MARK Hughes was delighted with his sides display that very nearly earned three points against Manchester United at Ewood Park.
Rovers were heading to an unexpected victory over the champions in waiting after Roque Santa Cruz had but them in front, but Carlos Tevez broke the home fans hearts two minutes from time, heading home a Nani corner.
"We put in a huge effort and it would have been nice to have been able to achieve the three points but it wasn't to be," said boss Mark Hughes on Radio Rovers after the game.
"We aren't the only side that United have come back at the death against so we can't beat ourselves up too much because I thought the performance was really exceptional today, I thought each and everyone of them stood up to be counted."
Whilst Hughes kept with the same eleven that faced Liverpool six days earlier, the formation certainly raised a few eyebrows, Reid at right back, Emerton in the centre, Roque on the right wing with Bentley in a roaming role behind Roberts, and it certainly worked as Rovers restricted the table toppers to only a handful of chances, not many teams do that.
"We had a game plan," admitted Hughes, "I think for most part it really caused them a problem, tactically we got it right but the players have to work hard to make it work and that is credit to them.
"We stopped them attacking in the positions that they usually do, they like to attack centrally and we restricted them in that respect and kept them in areas that they couldn't really hurt us.
"All-in-all a really accomplished performance I felt."
Rovers have often fallen victim to late goals against them from United, and this afternoon was no exception, but the Rovers boss is adamant that the corner shouldn't have been given in the first place.
"Brad has been able to make a fantastic save and Tevez kicks it out basically, it hits his knee and goes out so it should have been a goal kick.
"But we switched off on the corner, Scholes has drifted in and the smallest guy on the pitch gets the first contact and the second smallest gets it in so that is frustrating.
"But we aren't going to beat ourselves up, I thought we were excellent."
