Source: Telegraph
Blackburn Rovers 1 Hull City 0: match report
Three straight home victories have given Blackburn Rovers a sense of safety as they moved within just nine points of the tally of 40 that Sam Allardyce craves. [LNB]They were good value for this latest win, secured against a Hull City team that was reduced to 10 men by George Boateng's sending off before the interval, thanks to a Martin Olsson effort that flew in off goalkeeper Boaz Myhill. [LNB] Related ArticlesPremier League tablePremier League actionPremier League fixturesTelegraph player raterHull may settle with Duffen out of courtSport on televisionEven without the suspended Chris Samba, Blackburn still offer a major threat from set pieces and Myhill was forced into a fine one-handed save after Ryan Nelsen glanced goal-wards from Morten Gamst Pedersen's free kick. [LNB]Paul Robinson showed similar form when he pushed a low effort from Jan Venegoor of Hesselink around the post after fine work from Stephen Hunt on the edge of the area. [LNB]But Blackburn took a deserved lead when Pedersen clipped in behind the Hull defence and Olsson out-paced Craig Fagan and managed to beat Myhill from a narrow angle, with the goalkeeper credited with an own goal. [LNB]On two occasions, Olsson, previously without a goal in the Premier League, threatened to extend the advantage, with a thumping header that was gratefully held by Myhill and a speculative header after Steven Mouyokolo failed to clear Pedersen's long throw. [LNB]Referee Lee Probert had won friends in East Yorkshire for giving them a penalty in strange circumstances in the 1-1 draw with Manchester City earlier this season but they were enraged when the same official sent off Boateng just before the interval. [LNB]The veteran midfielder challenged Pedersen for a ball in the air and appeared to catch the Norwegian with his fore-arm before the pair clashed heads and when he finished receiving treatment, he was shown a red card. [LNB]Olsson, Pedersen and Steven Nzonzi each threatened for Blackburn after the restart, before Myhill produced a low stop from Brett Emerton. [LNB]Myhill again kept his team in the match by pushing Gael Givet's header on to the bar in the closing stages. [LNB]
