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Referee Peter Walton blows for full-time and Blackburn take a deserved three points from a game which they could have wrapped up much earlier.
Three minutes of added time are signalled by the fouth official.
The tireless Mikele Leigertwood continues to battle hard for his team, but those efforts look to be in vain now with the final minutes of this match ticking away.
The visitors look a beaten side now and are being loudly taunted by the home support.
After that early second-half renaissance by Palace It's all Blackburn again now.
Aaron Mokoena is booked.
A flowing move from Rovers finishes with Stead smashing his shot inches wide of Kiraly's post.
Pedersen takes a bow as David Thompson comes on.
With fifteen minutes to go an improved performance from Palace so far in this second half has yet to yield a breakthrough fro the visitors and Rovers remain favourites to take the victory.
Morten Gamst Pedersen looks to work a one-two with Stead but he's just unable to stay onside and Palace are awarded a free-kick.
Steven Reid has another chance to grab Rovers second goal but his powerful effort is poorly directed and flies wide.
Dominic Matteo spurns a great chance to double the Rovers lead with a snapshot into the side-netting.
Danny Butterfield makes a crucial intervention as Stead surges through on the Palace goal.
Steven Reid floats an ambitious shot goalwards and just wide as Rovers sek to regain the ascendancy in this game.
Routledge tries to fashion some space on the edge of the Rovers penalty area but Lucas Neill gets back to make a challenge and clear.
Sandor Torghelle takes to the pitch to replace Dougie Freedman.
Andy Johnson shows his pace as he bears down on the Rovers goal, forcing Brad Friedel swiftly off his line to collect the ball.
Danny Butterfield is cautioned.
Palace are pushing an extra man upfield in the opening minutes of this second half as they look to provide more of a threat in the Rovers half.
The tempo of this second period so far lacks some of the urgency on show in the first, and the entertainment levels have dropped somewhat as a result.
Brett Emerton cuts in from the right before unleashing a good left-footed strike that Kiraly does well to hold on the dive.
Wayne Routledge manages to hold off a couple of tackles as Palace attempt ot build a rare attack.
The second period has kicked off and Palace will need to improve markedly on their first-half performance if they are to get back into this game.
Kerimoglu Tugay raplaces Robbie Savage for Rovers as Palace'sTom Soares comes on for Joonas Kolkka
A Robbie Savage free-kick across the Palace goal is turned in by Pedersen as Rovers finally take the lead in first-half injury time.
One minute of injury time to be played at the end of this first period.
Savage is lucky to escape a second yellow card as he brings down Wayne Routledge with a poor tackle.
As we approach the final minutes of this half Rovers are still pressing hard for that illusive score. The home side will need to show more composure up front if they are to make the breakthrough.
It's still all Rovers in terms of possession, but Palace's resolute and stifling defence is proving enough to keep the visitors on level terms so far.
Steven Reid's strike from the resulting free-kick is true but the ball flies just wide of the watching Kiraly's post.
Morten Gamst Pedersen is on the wrong end of a late tackle from Gonzalo Sorondo, and the Palace man picks up a yellow card.
Palace are showing little attacking intent and defending in numbes every time Rovers enter their half.
No surprise to see Mr Savage pick up the first yellow card of the day.
Gonzalo Sorondo hits a speculative effort on goal but the Rovers defence react quickly to block the attempt and clear.
Brett Emerton finds himself in position to have a shot on goal, but his effort goes wide with Stead in a good position on his shoulder.
Robbie Savage finds Ryan Nelsen whose strike smacks against the post and wide with Kiraly well beaten.
Dougie Freedman gets caught late by Andy Todd and wins a free-kick for his side as Palace look to build an attack.
Stead continues his great start to the game with a fine run upfield and searching cross which the Palace defence manage to clear with Morten Gamst Pedersen bearing in on goal.
Palace are struggling to exert any influence in attack against a Rovers side who look in form tonight.
