Source: Eurosport
Rovers home in on Prem safety
Blackburn eased their relegation fears on Sunday afternoon with a crucial 2-0 win over Lancashire neighbours Wigan at Ewood Park.Benni McCarthy converted a corner in first-half stoppage time and Ryan Nelsen headed home a second-half free-kick to fire Sam Allardyce's troops into 15th place and six points clear of the drop zone.Wigan gave the home side a mighty scare as early as the third minute when Antonio Valencia broke past Stephen Warnock on the right and floated a shot over Paul Robinson which crashed away off the underside of the bar.Rovers came close when Morten Gamst Pedersen flashed a ball across the box and once again the lurking Christopher Samba, playing up front, just failed to get the crucial touch in front of goal.Wigan had a lucky escape in the 23rd minute when Pedersen's deep cross eluded everybody until it fell to El Hadji Diouf at the far post, and his header goalwards was booted off the line despite Lee Cattermole slipping as he did so.However just as the half seemed destined to end in stalemate, McCarthy rose to meet Pedersen's corner in the final minute of the half and converted a priceless opener with his shoulder past Chris Kirkland.Samba headed just wide 10 minutes into the second half before Rovers keeper Robinson was alert to keep out a shot from Ben Watson.But Rovers doubled their lead from another set-piece. McCarthy's devilish free-kick from the left was flicked on and into the net by Nelsen.Wigan almost immediately reduced the arrears after the impressive Robinson was forced to save Emmerson Boyce's effort at point-blank range before turning away Antonio Valencia's drive.Robinson was then down brilliantly to his left to save low shot from Hugo Rodallega and sub Keith Andrews cleared a shot off the line late on as the home side collected the points.[LNB]
