Tony Mowbray hails ‘talented’ Todd Cantwell after netting Blackburn winner

Manager Tony Mowbray praised his ‘talented’ captain Todd Cantwell after he scored the winning goal to cap an impressive Blackburn comeback in their 2-1 victory over Middlesbrough.

The visitors started strongly and took a deserved early lead as Jeremy Sarmiento marked his first league start since signing permanently with a well-taken goal following a flowing team move.

But after enduring a frustrating first half, which saw Ryoya Morishita’s effort cleared off the line, Blackburn turned the game on its head early in the second half with two quick goals which were a product of forcing the visitors into mistakes.

First, Andri Gudjohnsen netted his third goal in all competitions this season by heading home Harry Pickering’s corner before Cantwell made the match-winning contribution, arriving with perfect timing to meet Ryan Alebiosu’s cross with a powerful diving header.

Mowbray said: “I like Todd Cantwell. The games I came to watch last year, I think technically he was very good with the ball. If anything, he would drift into areas and I’m thinking he’s not going to hurt the goalie.

“I’ve spent a bit of time talking to him really. He has to assist; he has to score. If he doesn’t assist and score, it doesn’t matter how good you are with the ball, you can’t play in the team if you’re playing number 10 because a number 10 in any team in the world has to assist and score goals.

“He’s taken that on board very much so to the point of a brilliant cross and run against Burton for our winning goal. Today he scored a brilliant goal himself. He’s listening which is really pleasing for me because he is a talented boy.

“I’m really pleased with Todd that he’s getting into them areas where he can affect the goal, helping the team score and scoring himself.”

It was a frustrating afternoon for Middlesbrough and although Kim Hellberg described the display as a ‘big step forward’, he bemoaned ‘weak defending’ which cost his team.

He said: “I think the performance was a big step forward to be fair from the last game. I’m disappointed we’re 1-0 up in the first half and don’t get anything from here.

“I think the first half is OK. We should be happy to be 1-0 up even if I think it’s an even first half.

“Then there are 10 minutes of weak defending and bad positioning where they score their two goals. Blackburn do a lot with very few opportunities but when they get those opportunities they make a lot from it.

“The 10 minutes of defending is not close to being good enough. I’m frustrated but I can also understand we are not where we want to be.”