West Brom 1 Blackburn Rovers 1 - Report and pictures

On Wednesday night, everything that went against them did, but today they were handed a huge slice of luck towards the end of the game.

Due to an injury to their goalkeeper David Raya after they'd made all their substitutes, Blackburn were forced to play more than 15 minutes with 10 men and midfielder Richard Smallwood in goal.

Albion failed to test the outfield player, although Hal Robson-Kanu had a header cleared off the line in seven minutes of injury time as Tony Mowbray's visitors clung on to their point.

The Baggies had taken the lead in the 40th minute through a Craig Dawson header, but their chronic inability to keep a clean sheet bit them again.

In truth, when Harrison Reed curled a sumptuous goal into the far corner in the 71st minute, and equaliser had been coming.

In his programme notes, Darren Moore said you really find out about yourself when results go against you.

"One off-night shouldn't blind us to the progress we've made this season," he said.

But at the same time the temperature has dropped, so has Albion's form.

They weren't as open at the back as they were on Wednesday, although that was probably down to Blackburn's strange lack of pressing, but there were still errors at the back.

Kyle Bartley had a game to forget and Tosin Adarabioyo looked too casual in possession, although goalscorer Dawson was much more improved.

We have reached the point of the season where the squad comes into play as injuries and suspensions take their toll, but some of his fringe players will have given Darren Moore food for thought.

James Morrison was tidy in possession and his quick feet complemented Jake Livermore's steel in central midfield well.

Conor Townsend held his own at left wing-back in place of the injured Kieran Gibbs and Bakary Sako showed flashes of potential on debut, although he lacked match sharpness.

It was Townsend who was in the thick of the action early on, bursting down the left to play a dangerous cross into the back post before having the first shot on target from range five minutes in.

The Baggies saw all of the early ball but their rhythm was halted 15 minutes in when Rovers captain Charlie Mulgrew hobbled off with a rib injury after receiving treatment for some time.

It was a far more sedate start to proceedings than Wednesday and sights of goal were in short supply.

Harvey Barnes got in behind the Rovers backline after Sako chased down a loose ball, but he couldn't find a blue and white shirt in the middle.

Kyle Bartley then picked up an early booking for stopping a Blackburn breakaway by clipping Kasey Palmer's ankles as both sides continued to feel each other out.

The Baggies were struggling to break Blackburn down, and the visitors, who were playing without a recognised striker, looked just as toothless going forward.

But finally, on the half-hour mark, something happened, and it was a let-off for the home side.

When Harrison Reed burst to the byline and pulled back a cross, it clearly hit an Albion arm, but even though Rovers surrounded referee Scott Duncan, he didn't point to the spot.

That moment sparked the game into life. A minute later and it was Mowbray's turn to breathe a sigh of relief when Rodriguez robbed Derrick Williams of possession in his own half.

Albion were briefly three on one, but Rodriguez shot, and when it bounced back to him off Raya, he blazed over from six yards out with the goal gaping.

Rodriguez then played Sako through on goal after good work by Morrison and Livermore but the debutant's touch evaded him.

But from the resulting corner, Albion got their breakthrough. Phillips swung his delivery to the back post where Dawson was on hand to force the ball into the net.

It should have been 1-1 before half-time though, because Dack rolled Dawson perfectly before playing a reverse ball to Joe Rothwell that put him one-on-one with Sam Johnstone.

But the Albion keeper stood up to his shot though and saved well.

Dack has been involved in 13 goals in his 13 appearances so far this season, and Rovers looked to play through him.

But Palmer was also threatening, and shortly after the restart he blazed over after wriggling free of Kyle Bartley.

Rovers were far brighter in the second half, and enjoyed more possession, but that made them vulnerable on the break.

Although Albion had to put in a couple of important last-ditch tackles in their own box, they also wasted a few promising counter-attacking opportunities.

Moore took Sako off on the hour mark and brought Wes Hoolahan on to tweak his formation to a 3-4-2-1 as Rovers continued to threaten.

The visitors kept piling on pressure and spent 10 minutes camped out in Albion's half until Harrison Reed equalised with 20 minutes to go.

The Baggies had been guilty of overplaying it at times, but it was a simple error from Bartley, who failed to clear his lines, that gave Reed the ball in space 25 yards out.

And the Southampton loanee curled a sumptuous effort into the far corner to rob Johnstone of just his second clean sheet of the season.

Albion tried to respond, and substitute Hoolahan worked an opening for Townsend on the left but the wing-back's shot was well blocked.

Nine minutes from time, the Baggies' chances were boosted inadvertantly by an injury to Rovers keeper David Raya, who was forced off with what looked like a broken nose after Rodriguez caught him.

Mowbray had made all his substitutes, so midfielder Richard Smallwood was forced to go in goal for the ten men in the closing stages.

But even though Albion slung plenty of corners his way, they failed to test the outfield player from distance.

The ten men fought valiantly at the back during seven minutes of injury time to protect their point.

Substitute Hal Robson-Kanu came closest with a header that was cleared off the line, before Rovers scrambled it clear just as Hoolahan looked like he was going to strike.

The last time Albion lost three Championship games in a row, Mowbray was in charge, and the Baggies went on to be crowned champions that season.

They didn't lose three in a row this time, but one point from nine is not a great return from a tough week.

They should have been able to get back to winning ways here, but missed the chance.

Key moments

30 Blackburn want a penalty when Reed's cross from the byline hits an arm but referee Scott Duncan says no.

33 Rodriguez robs Blackburn of possession before baring down on goal but his shot is saved by Raya before he blazes the return over from six yards out.

40 GOAL ALBION - Dawson bundles the ball in at the back post after a deep swinging Phillips corner.

43 Johnstone pulls off a stunning one-on-one save to deny Rothwell after Dack rolls Dawson.

71 GOAL BLACKBURN - Reed curls a sumptuous shot into the far corner after Bartley fails to clear his lines.

81 Defender Richard Smallwood is forced to go in goal for Rovers after David Raya is forced off through injury.

Albion man of the match

Craig Dawson - Headed everything clear at the back, and also headed in Albion's goal.

Position in the table

5th, with 25 points from 15 games.

Teams

Albion (3-4-1-2): Johnstone; Dawson, Adarabioyo, Bartley (Robson-Kanu 87); Phillips, Livermore (c), Morrison, Townsend; Barnes (Brunt 77); Rodriguez, Sako (Hoolahan 61).

Unused subs: Myhill, Mears, Field, Hoolahan, Burke.

Blackburn Rovers (4-3-3): Raya; Bennett, Rodwell (Travis 58), Mulgrew (c) (Bell 15), Williams; Reed, Smallwood, Conway; Palmer (Armstrong 67), Dack, Rothwell.

Unused subs: Leutweiler, Graham, Brereton, Evans.

Referee: Scott Duncan

Attendance: 23,820 (1,978 away)