Tony Mowbray hails Blackburn’s resilience after hard-fought Walsall win - 7M sport

Tony Mowbray hails Blackburn’s resilience after hard-fought Walsall win



Posted Sunday, February 25, 2018 by PA

Tony Mowbray hails Blackburn’s resilience after hard-fought Walsall win

Blackburn boss Tony Mowbray praised his side’s resilience as they shook off a sickness bug to maintain their grip on top spot in League One with a 2-1 win at Walsall.

Danny Graham and Elliott Bennett were both physically ill at half-time, while playmaker Bradley Dack missed the game with the virus.

But, aided by Graham’s early brace, Rovers held off a fightback from their hosts after Jack Fitzwater’s goal got Walsall back into the game on the stroke of half-time.

Mowbray said: “We had two players vomiting continuously for the full 15 minutes at half-time and we lacked a bit of energy in the second half but we got the job done, it was a professional job.

“We had to get on with it and it’s credit to everybody that we’ve got the result here today because Walsall have been on a good run of form.

“We could have been out of sight first half to be fair. We played very well in the first half and Danny does what he does, scored his goals.

“Then we get a kick in the stomach at the end of the half, a really, really disappointing goal for us.

“I think the goal bang on half-time swung a bit of momentum. But we saw the game out.

“I have to be pleased with all the players today for different reasons. First half, with the energy and the drive and the quality and the second half because they had to dig in when the team was under the weather and a bit below-par.”

Rovers keeper David Raya made key saves to thwart Erhun Oztumer and Julien Ngoy after the break and despite remaining just five points above the drop zone, Walsall boss Jon Whitney was proud of his team.

Whitney said: “We’ve got to take positives from the second half because I thought we outplayed and outbattled a team who I think are the best team in the league.

“It would have been great if we could have got that equaliser but we’ve got to move forward with some confidence and use that as a bit of a benchmark.

“I think we were a bit unfortunate not to get an equaliser.

“I thought that in the first half we were a bit tentative. We just didn’t do the basics as well as them.

“Danny Graham was a little bit unplayable for periods in that first half and that he showed why, for me, he is the best number nine in this league and could still play much higher.

“It’s disappointment but I couldn’t fault the lads’ energy and effort. I think Graham probably made the difference between the two teams today.”

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