Stead has another chance to open the scoring but his tame shot from 18 yards goes wide of Kiraly's post.
Mikele Leigertwood is putting himself about in the opening minutes, proving an effective foil to the attacking play of the home side so far.
Gabor Kiraly pulls off an unbelievable save from a Jonathan Stead strike, keeping the scores level as Rovers pile on the pressure in the opening minutes.
Brett Emerton has started well for the home side, causing Palace some early problems down the right.
It's been a lively start to say the least, with both sides looking up for this one. All bodes well for an exciting game to come.
Referee Peter Walton gets the game underway at Ewood Park with Blackburn taking on a Palace side in desperate need of points as they sek to climb out of the bottom three.
Morten Gamst Pedersen's strike on the stroke of half-time was all that was needed as Blackburn Rovers beat a disappointing Crystal Palace at Ewood Park. In front of their lowest league attendance of the season Rovers made it just one defeat in ten with a 1-0 win over Iain Dowie's men. Pedersen scored his fourth league of the season in a first half where chances were of a premium. Mark Hughes made three changes from the side that faced Arsenal at the weekend. David Thompson and Garry Flitcroft were replaced by Brett Emerton and Robbie Savage, while Paul Dickov, who sustained a knee injury at Cardiff, was replaced in attack by Jonathan Stead. Michael Hughes, Andy Johnson and Mikele Leigertwood all passed late fitness tests and were fit to start while Gary Borrowdale came in for the rested Danny Granville. Stead looked the likeliest player to open the scoring coming close with two headers early in the game. On 23 minutes a fairly innocuous looking free-kick played to the far post by Dominic Matteo turned out to be the perfect ball for Ryan Nelsen. The New Zealander looked shocked to find himself unmarked inside the Palace area and was unfortunate to see his effort cannon against the upright and go out for a goal kick. Moments later and with Palace still unnerved from Nelson's effort, Emerton jinked his was through the Palace defence only for his fierce shot to find the arms of goalkeeper Gabor Kiraly. On the half hour Pedersen was brought down by Gonzalo Sorondo which resulted in the Uruguayan being booked and from the resulting free-kick Steven Reid fired narrowly wide from fully 25 yards. This should have been a warning sign for Palace and there were made to pay shortly after. On the stroke of half-time a free- kick from the left was viciously whipped in by Savage, leaving Pedersen free to pounce from inside the six-yard box and the Norwegian wasn't going to miss. Pedersen timed his run to perfection and his left-footed toe-ender at full stretch found the underside of the bar on its way into the goal. Palace's first effort of the match arrived ten minutes into the second half. Andy Johnson picked up the loose ball just inside the Rovers half and drove at the heart of the defence before unleashing a right-footed strike from 20 yards which was comfortably saved by Brad Friedel, low to his right. Johnson was at it again moments later, capitalizing on some sloppy Rovers defending and forcing a smart save from the on-rushing Friedel. Matteo came closest to doubling Rovers' lead on 66 minutes. Pedersen fired in a low cross from the left which the Rovers defender met stylishly on the volley, only for the ball to graze the sidenetting. Minutes later and it should definitely have been two. Reid met Emerton's inviting cross, but the Republic of Ireland international put his free header wide of the post when he looked destined to score. Reid and Stead had golden opportunities to seal the win in injury time, both finding themselves clean through on goal, but a nervous looking Rovers held on for the points, much to the delight of Mark Hughes. He said: "We feel that we are definitely safe now. Everyone is delighted; we've had a difficult time this season. November 20th, I think it was when we were rock bottom and so to secure our safety with a month to go is a tremendous effort. "I don't like to single people out but Andy Todd's performance tonight was fantastic," said Hughes. Eagles boss Dowie added: "I don't think we showed enough creativity up front to take anything from the game. We've got three games against big sides to come and we need to get some points. "One thing I won't do is roll over. I've not thrown the towel in yet."
Corners
Fouls
Goal attempts
Shots off target
Offsides
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