Blackburn boosts hopes

Blackburn - Mauro Formica and David Hoilett gave Blackburn Rovers a Premier League lifeline with two memorable goals in a 2-0 win over Norwich City at Ewood Park on Saturday.

Formica lashed home a 40th-minute volley, while Hoilett added a second just after the restart with a 25-yard thunderbolt as Rovers ended a run of five consecutive defeats in style.

The win was not enough to lift Rovers out of the relegation zone, but Steve Kean's men are now level on points with 17th-placed Queens Park Rangers, who face Tottenham Hotspur later on Saturday.

Under-pressure Rovers coach Steve Kean was a relieved man after seeing his side take all three points in what he had billed as a must-win game.

"I said to the lads we had to win this game," Kean said. "I felt we played positively because we wanted to make sure that we could ask questions of Norwich's back four and that paid off.

"We've seen Norwich a lot this season and we felt that if we could match them in midfield we could ask questions of them later in the pitch."

Kean also praised the contribution of goalscorer Hoilett but said several of his side had distinguished themselves.

"He gives great quality - he's actually playing with a bit of an injury," Kean said of Hoilett.

"But it was difficult to pick out an individual for man of the match because there were six or seven candidates. If we keep doing that, we're going to make a good go of it."