Pedersen rocket inspires Rovers to welcome win

A stunning goal by Norwegian international Morten Gamst Pedersen set up Blackburn for an crucial 2-1 victory against fellow Premier League strugglers Wigan here on Saturday.

Pedersen opened the scoring in the 58th minute against the run of play and veteran striker Jason Roberts added a second shortly afterwards before Frenchman Charles N’Zogbia got one back for the visitors with his third Premier League goal of the season.

Victory for Rovers – only their second league win in 10 games – lifted them out of the bottom three and pushed Wigan into the relegation places.

Wigan had dominated the first-half with seven shots on target to Rovers dreadful statistic of just one, a speculative long range effort by Australian Brett Emerton.

Wigan manager Roberto Martinez, who said he really wanted a win to honour the memory of former club coach John Benson who died last week, saw his side pepper the hosts goal without getting the goal they deserved.

However, Jordi Gomez and Hugo Rodallega found an immovable obstacle in former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson, who came to his side’s rescue time and again as his defence disappeared completely.

However, the visitors paid for their misses and Robinson’s brilliance as the hosts scored against the run of play through Gamst Pedersen with a superb long range effort that beat Ali Al Habsi all hands up in the Wigan goal.

Rovers doubled their lead with a much more mundane effort nine minutes later as Roberts tapped in at close range.

Wigan, though, deservedly got back into the match as N’Zogbia finally found a way past Robinson as his fine rasping shot from outside the penalty area hit the back of the net.