McCarthy goes from hero to zero against Baggies

South Africa star Benni McCarthy was both the hero and villain for Blackburn Rovers in a see-saw 2-2 draw away to West Bromwich Albion.

The forward opened the scoring from the penalty spot before his sending-off for a second bookable offence left the visitors a man down for more than an hour at The Hawthorns here Saturday.

Rovers, however, held on and it was until the 55th minute that West Brom drew level through Roman Bednar. A second goal from Ishmael Miller put the Baggies in front before Keith Andrews equalised in the 89th minute.

Mark Hughes's men went ahead in the 13th minute when Ryan Donk conceded a penalty after tugging the shirt of Rover striker Jason Roberts.

McCarthy made no mistake from the spot, his powerful shot beating the outstretched hand of England goalkeeper Scott Carson.

That, however, was as good as it got for McCarthy. Already booked for a dangerous sliding challenge of Jonathan Greening, the former Manchester United midfielder, he saw red after appearing to deliberately control the ball with his arm.

West Brom couldn't make their man advantage count in the first-half but did so 10 minutes into the second period.

Miller's pass to Bednar was received by the Czech international on the edge of the box and the forward kept his composure before a shot arrowed in just inside the right post.

And a few minutes later, Greening's precise pass found Miller, whose impressive shot on the turn made it 2-1.

Blackburn boss Paul Ince, furious with referee Mike Jones for sending-off McCarthy, was celebrating at the finish, however, after Andrews grabbed a point for Rovers in fine fashion with a fierce curling shot past Carson.