointed that we couldn't get three points for them."

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