Wrexham's Nathan Broadhead celebrates with Callum DoyleImage source, PA Media
Image caption,

This was the first league meeting between Wrexham and Blackburn Rovers since March 1982

Max Cleworth netted in the fifth minute of added time as Wrexham salvaged a point against Blackburn Rovers to extend their unbeaten Championship run to eight matches.

Andri Gudjohnsen headed home his fifth league goal of the campaign on 13 minutes - the first goal Wrexham had conceded in 375 minutes of Championship action.

But Cleworth deflected Nathan Broadhead's strike beyond Aynsley Pears in the final seconds of the contest at the Stok Cae Ras to earn Phil Parkinson's men a point.

The point sees Wrexham rise to ninth in the table as Rovers sit 18th.

Parkinson made two changes to the side that started Wrexham's 2-0 triumph over Bristol City as Lewis O'Brien and Matty James replaced George Dobson and George Thomason.

Ismael made one change from his side's 1-0 defeat by Queens Park Rangers as midfielder Adam Forshaw came in for Kristi Montgomery.

Wrexham edged the opening stages without troubling visiting goalkeeper Pears, but as they have done regularly on their travels this season, Rovers stunned the home crowd on the counter-attack.

Ryan Alebiosu had plenty of space on the right and his floated cross found Gudjohnsen who nodded beyond Arthur Okonkwo.

It served as a real blow for the hosts who went into the game having kept four successive league clean sheets and had not conceded first in any of their previous seven Championship fixtures.

Yuki Ohashi then failed to guide his speculative effort on target as the visitors continued to grow in confidence after taking the lead.

Wrexham's only opening of the first half saw James McClean head Ryan Longman's deep cross into the side netting - with Cleworth producing a vital block to ensure Ryoya Morishita's shot did not trouble Okonkwo.

The hosts badly needed a spark in the second half, but they were fortunate not to go 2-0 down just before the hour mark as Dan Scarr's loose pass was intercepted.

Ohashi was brilliantly denied by Okonkwo after being played through on goal by Taylor Gardner-Hickman, with Gudjohnsen firing the rebound over from close range.

Parkinson sent on Callum Doyle, Josh Windass and Dobson for Scarr, O'Brien and Ben Sheaf in the 59th minute as the Welsh side sought any kind of attacking momentum.

Kieffer Moore fired an acrobatic effort well wide, before George Pratt cleared another effort from the Wales international away from danger as the hosts ramped up the pressure.

Blackburn very nearly doubled their lead on 70 minutes in fortunate circumstances though, as substitute Makhtar Gueye's cross deflected off Cleworth and inches wide of Okonkwo's post.

Wrexham registered their first effort on target in the 84th minute as goalkeeper Pears denied Moore from point-blank range - with Cleworth's follow-up effort hitting the crossbar.

Moore then crossed for Broadhead who could only guide his effort wide, but Cleworth got a vital touch on Broadhead's last-gasp effort as the hosts snatched a point.

Media caption,

Parkinson: It’s a ‘decent’ point

Analysis: Battling Wrexham deny Rovers another glorious away day

Ahead of kick-off, Wrexham boss Parkinson warned his players against becoming complacent against a Blackburn side who have developed an impressive knack of being clinical and effective on their travels.

After a slow start, Rovers silenced the home faithful with a well-worked goal, finished by Gudjohnsen.

The confidence levels of Ismael's team soared as Blackburn looked untroubled defensively and continued to threaten in attack.

They ended the first half having had just 43% of the possession, but they managed seven shots - two of which were on target - as Wrexham had just one shot in the entire opening 45.

Wrexham improved as the second half wore on, although Rovers could have been further ahead had they taken their chances.

But Parkinson's side showed a real grit to battle until the final seconds and claim what could yet be a valuable point, while also ensuring their impressive unbeaten run continued.

Post-match reaction

Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson:

"We kept going, kept plugging away and the moment eventually came. I think if it had come five minutes before, I'd have fancied us to have gone on and won the game.

"I think in the first half we were careless at times with the ball and we gave a good counter-attacking team opportunities to break on us by threading balls through when it wasn't on.

"But we upped the ante in terms of our quality level in the second period and you felt a goal was coming and it eventually did."

Blackburn Rovers head coach Valerien Ismael:

"I'm always proud of my players. I think that we made another consistent, strong away performance.

"I think we should score the second one early in the game. In the first half we had some big chances, but especially in the second half with Yuki [Ohashi]. After that it was a fight with Wrexham, it's tough to come here.

"Nonetheless, we defended well and we concede the last free-kick. First of all, it's a disgrace that the referee gave that free-kick. The Wrexham player came to me at the end of the game and said it was not a free-kick.

"Again, it's tough to take the decision. We have to defend well, the set-pieces, so it's frustrating. Otherwise it's a point, we take the point for sure against a strong opponent."

Player of the match

Number: 4 M. Cleworth
Average rating 8.04
Number: 4 M. Cleworth
Average Rating: 8.04
Number: 2 C. Doyle
Average Rating: 7.80
Number: 1 A. Okonkwo
Average Rating: 7.61
Number: 5 D. Hyam
Average Rating: 7.32
Number: 19 K. Moore
Average Rating: 7.23
Number: 7 J. McClean
Average Rating: 7.09
Number: 28 S. Smith
Average Rating: 6.95
Number: 15 G. Dobson
Average Rating: 6.90
Number: 10 J. Windass
Average Rating: 6.83
Number: 33 N. Broadhead
Average Rating: 6.76
Number: 29 R. Barnett
Average Rating: 6.61
Number: 37 M. James
Average Rating: 6.30
Number: 18 B. Sheaf
Average Rating: 6.24
Number: 47 R. Longman
Average Rating: 6.00
Number: 24 D. Scarr
Average Rating: 5.86
Number: 27 L. O'Brien
Average Rating: 5.29

After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users.

Media caption,

Parkinson: It’s a ‘decent’ point