Premier League - Vital win for ten-man Blackburn
Blackburn Rovers secured a highly valuable 3-1 home win over Fulham thanks to goals from Morten Gamst Pedersen, David Dunn and Mauro Formica, after Steve Kean's side recovered from the early first half sending off of Aiyegbeni Yakubu to put in an impressive display.
The striker was given a straight red for a challenge on Danny Murphy after 23 minutes, but a rousing response from Rovers saw Pedersen give them the lead right on the stroke of half time from a free-kick.
Dunn doubled the lead less than a minute into the second half before Damien Duff scored against his former club to give Fulham some hope. Martin Jol’s side were unable to make their numerical advantage count however and substitute Formica sealed the victory with just over ten minutes remaining to deliver an important three points for the under-pressure Kean.
After a relatively uneventful opening 20 minutes the game sprung into life when Bobby Zamora struck the top of the right post with a looping header, having been Fulham’s most impressive and active player. Moments later Blackburn’s task was made all the more difficult by a sending off for their top scorer Yakubu.
The striker went in high with his studs up, catching Murphy and leaving referee Anthony Taylor with little choice but to pull out the red card. Kean was forced into a tactical change as he introduced David Goodwillie in the place of Radosav Petrovic, one of his two substitutions that would prove instrumental in Rovers’ victory.
Paul Robinson’s excellent reflex save to deny Philippe Senderos maintained parity as half time approached, but Pedersen then struck with the last kick of the half from a set piece. Murphy’s push on Dunn set Pedersen up and when David Stockdale took a step in the wrong direction it left the Fulham goalkeeper unable to stop the Norwegian’s effort from giving Rovers the advantage.
Dunn struck just 56 seconds into the second half when he followed up a blocked Junior Hoilett shot with a rasping effort, and things were looking good for the home side. However, Duff’s similarly controlled effort ten minutes later pulled one back for Fulham as the Irishman put away his 50th Premier League goal, one which also means Blackburn have now conceded in all their 21 league games this season.
Fulham continued to push but Blackburn were dangerous on the counter attack, and Formica – on in place of Dunn – was presented an opportunity by Steven N’Zonzi whose inspired scooped pass over the Fulham back line set the Argentine up.
He obliged with a cool finish, making it 3-1 as Blackburn successfully saw out the last ten minutes to take only their third win this season at Ewood Park.
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I see we have a plethera (thats alot john.k?) of bids in for top players this month so far?? anyone heard of anything other than an old sub Johnson who cant get a game with Fulham?? despite them being the worst side seen at Ewood this season!!
Ronaldo, Ronadinho,Beckam,Raul anymore???? Teves perhaps!!
hrm stay up it is between 5 teams looking at boltons next 5 games lucky to get a point. Going to get some stick here, but for me it is the owners and walkers trust for selling to these muppet's sure kean is out is depth the team do appear to play for him the owners are a joke will we bring in new players no so kean is turning to youth hanley, lowe ext is starting to show promise yesterday we win with 10men so credit. wankys need to talk fans or sell no in fact sell they nothing about football so get out
Hi John, I hope your right pal but still cant see the way forwards with these idiots in charge 1 win against a very very poor Fulham side wont stop the slide in reality, seem to remember idiot that i am that the last few times we played we had all the points??
Think you might make the play offs with a bit of luck but I reckon the championship is probebly the hardest league to get out off, need some young players and a few old heads with experience Eddie seems to be looking at next year??.
Hello johnkiller old bean seems youve been absent these last few weeks won one and on the site again next thing you will be saying champions league football like bumble i might be an idiot?? but at least im consistant not like you "sing when your winning" ha ha.
You must be the only Kean admirer left at Ewood. besides the inmates at brockhall and calderstones!
Get a life face up to reality and open your eyes!! collect your giro and wake up smell the coffee if you can afford it!!
steve-hate to say it but I think you b@stards will stay up. I also think you will deserve to because you're playing better quality football than for some time- hard for you boring ewood fans to accept some excitement in your lives I know but stay up cos the clarets will need the six points off you next year
Steve f your not a fan, your an idiot.
Told you all get on big today Dempsey hat trick Zamora a couple and the goalkeeper a couple!!!
Three very pertinent facts stated here that underlines the problems at Ewood:-
1) Could be the first PL side to go 21 games without keeping a clean sheet
2) We have lost 6 of the last 7 games at Ewood
3) We have won just 3 of our PL games this season and had to score 3 or more in each match
4) We have dropped more points from winning positions than any other team in the top flight
Time for change, i think?
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