BLACKBURN were left cursing Nathan Blake's dismissal and some indecisive defending after squandering a two-goal lead with 15 minutes left, Tony Mowbray earning Ipswich a share of the spoils in injury time.

Only three days have passed since Brian Kidd's departure from the Blackburn managerial hot-seat and already there is a long line of potential successors. The postponement of Rovers' game at Birmingham next Saturday due to international commitments has given Jack Walker a two-week shopping window, but so far the chairman has given nothing away. Ex-Wimbledon boss Joe Kinnear, Graeme Souness, Roy Evans, Colin Todd, Bobby Gould, and Rovers old boy Derek Fazackerley are in contention.

One man favouring a swift appointment is the only person to have declared he does not want the job, temporary incumbent Tony Parkes. Caretaker manager at Ewood Park for the fifth time, Parkes promised changes in team selection. And he delivered by axing seven players from the side which faced Queens Park Rangers last week.

After sacking Kidd on Wednesday, Walker criticised his players and then barred them from any public response. If they resolved to reply on the pitch, they wasted no time making their point. Catching Ipswich cold, they scored within 27 seconds, Lee Carsley heading home from 10 yards after Ashley Ward had nodded back Simon Grayson's long throw.

Though they played a passing game with pace, a combination of poor finishing and Ipswich goalkeeper Richard Wright meant Rovers had to wait until the 66th minute to extend their lead.

Ipswich started the second half brightly, forcing two saves by Alan Kelly from Mick Stockwell and Matt Holland, but referee Graham Laws did not hesitate to award the home side a penalty when Ward was hauled down by Mark Venus, with Carsley converting the spot-kick.

Rovers never appeared comfortable despite their two-goal lead. Ipswich inevitably counter-attacked and Carsley turned culprit when he twice failed to clear decisively in his own area. His second miskick dropped perfectly for Holland to hit a fierce volley past Kelly from 20 yards.

Though Venus blazed a penalty over the bar five minutes later, Blackburn were reduced to 10 men and, in injury time, allowed Mowbray to grab an equaliser from another fluffed clearance.

Daily Telegraph