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​FA WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP: Blackburn and fellow strugglers Coventry share the spoils

Blackburn and Coventry played out a 2-2 draw at Ewood Park after Rovers came from behind to lead but conceded late still leaving Coventry seeking their first win.

Blackburn Rovers Ladies last played at Ewood Park in May 2018 but this will be the first time the ground has hosted a Women's Championship game.

Coventry Utd are the visitors and the team Rovers beat in the play-off final last season to take their place in the second tier of women's football after cruising to Women's National League North Champions title.

The step up a division has proved to be a challenging one with Rovers losing their opening four games finally getting the first three points of the season last time out.

Coventry have also struggled and are still looking for their first win with just one point from five games and kept off the bottomfrom Charlton by goal difference.

Both teams will therefore be looking to move themselves away from the foot of the Championship table were the bottom team is relegated.

The teams have already met once this campaign in the Continental Cup which ended in a draw indicating there is little to choose between the two clubs at this early stage of the season.

Rovers manager Gemma Donelly and a couple of the players said the incentive of playing at Ewood Park would be enough to inspire a winning performance. And certainly in the opening minutes the hosts had a couple of corners which almost brought goals but after that it became a game of dour attrition.

Coventry brought the deadlock with their first real effort as slack defending allowed Amber Hughes to score. With a lead to defend the visitors looked comfortable as Blackburn struggled to break their opponents down but in the final minute of the half Rovers unexpectedly levelled.

Coventry keeper Sue Wood failed to deal with Rhema Lord-Mears hard cross and fumbled the ball into the path of skipper Saffron Jordan who bundled the ball home. The visitor's claimed the ball did not cross the line but the linesman immediately signalled a goal.

Blackburn then took the lead within a minute of the restart with a flowing move ended by Jordan getting on the scoresheet again. The home side were in the ascendancy and almost made it three but Wood made a fine save from Natasha Fenton.

Coventry almost made Rovers pay for not taking their chances but Fran Stenson palmed behind a long range effort from Hayley Crackle.

The game was now a vast improvement on the first 45 minutes with both teams looking to get something out of this game. Defender Ellie Stewart hit the cross bar from 30 yards with the Coventry keeper beaten.

With seven minutes remaining a tremendous scramble in the Blackburn six yard area ended with Stenson gratefully claiming the ball to the frustration of the visitor's who began to apply late pressure.

And this pressure told in the 88th minute as substitute Shannon O'Brien levelled as Rovers failed to clear their lines.

Full Time

Blackburn: 2 (Jordan 44, 46)

Coventry Utd: 2 (Hughes 11, O'Brien 88)

Att: 966

Venue: Ewood Park

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Ian Ferris
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Ian Ferris

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