West Bromwich Albion 1-1 Blackburn Rovers: Ben Brereton Diaz rescues point for visitors

Ben Brereton Diaz's 11th goal of the season was his first in three months

Ben Brereton Diaz smashed in a late free-kick to end his personal goal drought and rescue a point for Blackburn Rovers against West Bromwich Albion.

Albion substitute Jayson Molumby's 73rd-minute header looked to have earned the Baggies all three points.

But John Swift was adjudged to have brought down Lewis Travis on the edge of the Baggies box in the 89th minute - and Brereton Diaz exacted full punishment from 20 yards with an explosive right-foot shot that debutant Albion keeper Josh Griffiths got a hand to but could not keep out.

It was the first home goal Albion had conceded in more than 13 hours of football since Carlos Corberan's first game in charge at The Hawthorns in October.

The Baggies boss made four changes following Friday's disappointing display in the 2-0 derby defeat by Birmingham City at St Andrew's.

New loan signing Nathaniel Chalobah was brought in for his first start, Swift and top scorer Brandon Thomas-Asante were recalled - and an even more key change was made in goal.

Jayson Molumby (second right) headed Albion in front for his second goal of 2023

Having recalled Griffiths from loan at Portsmouth during the January window, he brought in the 21-year-old ex-Cheltenham and Lincoln loan keeper for his Albion debut, on his 100th EFL appearance in place of the confidence-sapped David Button.

Griffiths was brought into action in only the third minute when he made a fine save from Brereton Diaz.

But for the rest of the first half Albion were the better side, twice going close in quick succession from Swift right-wing corners when Darnell Furlong's header was parried by Aynsley Pears, before Okay Yokuslu's header was deflected just wide.

Thomas-Asante powered a 25-yard dipper just over, then from the Albion top scorer's looping cross Swift's acrobatic scissors kick only just cleared the bar.

After appearing as an early second-half substitute for Chalobah, Molumby quickly made an impression when his left-foot shot cannoned off the left upright within four minutes of coming on.

But when Blackburn failed to clear their lines and Furlong clipped a neat far-post cross, although Yokuslu's header was saved, Molumby was this time not to be denied.

He was first to the rebound to nod in from close range - and that looked like it might be enough to claim a deserved victory until Brereton Diaz showed his class.

After Molumby lost possession upfield, Rovers might have been a bit lucky to be awarded the free-kick for Swift's challenge. But it was the Chile international's first goal since 9 November - and the first time Rovers have come from behind to get a result since April.

Who's next?

Albion, who stay 10th in the Championship on 45 points, now go to former Baggies boss Slaven Bilic's Watford next Monday night, to face the team just two points above them.

Blackburn, a point higher in eighth, are at home to Swansea City on Saturday.

Albion boss Carlos Corberan told BBC Radio WM:

"We lost two points. A mistake cost us.

"Jayson Molumby twice lost the ball in midfield but I was happy with the rest of his actions.

"We have to analyse what we did well and what we did not do well.

"Josh Griffiths was ready to come in. I made the decision to pick him."

Blackburn boss Jon Dahl Tomasson told BBC Radio Lancashire:

"After the circumstances and being behind in the 89th minute, of course it's brilliant to score.

"We all knew West Brom's home record has been excellent.

"But I asked my players to be brave on the ball. We defended extremely well, and we could also have won it.

"It was a big, big effort for the boys. Great to see that they were believing that they could come back."