Blackburn Rovers in relegation peril after ‘calamitous’ own goal from goalkeeper Aynsley Pears
Blackburn Rovers are in serious risk of relegation from the Championship after a wild own goal.
John Eustace's side went into the clash at Ewood Park knowing that victory would secure their survival in the league for next season, but in the end lost 3-1 to fellow strugglers Sheffield Wednesday.
Rovers fell behind in the sixth minute when goalkeeper Aynsley Pears was caught off his line and lobbed by Josh Windass.
Sammie Szmodics levelled moments later but Wednesday restored their lead through Marvin Johnson before a awful own goal.
Rovers defender Dominic Hyam played to ball to the feet of Pears and he attempted to launch it forward and away from danger.
However, the goalkeeper skewed his clearance and it bounced behind him before landing in his own net, despite an attempt to stop it.
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"An absolute calamitous howler at the back for Blackburn Rovers," Adam Bridge described it as on commentary for talkSPORT 2.
Former Barnsley midfielder Neil Redfearn added: "Wow, I can't believe what I've just seen there, it's a harmless ball played back to Pears.
"I mean it probably did bobble a little bit but he's got to be dealing with that, that's horrific, what a mistake.
"If Blackburn do struggle in the last few games of the season and they do go down, you've got to look back to moments like that."
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"Wow, extraordinary," Bridge later added as Blackburn went on to lose and find themselves just three points outside the Championship relegation zone.
Their final two fixtures present tough challenges as they face eighth place Coventry City and league leaders Leicester City.
Wednesday's win offered a huge boost to their hopes of survival as they climbed out of the bottom three.
Danny Rohl's side are unbeaten in four games and therefore have momentum for the final two games but only one point separates them and the relegation zone.