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# Injury concern, line-ups and penalty save as Blackburn Rovers beat Strasbourg

- **Source:** 
- **Published:** 25 Jul
- **Club:** Blackburn Rovers
- **Original URL:** https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/26410048.blackburn-rovers-suffer-injury-concern-strasbourg-win/?ref=rss

Aynsley Pears and Todd Cantwell were the heroes for Blackburn Rovers after a saved penalty and decisive goal helped them beat Strasbourg 2-0.

Tony Mowbray's side tasted victory in their second game of the week, with a freak own goal in the third minute putting them ahead. Captain Cantwell then ensured victory in the final 10 minutes to double the lead.

It concluded a productive week for Rovers and their head coach, who will no doubt have learned more about his squad.

Rovers used 22 players across the game once again but there were some absentees. Mathias Jorgensen didn't feature again after picking up a knock earlier in the week. Augustus Kargbo and Connor O'Riordan also weren't in the squad either, with the latter yet to play any part in pre-season. Scott Wharton is still recovering from a thigh strain.

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The game had barely kicked off when a mix-up saw a wayward pass beat the goalkeeper and give Rovers the lead. They then had the better of the first-half moments, with Harry Pickering firing wide from open play and then going close from a free-kick.

Mowbray opted against a fully-changed XI at half-time, instead making just two switches with Yuki Ohashi taken off on his first appearance of pre-season. Dapo Afolayan also made way, with Matty Litherland forced off 10 minutes later after sustaining an injury.

The big moment of the match came just after the break, with Pears keeping Rovers ahead by saving from the spot. He dived to his left to keep out Amo-Amayaw's low spot-kick and preserve the advantage.

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From there, Rovers rung a further eight changes, finishing the final half hour with a different XI to that which started. It means across the two games, most players played a 60 and 30-minute split.

Cantwell's introduction proved important as he doubled the lead in the 84th minute. He finished into the bottom corner after a Ryan Alebiosu cross from the right, ensuring victory for Rovers.

First half XI: Pears; Litherland (Alebiosu, 55'), Carter, Pratt, Pickering; Forshaw, Garrett; Baradji, Henriksson, Afolayan (De Neve, 45'); Ohashi (Gudjohnsen, 45')

Final 30 minutes XI: Toth; Alebiosu, Atcheson, McLoughlin, Ribeiro; Tavares, Montgomery; Morishita, Cantwell, De Neve; Gudjohnsen.