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. 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.  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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Olsson, Pedersen and Steven Nzonzi each threatened for Blackburn after the restart, before Myhill produced a low stop from Brett Emerton. Myhill again kept his team in the match by pushing Gael Givet's header on to the bar in the closing stages.

Source: Telegraph