Mowbray says disallowed goal 'embarrassing'

Blackburn Rovers missed a point at home to Stoke City after a disallowed Andri Gudjohnsen header erased a 2‑1 deficit in the 87th minute, ending their three‑game winning run on the ground and leaving manager Tony Mowbray under pressure in the league.

Disallowed goal sparks controversy

Rovers had pulled one back to make it 2‑1 on 87 minutes and believed they had levelled when Gudjohnsen powered home a header, but referee Andrew Kitchen ruled out the goal for mild contact with Stoke defender Ben Wilmot, ending the home streak.

Mowbray told BBC Radio Lancashire, “Having watched it back, the disallowed goal is embarrassing really. The referee gets it hugely wrong.” He added that supporters come to see entertainment and goals and that he could not understand the decision, questioning the referee’s hand‑up and the nature of the contact. He criticised the inconsistency of officials, recalling a recent West Brom match where Gudjohnsen was pushed, a penalty awarded and the game later won.

The opening goal came just before half‑time when American midfielder Jack McGlynn struck a long‑range left‑foot free‑kick that beat keeper Balazs Toth, whose attempt to recover at the near post resulted in an unlucky own goal. Mowbray warned he had cautioned about McGlynn’s “wand of a left foot” all week and urged his side to cover the goal. He concluded that most of the performance was good enough to have won the game, urging the players to take the disappointment on the chin.