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Played
January 14, 2012 3:00 PM GMT
Ewood Park — Blackburn
Referee: A. Taylor
Attendance: 18003
January 14, 2012 3:00 PM GMT
Ewood Park — Blackburn
Referee: A. Taylor
Attendance: 18003
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| Blackburn | 2.90 | 1.53 | 2.85 | 1.01 | 3.10 | 1.04 | 3.00 | 2.85 |
| Draw | 3.35 | 2.95 | 3.30 | 26.00 | 3.25 | 11.00 | 3.45 | 3.30 |
| Fulham | 2.40 | 7.50 | 2.40 | 71.00 | 2.38 | 40.00 | 2.44 | 2.35 |
Top of the Match
Morten-Gamst Pedersen
Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers
David Dunn
Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers
Flop of the Match
Aiyegbeni Yakubu
Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers
Aiyegbeni Yakubu
Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers
Goal.com Rating 
Fans' Rating Blackburn 3-1 Fulham: Pedersen, Dunn & Formica strikes earn priceless win for Steve Kean despite early Yakubu red card
Rovers record crucial victory despite having 10 men for the majority of the game as goal-shy Fulham continue to struggle on their travels
By Alex Fisher at Ewood Park
Getty Images
Blackburn Rovers hauled themselves out of the bottom three with a convincing 3-1 victory over Fulham at Ewood Park despite having just 10 men for over an hour of the game.
It looked like it was going to be one of those afternoons for Rovers when profilic striker Yakubu was sent off in the 23rd minute, but two goals either side of half time from Morten Gamst Pedersen and David Dunn and a late strike from substitute Mauro Formica won the game for Steve Kean’s side, despite a Damien Duff strike midway through the second half.
Blackburn boss Kean was able to welcome back four first team players to his starting line-up but it was the absence of defender Chris Samba that made the biggest statement of the afternoon, fuelling speculation that he will be leaving the club shortly.
Elsewhere, Paul Robinson, Gael Givet, Martin Olsson and Junior Hoilett all returned for Rovers from the side that lost their last league game against Stoke, Samba, Mark Bunn, Adam Henley and Mauro Formica all dropping to the bench.
Fulham, meanwhile, made just one change from the side that beat Arsenal in their last Premier League outing with former Rovers midfielder Damien Duff coming in for Steve Sidwell, who dropped to the bench. Rovers target Andy Johnson started on the bench for Martin Jol’s side.
The visitors settled the better of the two teams, with Danny Murphy directing the play from the centre of midfield, but chances were few a far between as both defences remained resolute on the edge of their penalty areas.
The best chances of the opening 10 minutes actually fell to the home side, though, only for Hoilett’s effort to be easily saved by David Stockdale.
The first moment of real danger came in the 22nd minute when Fulham hit the bar through Bobby Zamora, the England striker rising to meet a right wing cross but seeing his unchallenged header strike the bar with Rovers keeper Robinson struggling to get there.
A minute later came the controversial moment of the game as Yakubu was sent off for a high challenge on Murphy. The Nigerian caught the Fulham midfielder right on his knee with his boot and referee Anthony Taylor branded a straight red card - much to the dismay of the home crowd.
And it looked like taking its toll on the hosts with the half coming to a close, only for Rovers keeper Robinson to produce a fantastic save to keep Philippe Senderos's close-ranger header out at full stretch to his right.
It proved a pivotal moment as, after a tough first half, the home side finished it in perfect fashion - with a goal.
With the game in injury time at the end of the half Murphy brought down David Dunn on the edge of the penalty area and Pedersen confidently stepped up and curled a low left footed shot around the wall and into the bottom corner of the Fulham goal to give his side the lead.
And Rovers began the second half in much the same way as they finished the first, doubling their lead through Dunn in the first minute after the break.
Neat build up play down the left saw the ball played into substitute David Goodwillie, and after the striker's shot was blocked by John Arne Riise, the loose ball fell to Dunn who fired past Stockdale from the edge of the area.
Minutes later Fulham thought they were back in the game but Clint Dempsey’s header was disallowed by the assistant referee for offside. Replays showed the American was level with the last defender
The visitors did have their goal in the 56th minute, though, and it was former Rovers star Duff who scored, the Irishman latching on to Murphy's pass across the penalty area and firing right footed into the bottom corner to give Robinson no chance.
