Michael O
Blackburn Rovers took a valuable point against Coventry but were left with a tinge of disappointment it wasn't more.
Michael O'Neill's side matched, in fact, bettered the champions-elect with a fantastic performance. They deservedly led through Ryoya Morishita, having missed some presentable chances in the first half.
They defended their box stoically but succumbed to Coventry pressure with five minutes to go. Former Burnley man Bobby Thomas headed in the goals Coventry needed to secure their Premier League status.
For Rovers, a sense of what might have been but plenty of optimism after such an encouraging performance.
Lancashire Telegraph breaks down a spirited night at Ewood Park.
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Rovers go toe-to-toe
It would have been easy to fear another walkover when the team sheets dropped at 6:45pm. No Todd Cantwell, Adam Forshaw on the bench and the same midfield that struggled badly at Southampton.
Absolutely none of it. Having ridden an early spell of pressure, Rovers got a stranglehold of the game. They were combative, energetic and perhaps the biggest difference, fearless.
Instead of sitting back and waiting to get picked off, they pressed and engaged. Taylor Gardner-Hickman and Kristi Montgomery were far more aggressive against their opponents, with the latter almost doing a man-marking job on tempo-setter Matt Grimes.
Another huge difference, they actually looked a threat. They created some big opportunities; two for Yuki Ohashi which he could've done better with. Morishita and Yuri Ribeiro also had great sights of goal, only to be denied by last-ditch blocks.
The goal they did score actually came from arguably their worst move. It looked like the chance had gone after a poor pass but it was rescued and they got a touch of fortune with two deflections that allowed Morishita to score from close range.
Most importantly, this was not a smash-and-grab. The performance was really impressive, especially considering the schedule and how uncompetitive they'd look at times in midweek.
They defended their box brilliantly until they didn't. Thomas' header the only frustration to come from a game that they did so well to compete in.
Blackburn Rovers' Ryoya Morishita celebrates scoring the opening goal. (Image: CameraSport - Lee Parker)
Alebiosu rolls back the...months
Hello, Ryan. Welcome back.
Alebiosu was absolutely phenomenal down the right side and comfortably the best player on the pitch. Everything good about Rovers came from him.
Those first-half chances I mentioned? Alebiosu crosses. The shot that led to the goal? That man, Alebiosu. He also defended his flank really well against a tricky customer in Ephron Mason-Clark.
We have seen this level of performance before pre-Christmas. It's what earned him his call-up to the Nigeria squad for the Africa Cup of Nations.
He hasn't quite been the same since. There's a multitude of reasons for that. Let's not forget he is a young lad playing his first full season in English football. He has been available for nearly every minute and played all of them and thank goodness he has stayed fit.
This was Alebiosu at his rampaging best and in that form, he's a massive asset for Rovers. No doubt that performance on a fairly big stage will attract admirers.
Genoa tested Rovers' resolve in January. I have little doubt there will be some offers in the summer too. He has surpassed all expectations and deserves the plaudits for what has been a brilliant debut season, overall.
LISTEN: ROVERS 1-1 COVENTRY DEBRIEF
O'Neill continues to enhance his credentials
What Rovers have done under O'Neill has been nothing short of incredible, considering the context. Where the club were when he walked and the injuries he's had to manage make this a phenomenal job done so far.
They have continued the theme of pushing the big boys. That's 16 points taken against the Championship's current top six. Compared to the bottom six, it's only 11 points.
Since O'Neill walked in, it's 17 points from 13 games. That is the ninth-best record (at the time of writing) during that period. Translate across a full season, it's 60 points and comfortable mid-table. All without Lewis Miller, Hayden Carter, Scott Wharton, Sondre Tronstad, Ryan Hedges and Andri Gudjohnsen, who would all start or be big contributors at the least.
Considering they have played three games in six days, I thought the level of performance shown was fantastic. Not just in terms of digging in and behind hard to beat but showing some ambition to press Coventry and create chances.
O'Neill has undoubtedly made Rovers harder to beat. They have lost five times in those 13 games. Most notably for me, they have only conceded more than once on three occasions, which is imperative for a team that doesn't score goals.
He's made the team lower-margin but they're still winning enough games to survive. It's very similar to what John Eustace did when he saved Rovers in 2023/24. I believe, and hope, the outcome will be the same this time too.
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Edging closer to the finish line
I'm writing this before the action has kicked off on Saturday so we don't know how important that point will be. But considering someone has to drop points between Portsmouth and Leicester City, I think it'll be a good one.
Regardless, Rovers have it in their own hands with a five-point buffer (again, time of writing). I said before this week that two points from their next three fixtures, leaving them on 50 before final day, is a scenario I would take.
I stand by that, whatever happens. But after a performance like that, Rovers can beat Sheffield United on Wednesday night, no doubt. The challenge, as it has been all season, is finding consistency.
If Rovers were on 52 points, it would be improbable, if not mathematically impossible, to go down. For the efforts from O'Neill and those available since he arrived, they deserve to stay in the division.