GARY Bowyer insisted Jordan Rhodes had nothing to apologise for after his missed penalty cost Blackburn Rovers the chance of a Roses win over his former club Huddersfield Town yesterday.

The usually reliable Rhodes dragged his 61st-minute penalty past the post as he passed up the chance to mark his 100th league appearance for Rovers with his sixth goal in five matches against the Terriers following his club record £8m move from the John Smith’s Stadium to Ewood Park in August 2012.

But with Josh King and captain Grant Hanley also wasting excellent chances Bowyer made it clear that his star striker, who was visibly upset coming off the pitch, needn’t have said sorry to his team-mates after the 0-0 draw.

“Jordan Rhodes has won us many a game and he will win us many more in the future,” said the Rovers boss, who was ‘delighted’ at his side’s second clean sheet of the campaign.

“He’s majorly disappointed in there and he’s apologised but he’s got nothing to apologise for.

“I didn’t think it was just about the penalty.

“Their goalkeeper in the second half was outstanding, pulling off three or four top-class saves, and we’ve had chances throughout the game again.

“We’ve had a week of it in that sense, in terms of the Watford game and even at Rotherham United on Tuesday we created chances in the second half, so we’ve got to be more ruthless.”

Rovers will go into the international break in 12th in the Championship after picking up just two points from their matches with Watford, Rotherham and Huddersfield over the past week.

In contrast the revitalised Terriers claimed seven points from their own triple header.

Huddersfield boss Chris Powell, whose team came into the game on the back of wins over Millwall and Wolves, said: “I’ve got to be pleased after the week we’ve had – seven points is a very good return for us.

“The resilience and commitment from the players was there for all to see. We earned the luck really.

“Blackburn are a decent side. They had a lot more possession, especially at the beginning of the second half, but we hung in there and actually could have nicked it.

“I’ve got to be very proud of our efforts.”