English Premiership: As Dwight Yorke, a second-half substitute for Birmingham City, warmed up on the touchline of his former club last night, some Rovers fans are alleged to have taunted him with monkey chants, racist comments and obscene gestures.
"They racially abused Dwight and he is very upset and angry," said Steve Bruce, the Birmingham manager. "It's two sad people, but it's sick, unforgivable and totally unacceptable. I did not hear anything myself, but Dwight told me it was monkey taunts and something similar to the abuse the England players received in Spain last week."
The depressing fall-out will divert attention from Mark Hughes' match-altering input. The knack of making inspired substitutions has saved many a managerial career and the Blackburn manager's demonstration of the art retrieved a valuable point.
His side remain bottom of the league but Hughes's immediate horizon brightened when, 11 minutes into the second half and with Rovers 3-1 down, he sent David Thompson on into the midfield in place of the ineffective Tugay.
Thompson created a goal for Steven Reid with his first touch before helping conjure Paul Gallagher's equaliser.
Some Rovers fans questioned the wisdom of their manager's request that the naturally right-sided Brett Emerton swap wings with Reid, but it enabled them to enjoy the best of beginnings.
Julian Gray, Birmingham's left back, has been much lauded of late, but, when Reid dodged him down the flank, everyone was reminded that Gray is naturally a winger. Paul Dickov stepped over the resultant low cross, permitting Matt Jansen to redirect it beyond Maik Taylor.
However, Birmingham's equaliser arrived after David Dunn, a former Rover, slipped as he attempted to trap the ball. It left the unmarked Darren Anderton, looking suspiciously offside, to poke it past Brad Friedel.
And they swiftly gained the lead when Mario Melchiot delivered a cross that Reid only partially cleared. The ball dropped for Robbie Savage to volley home from close range.
Another burst down the wing from Melchiot prefaced City's third, the right back centering for Clinton Morrison to step over and Dunn to convert.
Thompson's first act was to lob an impeccably judged pass to Reid, whose shot was deflected off Matthew Upson, leaving the wrong-footed Taylor helpless.
And the draw was secured when, after first a penalty seemed likely when Kenny Cunningham wrestled Dickov to the ground, the ball spun free for Gallagher to apply the finishing touch.
In desperation, Bruce sent Yorke on - to resounding choruses of "only one lazy bastard".
If that could be construed as legitimate banter, no one can condone what preceded it.
Guardian Service
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