Norwich City 1-1 Blackburn Rovers: Leaders move one step closer to promotion despite being at home

Championship-leading Norwich moved one step closer to promotion despite being in the hands of a certain Blackburn team.

However, the visitors tied with 13 minutes remaining when Sam Gallagher headed off a free kick off the back post by Harvey Elliott.

Norwich remains eight points clear at the top of the table, while Blackburn remains 15th.

Daniel Farke’s team entered the competition seeking to emulate the record set by Ken Brown’s team in 1985-86, also in the second division.

On a spirited start, Todd Cantwell’s deflected effort hit the outside of the post and Rovers goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski brilliantly converted an effort by Emi Buendia off the crossbar.

But the Rovers, whose season has been sold out after a promising first half of the season, gave their best with John Buckley testing Tim Krul twice.

And while Teemu Pukki, Marco Stiepermann and Buendia all had winning chances for Norwich, Tony Mowbray’s team matched them for long stretches and they were worth their point.

Aside from the result, Norwich will also be concerned that Greek left-back Dimitrios Giannoulis retired with a head injury in the first half and teammate Ben Gibson left the field on a stretcher at the end after seemingly injured his ankle.

Norwich City Head Coach Daniel Farke:

“In recent weeks we were used to winning football matches, so when you concede a draw relatively late, the first feeling is disappointment, especially since we had great opportunities after winning the match.

“We are not dancing on the table after this draw, but we can live with this. We have to wait for the evaluations, I think he [Ben Gibson] rolled his ankle. We hope it’s not too bad, but it doesn’t look too good. With Dimitrios [Giannoulis] it was a concussion. “

In the international break: “I am afraid because you never know what the result will be in the end when they return because they have to travel.

“It seems crazy, living in the pandemic it is not possible to see your family, sometimes your children or your parents or grandparents, and we send the players of our national team.

“If it is about competitive matches I can accept it. For friendlies it is difficult to accept. I think it is a questionable decision.”

Tony Mowbray, Manager of Blackburn Rovers:

“We came away with a point. If something disappointed us, it was no more. At the end of the day, we deserved a point.

“I think what stands out the most is its quality in the last third compared to ours. They have international footballers and players who have played in the Premier League.

“We have young people learning the game, but that’s where we are as a club trying to grow. If we had their attacking force, we could have scored a few more goals.”