Ipswich Town 2-2 Blackburn Rovers: Paul Hurst's side salvage a point in his first Town match
- Published
Danny Graham scored 17 goals in 48 games for Blackburn last season
Tayo Edun scored a late equaliser to rescue Ipswich a point against newly-promoted Blackburn in Paul Hurst's first game in charge.
Rovers fell behind early on when Gwion Edwards headed in Freddie Sears' cross.
But Danny Graham poked in the equaliser after Ipswich failed to clear a free-kick, before Bradley Dack slotted home from Derrick Williams' pass.
Ipswich struggled to create chances as they pressed for an equaliser, before Edun's cross drifted over the Rovers defence and beyond keeper David Raya.
The hosts' cause was not helped by the absence of last season's top scorer, Martyn Waghorn, who was left out of the squad with his future at the club uncertain.
Ellis Harrison was handed a starting role up front after signing from Bristol Rovers for £750,000 in July, but it was Fulham loanee Edun who made a debut impact with a hugely fortunate first goal for the club.
At the other end, Graham and Dack continued the lethal form which helped Blackburn return to the Championship, the pair having combined for 32 league goals last season.
Tony Mowbray kept faith with the same side which earned promotion - substitute Kasey Palmer was the only Rovers debutant - but they were denied a first opening-day win since being relegated from the Premier League in 2012.
Ipswich manager Paul Hurst told BBC Suffolk: "The goals we conceded were very soft. [I'm] pleased in the end because of the score line and scoring at the end.
"I'm delighted for the fans, I'm pleased that we got something from the game.
"A bit of a mixed day, but overall, delighted to have managed the team and there were some characteristics shown that I want our team to be about."
Blackburn manager Tony Mowbray told BBC Radio Lancashire: "We had a fantastic chance to make it 3-1 and finish the game.
"I didn't feel as if we were going to concede, but we'll pick ourselves up, we'll work hard again in training and we'll go again next week."