Sheffield Wednesday manager Tony Pulis slams 'utterly ridiculous' defending which led to Blackburn Rovers' equalising goal

Adam Reach's 41st-minute stunner gave the Owls the lead against the run of play at Ewood Park on Saturday afternoon, and a disciplined rearguard action seemed to have the Championship strugglers on their way to a vital away win.

That was until Joe Rothwell was allowed to waltz into the visitors' box near-enough unchallenged and slide the ball past Kieran Westwood to level matters 14 minutes from time.

And, while pleased with his players overall defensive display, Pulis was far from happy with what happened in the build-up to Rovers' goal.

"I'm really disappointed [with Blackburn's equaliser] but we will talk about it tomorrow, we'll analyse it," the Wednesday manager said.

"That's twice now that people have backed off. Against Norwich people backed off and Norwich did similar to us.

"Around the edge of the box, we've got to get up to get up to the ball and squeeze inside the pitch. They've got to be really really brave in their decision-making to get to the ball.

"I think that he [Rothwell] is inside the box when he side-foots it in, which is completely and utterly ridiculous.

"But, having said that, for the rest of the time, apart from them hitting the post from a hopeful ball into the box which drops, I thought we handled them really well and Westy [Westwood] didn't really have a lot to do."

Saturday's draw keeps Wednesday second-from-bottom of the Championship, though Pulis admitted that he would have settled for a point before kick-off against the second-most potent side in the division.

He was however disappointed to see his players once again conspire to surrender a lead.

"Ever since I've come in, the players have given everything that they've got, they have worked very hard today against a good Blackburn team - they've got some good players, they are always a threat and overall you're pleased to take a point," the Owls chief added.

"You'd have taken a point before the game, but then that's the fifth time that we've been winning and not seen it out, which is a real concern in lots of ways really.

"We've had chances at the other end to make it 2-0 and then that finishes the game."