Kean revels in ´exceptional´ first-half display

Blackburn manager Steve Kean praised his side’s first-half performance after taking all three points against Queens Park Rangers on Saturday.

Goals in the opening 45 minutes from Yakubu Aiyegbeni, Steven N’Zonzi and Junior Hoilett capped a fine start for home side Blackburn in the English Premier League match at Ewood Park.

The strong showing from the hosts appeared to suggest they had quickly shrugged off a 7-1 thrashing at the hands of Arsenal last time out.

“I felt the first-half display was really exceptional and I think we put to bed the disappointment of the Arsenal game,” Kean said.

“We worked really hard defensively this week trying to press the ball and keep a high line and I thought first half they were brilliant.”

“Then we had the Yakubu chance when he hit the bar that could have taken it to four and … after that QPR felt like they had nothing to lose.”

“They started throwing everything at us, they changed their shape and I think after the first goal went in we had a bit of a wobble … which I think is understandable considering how many youngsters we had in the side.”

QPR boss Mark Hughes was returning to the ground where he began his Premier League management career in 2004, but he left Ewood Park ruing their bad start to the game.

“You can’t give any Premier League team a three goal head-start,” he said.

“The contrast to the second half was marked and there shouldn’t be that difference in performance in my view, first half wasn’t acceptable and second half we take a little bit of comfort from that to be honest.”

“But you can’t give a team a three-goal lead and expect to get back on level terms.”

“But in fairness we very nearly did it and that gives the players credit but they have to understand if you are going to win games then you can’t be fundamentally flawed in the first half.”