It looked like turning the match against Rovers - but having played the majority of the second half on the counter attack using the pace of Goodwillie and Hoilett to cause all kinds of problems, with 11 minutes to go Rovers added the all-important third goal through substitute Formica, the Argentine collecting a beautiful chipped pass from Steven Nzonzi and making no mistake from 15 yards, firing low under Stockdale.
It was enough to earn Blackburn only their third home win of the season and fire them out of the relegation zone.
It looked like it was going to be one of those afternoons for Rovers when profilic striker Yakubu was sent off in the 23rd minute, but two goals either side of half time from Morten Gamst Pedersen and David Dunn and a late strike from substitute Mauro Formica won the game for Steve Kean’s side, despite a Damien Duff strike midway through the second half.
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Blackburn boss Kean was able to welcome back four first team players to his starting line-up but it was the absence of defender Chris Samba that made the biggest statement of the afternoon, fuelling speculation that he will be leaving the club shortly.
Elsewhere, Paul Robinson, Gael Givet, Martin Olsson and Junior Hoilett all returned for Rovers from the side that lost their last league game against Stoke, Samba, Mark Bunn, Adam Henley and Mauro Formica all dropping to the bench.
Fulham, meanwhile, made just one change from the side that beat Arsenal in their last Premier League outing with former Rovers midfielder Damien Duff coming in for Steve Sidwell, who dropped to the bench. Rovers target Andy Johnson started on the bench for Martin Jol’s side.
The visitors settled the better of the two teams, with Danny Murphy directing the play from the centre of midfield, but chances were few a far between as both defences remained resolute on the edge of their penalty areas.
The best chances of the opening 10 minutes actually fell to the home side, though, only for Hoilett’s effort to be easily saved by David Stockdale.
The first moment of real danger came in the 22nd minute when Fulham hit the bar through Bobby Zamora, the England striker rising to meet a right wing cross but seeing his unchallenged header strike the bar with Rovers keeper Robinson struggling to get there.
Early bath | Yakubu saw red for this challenge on Danny Murphy after 23 minutes
A minute later came the controversial moment of the game as Yakubu was sent off for a high challenge on Murphy. The Nigerian caught the Fulham midfielder right on his knee with his boot and referee Anthony Taylor branded a straight red card - much to the dismay of the home crowd.
And it looked like taking its toll on the hosts with the half coming to a close, only for Rovers keeper Robinson to produce a fantastic save to keep Philippe Senderos's close-ranger header out at full stretch to his right.
It proved a pivotal moment as, after a tough first half, the home side finished it in perfect fashion - with a goal.
With the game in injury time at the end of the half Murphy brought down David Dunn on the edge of the penalty area and Pedersen confidently stepped up and curled a low left footed shot around the wall and into the bottom corner of the Fulham goal to give his side the lead.
And Rovers began the second half in much the same way as they finished the first, doubling their lead through Dunn in the first minute after the break.
Neat build up play down the left saw the ball played into substitute David Goodwillie, and after the striker's shot was blocked by John Arne Riise, the loose ball fell to Dunn who fired past Stockdale from the edge of the area.
Minutes later Fulham thought they were back in the game but Clint Dempsey’s header was disallowed by the assistant referee for offside. Replays showed the American was level with the last defender
The visitors did have their goal in the 56th minute, though, and it was former Rovers star Duff who scored, the Irishman latching on to Murphy's pass across the penalty area and firing right footed into the bottom corner to give Robinson no chance.
It looked like turning the match against Rovers - but having played the majority of the second half on the counter attack using the pace of Goodwillie and Hoilett to cause all kinds of problems, with 11 minutes to go Rovers added the all-important third goal through substitute Formica, the Argentine collecting a beautiful chipped pass from Steven Nzonzi and making no mistake from 15 yards, firing low under Stockdale.
It was enough to earn Blackburn only their third home win of the season and fire them out of the relegation zone.
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Goal
Own Goal
Penalty
Penalty Missed
Yellow Card
Assist
Penalty Save
Penalty Shootout Goal
Penalty Shootout Miss
Yellow Card / Red Card
Red Card
Substitution IN
Substitution OUT
Injury
Goal.com Rating
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Top & Flop Global Ranking
Fans' Man of the Match
Fans' Flop of the Match
Results
Times In GMT
Match News
Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
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Robin van Persie
Striker Arsenal |
30 | 2 |
|
Wayne Rooney
Striker Manchester United |
27 | 6 |
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Kun Agüero
Striker Manchester City |
23 | 3 |
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Aiyegbeni Yakubu
Striker Blackburn |
17 | 4 |
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Emmanuel Adebayor
Striker Tottenham |
17 | 3 |
