Blackburn keeper David Raya has been part of the side that’s taken four points from the last two games to give Rovers realistic hope of avoiding relegation into League 1 – but there’s still A LOT of work to be done.
Injury to former Middlesbrough keeper Jason Steele, against Barnsley, meant Raya returned to the side for the win over Nottingham Forest and he helped Blackburn to an Easter Monday draw with relegation rivals Bristol City.
Raya’s involvement is the first he’s managed under Tony Mowbray, his first football since the FA Cup against QPR back in January in fact – this has drawn praise from the boss.
Mowbray told the Official Website: ‘He has done very, very well. I do like his alertness, his speed of movement and thought, his distribution is quick.’
Adding: ‘It always helps when your goalie makes saves. I’ve always been a coach that every goalie makes saves, but it isn’t necessarily about saving shots that makes you a good goalkeeper, it is your distribution, it is your ability to come for crosses and take pressure off the defence, it is your communication skills, it is different things really.’
That did make me laugh when Mowbray said ‘it always helps when your goalie makes saves.’ Erm, isn’t that what a keeper is meant to do Tony? But we know what the Blackburn boss meant didn’t we?
It isn’t clear if Steele’s ankle injury will clear up in time for the trip to Wolves at the weekend? If he’s fit Mowbray wasn’t giving much away about who would be the Blackburn no.1 at Molineux.
Mowbray finished: ‘He’s done well, he looks alert, he looks bright, and we’ll see if he continues. We’ll have to wait and see what Jason Steele’s situation is and we’ll make them decisions when we have to.’
Raya or Steele? Well, they do say the man with the gloves is the one who is in a position to lose this place. Has Raya, 23, done anything to suggest he shouldn’t keep his place at Wolves regardless?
