Monday 6 October 2014 11:25, UK
Blackburn Rovers boss Gary Bowyer refused to blame Jordan Rhodes who missed a penalty in a 0-0 Sky Bet Championship draw with Huddersfield Town.
The former Terriers striker missed a golden opportunity to mark his 100th league appearance for Rovers with a goal but to everybody's surprise, he put his 61st-minute penalty wide of the left-hand post.
It means that Rovers have won just once in their last five but it is a game they should have won comfortably, with Josh King, Lee Williamson and Rhodes all forcing Alex Smithies into second-half saves.
And Bowyer chose to focus on the other chances, rather than the missed spot kick.
He said: "Jordan Rhodes has won us loads of games since he's been here and he's going to win us loads more in the future. It's disappointing for the lad that he's missed it but it wasn't just down to that. We've had enough goal attempts in the game to have won easily.
"Anybody walking away from here today surely sees the effort and the passion and commitment that these players have got at this football club and we need to encourage them and support them."
It is the second consecutive home game that Rovers have largely dominated and Bowyer was left ruing his side's lack of a ruthless streak in front of goal.
"While we keep creating chances, we've got to be a little more ruthless," he said.
"With the number of goal attempts again that we've created today, we've done enough to win two games.
"There are a lot of positives for us to take from today's game. The clean sheet which we spoke about on Thursday, the importance of it. We're a young group and we're still learning about the Championship. There were times when it hasn't gone for us today."
The draw caps a fine week for Huddersfield, who have picked up seven points from visits to Wolves and Blackburn and last weekend's home match against Millwall, and Chris Powell felt his side earned the luck of a missed penalty.
He said: "After the week we've had, seven points is a very good return for us, especially with two games away at very tricky places, and the resilience and commitment from the players was there for all to see.
"I suppose we earned the luck really. I knew there'd be a response from their performance on Tuesday, and I suppose with Jordan being an ex-Huddersfield player, we've earned that luck.
"They're a decent side, they had a lot more possession especially at the beginning of the second half but we hung in there and actually could have nicked it towards the end. It's a good week for us leading up to the international break and I've got to be very proud of their efforts today."
Since Powell's appointment, Huddersfield have conceded seven goals in six league games. This is in stark contrast to the record before his arrival, when they shipped 13 in five league outings, and the manager put it down to the collective effort which earned a second clean sheet of the season.
He said: "It was a collective (effort) from the front boys all the way to the back but I'm pleased for Alex (Smithies) because I've been saying we need clean sheets.
"It was a pleasing performance and a collective effort defensively from everyone."
