Blackburn Rovers leaped from 12th to seventh in the congested Premier League table following a comfortable 2-0 home win over West Bromwich Albion on Sunday.
A bizarre headed own-goal by Gabriel Tamas and a scorching drive by David Hoilett took Blackburn to 31 points. The next nine clubs are separated by only five points, including West Brom in 15th place, three points above the relegation zone.
Blackburn dominated from the start and only good goalkeeping by Boaz Myhill kept them at bay.
Photo: AFP
However, he was left helpless after 41 minutes when defender Gabriel Tamas, attempting a straightforward clearing header, sent the ball in the opposite direction and into his own net.
More poor defending just after the restart gave Hoilett time and space on the edge of the box and the 20-year-old Canadian lashed a fierce drive beyond Myhill.
West Brom improved and their best chance should have come midway through the half when Peter Odemwingie was brought down in the box, only for the free-kick to be given outside.
“It was clearly a penalty, it could have got us back into the game, but we don’t seem to be getting clear decisions in the last couple of weeks,” West Brom boss Roberto Di Matteo told Sky Sports. “We have to work on our mistakes and improve, and we need to get some points under our belt.”
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