Premier League: Blackburn 3 Fulham 1

Blackburn moved out of the relegation zone with a 3-1 victory over Fulham at Ewood Park despite playing with 10 men for over an hour.

Profilic striker Yakubu was sent off in the 23rd minute for the hosts, but goals either side of half-time from Morten Gamst Pedersen and David Dunn, tallied with a late strike from substitute Mauro Formica won the game for Steve Kean’s side, despite a Damien Duff goal midway through the second half.

The visitors settled the better of the two teams, with Danny Murphy directing the play from the centre of midfield, but chances were scarce as both defences remained resolute.

The first moment of real danger came in the 22nd minute when Fulham hit the bar through Bobby Zamora, the England striker rising to meet a right wing cross but seeing his unchallenged header strike the bar.

A minute later came the controversial moment of the game as Yakubu was sent off for a high challenge on Murphy.

The Nigerian caught the Fulham midfielder on his knee and referee Anthony Taylor brandished a straight red card.

But the home side responded strongly and opened the scoring on the cusp of half-time.

Murphy brought down David Dunn on the edge of the penalty area and Pedersen confidently stepped to curl a low shot around the wall and into the bottom corner of the Fulham goal to give his side the lead.

Rovers began the second half in much the same way as they finished the first, doubling their lead through Dunn in the first minute after the break.

Neat build up play down the left saw the ball played into substitute David Goodwillie, and after the striker’s shot was blocked by John Arne Riise, the loose ball fell to Dunn who fired past David Stockdale from the edge of the area.

The visitors found a goal in the 56th minute when Irishman Duff latched on to Murphy’s pass across the penalty area and fired into the bottom corner of Paul Robinson’s goal.

It looked like turning the match but with 11 minutes to go Rovers added the all-important third goal through substitute Formica.

The Argentine collected a beautiful chipped pass from Steven Nzonzi and made no mistake from 15 yards, firing low under Stockdale.

It was enough to earn Blackburn only their third home win of the season and fire them out of the relegation zone.