Blackburn 1-1 Wolves: Edwards grabs point for managerless visitors amid owner protests by home fans

Dave Edwards' late header grabbed a point for managerless Wolves against fellow Sky Bet Championship strugglers Blackburn.

Sam Gallagher put second-from-bottom Blackburn ahead as they looked to move out of the relegation zone with a win, but it wasn't to be for Owen Coyle's men as Wolves - who sacked manager Walter Zenga last week after just 87 days in charge - drew level through Edwards.

Both sides got off to a lively start in what was a high-paced game at a subdued Ewood Park, as the Blue and Whites fans protested against the club's owners, who have amassed large debts thought to be in the region of £100m since taking over in 2010.

Many of the home fans entered the stadium and took their seats on the 18th minute - the timing reflecting the date of the club's founding in 1875 - in an attempt to express their displeasure against Venky's, run by the Rao family.

The hosts, who have kept just one clean sheet all season, looked to assert pressure early on and it took just 13 minutes to open the scoring through a sumptuous volley from Gallagher, in what was the 21-year-old's sixth goal of the season.

The visitors responded well, posing a threat in attack to call the Blackburn defence into action before Edwards netted a 77th-minute equaliser to take a point back to the Midlands.

Interim Wolves head coach Rob Edwards made three changes to the side that lost 1-0 to Leeds in their last league outing, opting to bring Cameron Borthwick-Jackson, Conor Coady and Jed Wallace into the starting line-up. 

Meanwhile, Rovers manager Coyle made two alterations to his side as Charlie Mulgrew and Gordon Greer replaced injured duo Tommie Hoban and Derrick Williams.

The hosts displayed some brilliant build-up play in the lead-up to their early opening goal, with Gallagher producing an exquisite volley to put his side ahead after Jason Lowe's neat cross.

A stunning fingertip save from Carl Ikeme prevented Marshall from doubling Blackburn's lead in the 38th minute, when the winger found himself in acres of space to get away a shot which was aiming straight for the bottom corner.

Rovers saw a penalty appeal denied four minutes into the second-half after Romain Saiss looked to handle the ball inside the area, but referee Geoff Eltringham waved away claims for a spot-kick.

The Wanderers were forced into a goalkeeping change at the break, with Andy Lonergan replacing Ikeme after the Nigerian picked up an injury in his acrobatic save before half-time.

And the substitute showed he was more than up to the challenge, producing a fine stop with his foot to deny Gallagher moments after the hour-mark to keep his side in the game.

Just minutes later, Matt Doherty laid back a delicious ball to Edwards, but the latter wasn't quite able to connect with it and it was a chance wasted for Wolves.

But they continued to press, and their persistence paid off in the 77th minute when Doherty crossed the ball after Jason Steele palmed it away in what was initially a good save, before Edwards rose inside the six-yard box to head home the rebound and fire his team level.

Wolves went in search of a winner and came close when Steele was called upon to push Ivan Cavaleiro's goal-bound shot around the post with just ten minutes of normal time to play,

In a spell of late end-to-end action, Lonergan was on hand again to block a low Blackburn shot after Craig Conway cut inside and onto his right foot.

The visitors looked to catch Blackburn on the break with a wonderful run down the right-flank into the box but Joao Teixeira couldn't quite provide the final touch.

Blackburn Rovers boss Owen Coyle:

"We scored a wonderful goal to get in front and had a couple of opportunities to get that second goal, albeit they still had one or two things themselves.

"The galling thing is their goal is clearly offside. When the shot's been taken, the boy that crosses from the wide area is two yards offside. It's ridiculous. It's two home games it's happened to us now. It happened against Sheffield Wednesday when we scored a perfectly good goal and today the boy is clearly two yards offside."

Wolves interim manager Rob Edwards:

"I felt we deserved a point, we were good value for it. I think 16 shots away from home, you deserve a point.

"We had some good play, we were a little bit loose without the ball, a little bit open. That's something we spoke to the players about but in terms of work rate, commitment, spirit, the players were fantastic and they gave us everything.

"I thought, with the ball, I was really pleased with a number of players. It would be unfair for me to single anybody out be."