Goals from Tyler Walker and an own goal from a Liam Kelly shot saw the Sky Blues leave Ewood Park with a point after clawing back a two goal deficit from the break!
An even start to the game saw Blackburn earn the first corner after Kyle McFadzean intercepted Sam Gallagher’s cross and was eventually headed away by first Dom Hyam then Ben Sheaf before a long ball over the top by McFadzean almost played in Viktor Gyökeres but the Sweden international couldn’t quite get on the end of it.
City, wearing their away kit for the first time this season, then earned a corner that Rovers could clear only to as far as Sheaf on the edge of the box who managed to make some space for himself before curling a shot away which sprang Thomas Kaminski into action as he had to get down low to push the shot away from goal.
The home side immediately responded when Ryan Nyambe cut inside and shot towards the far corner with his left foot but a strong hand from Sky Blues’ ‘keeper Simon Moore denied the full back.
Callum O’Hare, on his 100th appearance, then played in Tyler Walker but his first time shot across goal was blocked by the diving Kaminski before skipper Liam Kelly fired over the rebound.
Fankaty Dabo found space on the right-hand side but his cross intended for the head of Walker and intercepted by the Daniel Ayala.
Tyrhys Dolan then took on Michael Rose and was fortunate for the ball to come back to him before firing a shot in at Moore’s near post but the ‘keeper collected it safely into his hands.
However, with six minutes to go before the interval Joe Rothwell put the hosts in front when he found Sam Gallagher who played the ball back into the pass of Rothwell who chipped the ball over Moore.
Rothwell then turned provider when he ran out wide before playing the ball back across goal for Gallagher to double Rovers’ lead.
City thought they had halved the deficit when Dabo’s forward ball was well controlled by Walker who chipped Kaminski with shot first hitting the post before he put the ball in but the linesman’s flag was raised.
HALF TIME: Blackburn Rovers 2-0 Sky Blues
City started the half on the front foot, winning a corner, with Kelly’s set piece headed towards goal by McFadzean that was tipped over by Kaminski.
Kane then fizzed in a cross that was met by the Rovers’ keeper before O’Hare managed to get past Jan Paul Van Hecke in the box but just as space opened up, Ayala cleared.
But the Sky Blues wouldn’t have to wait much longer to get back into the game when O’Hare found Kane who whipped the ball into the six-yard box for Tyler Walker to get on the end of at the near post!
Viktor Gyökeres then collected the ball and after shrugging off several challenges he laid the ball on a plate for Kelly to strike with his shot, from just outside the box, hitting the post before bouncing off the back of Kaminski and rolling over the line to bring City level!
A Rovers’ free kick temporarily brought panic to the Sky Blues defence when the ball deflected past Moore but just as substitute Ben Brereton Diaz looked to tap into an open net Rose slid in terrifically to clear.
O’Hare cleared up field which Gyökeres controlled then cut inside, with his shot from distance going just over the bar before Hyam timed his tackle to perfection to deny Rothwell getting a shot away in the box.
Brereton Diaz then collected the ball out wide and put a teasing ball across the box but Rose was on hand to clear again.
Another ball into the Sky Blues’ box found the head of Brereton Diaz but a combination of Moore then Hyam denied the forward and saw City come away with a deserved point!
FULL TIME: Blackburn Rovers 2-2 Sky Blues
SCORERS: Joe Rothwell (39’), Sam Gallagher (45’); Tyler Walker (61’), Thomas Kaminski 68’ og)
CARDS: John Buckley (28’), Jan Paul Van Hecke (73’); Todd Kane (79’), Liam Kelly (90+4)
ATTENDANCE: 14,110 (3,749 Away Fans)
Sky Blues XI: Simon Moore (GK), Fankaty Dabo, Dom Hyam, Kyle McFadzean, Michael Rose, Todd Kane, Liam Kelly (C), Ben Sheaf (Gustavo Hamer 62’), Callum O'Hare, Tyler Walker (Martyn Waghorn 79‘), Viktor Gyökeres.
Unused subs: Ben Wilson (GK), Jodi Jones, Jamie Allen, Jordan Shipley, Fabio Tavares.
Blackburn Rovers XI: Thomas Kaminski (GK), Ryan Nyambe, Jan Paul Van Hecke, Daniel Ayala, Darragh Lenihan (C), Tayo Edun, John Buckley (Jacob Davenport 65’), Lewis Travis, Joe Rothwell, Sam Gallagher (Ben Brereton Diaz 73’), Tyrhys Dolan (Ian Poveda 65’).
Unused Subs: Aynsley Pears (GK), Bradley Johnson, Dan Butterworth, Leighton Clarkson.