English Premiership
West Brom edge Blackburn
2012-04-07 18:58
London -West Bromwich Albion all but assured themseves of Premier League survival with a 3-0 victory over Blackburn Rovers that pushed the visitors nearer relegation on Saturday.
Martin Olsson' seventh minute own-goal gave the Baggies, managed by former Blackburn boss Roy Hodgson, the lead before second-half efforts from Marc-Antoine Fortune and Liam Ridgewell sealed victory at the Hawthorns.
The result left West Brom 11 points above the relegation zone with six games left but kept Blackburn in the bottom three on goal difference.
Rovers substitute Anthony Modeste was sent off for violent conduct in injury time after clashing with Albion defender Billy Jones.
West Brom were on their way to a first win in five league games when defender Gareth McAuley headed Chris Brunt's ball into the box back across goal and Rovers defender Olsson sliced past keeper Paul Robinson.
Rovers were able to press forward with a Scott Dann header straight at former Birmingham team-mate and Baggies goalkeeper Ben Foster.
Junior Hoilett curled an effort wide from 20 yards out and Foster held David Dunn's low shot.
Former England keeper Foster made a fine double save in the second half to preserve West Brom's lead, denying Aiyegbeni Yakubu and then getting up quickly to block Bradley Orr's follow-up.
But Rovers' pressure counted for little when Albion extended their lead against the run of play in the 69th minute.
Brunt dispossessed Yakubu and his cross found Fortune, who drove his shot past Robinson.
And with five minutes left Albion added a third as defender Ridgewell scored his first goal for the club when he headed home an inswinging free-kick from Graham Dorrans.
Modeste's red card then compounded a bad day for Blackburn.