Ethan Laird proved to be the difference maker for Blues in their stunning comeback victory at Blackburn Rovers.
Laird’s determined, wriggling run into the box near the byline earned Blues a 90th minute penalty, which was stuck away by Jay Stansfield.
And then deep into added-time, Laird triggered an incredible counter-attack charge from Blues own area that resulted in Lyndon Dykes’ dramatic winner.
Laird came on as a half-time substitute for Alex Cochrane, who sustained a knock. And his forceful display, from the unfamiliar position of left-back, enabled Blues to recover from falling adrift to Todd Cantwell’s 50th minute strike.
“I mentioned Ethan in my post-match talk to the players,” said manager Chris Davies. “I don’t often mention individuals, but what I will say about Ethan, he’s shown a lot of character there because going on to the left back position, not his natural side, he’s played there once or twice for us, but he defended the winger well, was clean with the ball and made that (penalty) goal.
“He took a throw, won his duel, he twisted, he turned, and used his speed, his strength and his cleverness to burst into the box. So he drove us back into the game, there. He had a big moment.”
A combination of Sidnei Tavares and Lewis Miller found Laird too elusive as normal time ticked down and halted him illegally.
And in the eighth minute of 11 added-on Laird got hold of Demarai Gray’s headed clearance from a Rovers corner and galloped infield. He was cynically tripped, but the ball broke to Tomoki Iwata, who switched play to the right, where Gray was haring downfield.
In fact, the sight of so many Blues players storming towards the Rovers penalty area on the counter warmed Davies’ heart.
And Gray’s combination of pace, staying power and composure was ideal.
Davies said: “You are thinking ‘Ok, don’t all of you go . . . ‘. But I love the determination, desire and belief that they want to win it. You can’t sort of give that to people. It’s in them.
“You’ve got six red shirts bursting forward and I love that about us. When the game opens up, we run. We run.
“It was an exceptional sprint from Dimmy. For him to play 100 minutes, to get the ball one v one in the box and to have the burst to get past someone then the technique to lay it where he did . . .
“It allowed Lyndon to get good contact on it and Lydon’s movement is superb. He pulls away on the blindside and then cuts across the defender. That’s a really good movement. I was pleased for Lyndon, too, and it was a really special moment.”
Davies believed that Blues were deserved winners at Ewood Park and were in control of the Championship encounter.
“First-half we had all of the ball. They sat back. There weren’t many gaps. It’s easy to get frustrated in a game like that.
“I just said to the players (at half-time) that they were controlling the game and to keep working the ball as the spaces would open up.
“The second-half it did a little bit more. The goal going in helped that.
“We showed our quality. We looked fit and strong. When there was a chance to counter-attack we did it. When there was a chance to press we did it. When we had the ball we were switching sides and trying to progress. There were all the good things that we work on.
“But more importantly there was that intangible – that character side that came out.”
Davies held off on making early substitutes after the break because he felt Blues were in the ascendancy. But in the end, the changes were also a factor in the away success as tension built at the death.
“I stopped myself because we had creativity on the pitch, I thought we were unlucky to go a goal down so I held back and thought ‘let’s leave this a little bit longer’ and let these boys grow back into the game, and they did that.
“We were pushing and sometimes it (conceding) gives you that little extra boost to quicken up and force the issue a little bit.
“I was pleased with the way we played the game. But to be a goal down away from home at a place like Blackburn – they were a top eight team last season, not relegation fodder, a proper Championship outfit – and to come back and win it the way we did was something pretty special.”
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