Blackburn Rovers manager Michael O'Neill has praised Super Eagles fullback Ryan Alebiosu following his standout performance in the club’s 1-1 draw against Coventry City in the Championship.

The Nigerian defender had been a major doubt for the fixture after picking up an injury during the 3-0 loss to Southampton at St Mary’s Stadium.

However, he overcame the fitness setback to play the full 90 minutes, delivering an impressive performance for Rovers.

The Nigeria International played a crucial role in Blackburn’s opening goal, unleashing a left-footed effort from the edge of the area that fell kindly to Ryoya Morishita. 

Meanwhile, Morishita made no mistake from close range, with his strike taking a slight deflection before beating goalkeeper Carl Rushworth to hand the hosts the lead.

Speaking after the match, O’Neill singled out Alebiosu for special praise, highlighting his impact on the flank.

"Tom [Atcheson] was terrific again and Ryan [Alebiosu] was fantastic on that side," O'Neill said to Blackburn's official website.

Despite the positive performance, the Blackburn boss expressed frustration at his side’s inability to see out the victory, conceding a late equaliser from a set-piece.

“We had really strong performances against the top team in the league but the disappointment was conceding from a free kick right at the end.”

Throughout the season, Alebiosu has remained a key figure for Rovers as they continue their fight to preserve their Championship status.

The former Arsenal defender has stood out on both ends of the pitch, registering one goal and four assists in 38 appearances across all competitions.

Adeyemi Adewale