Blackburn 2 - 0 West Brom

Blackburn rode their luck to beat a battling West Brom as they moved up to seventh in the Premier League table.West Brom defender Gabriel Tamas headed into his own net from David Dunn's cross on 41 minutes. The impressive David Hoilett then burst on to a Nikola Kalinic lay-off to smash past Boaz Myhill to double the lead just after half-time.But the visitors were unfortunate when Peter Odemwingie was brought down in the box only to be given a free-kick. Blackburn midfielder Jermaine Jones fouled the Nigerian forward and television replays showed he was very close to spoiling his debut in an otherwise notable performance. The hosts also had Paul Robinson to thank for a string of saves, three of them coming against Jerome Thomas, who gave Michel Salgado a torrid time down the left flank.Blackburn boss Steve Kean will be pleased with a scoreline that slightly flattered his team and he would have been impressed by Jones and Roque Santa Cruz who were both making their first starts for the club. But for West Brom it was further evidence they are struggling to arrest a slide down the table where they are now three points above the relegation zone after their sixth loss in seven league matches. Robinson played a huge part in thwarting manager Roberto di Matteo's side and was in action as early as the first minute when he saved Odemwingie's breakaway shot. And the former England goalkeeper did well to block Thomas's effort soon after, in a battle which was to run throughout the compelling contest.American international Jones, who signed from German side Schalke last week, was looking accomplished in the Rovers midfield with Hoilett and Martin Olsson also keen to penetrate down the flanks.But even though that trio were the chief architects of the hosts' momentum, it was from the long throw-ins of Morten Gamst Pedersen that they produced their first clear chances of the game. First, Olsson had a shot well saved by West Brom keeper Myhill after it came through a crowd of players, and then Chris Samba had two chances to score but his first shot was stopped and then he fired narrowly wide. As half-time approached, Kean would have been content, but his side received a gift on 41 minutes to reward their superior endeavour. Receiving the ball from Jones, Dunn found space between West Brom's midfield and defence to cross, only for Tamas to head into his own net. Roque Santa Cruz, starting his first game since leaving Manchester City, was not far away from the unfortunate West Brom defender in that instance, and he was close to doubling the lead two minutes later when Myhill saved his shot after good work by Hoilett. If the visitors were looking to get straight back into the game after half-time they were left further from their task when on 47 minutes Hoilett produced a blistering finish. Pedersen fed Kalinic in West Brom's defensive third and his chested lay-off was met on the burst by the Canadian who pelted by Tamas and smashed the ball into the top of Myhill's net. It was a wonderful way to restart the match, although many Blackburn fans would still have been settling into their seats, and Ewood Park was buoyant.Thomas, so often West Brom's most positive attacker down their left side and up against Salgado, twice almost burst the bubble of excitement around the ground but he had two efforts superbly saved by Robinson. Blackburn were the recipients of another dose of fortune when from another Thomas pass Odemwingie was brought down by Jones inside the penalty area, but referee Mark Clattenburg awarded a free-kick which Chris Brunt slammed into the wall. Despite a flurry of substitutions which ensured that the game set a new Premier League record for 22 nationalities being involved in the game, Di Matteo's team could not find a breakthrough. They will now regroup before they take on Wigan on 1 February in a match which will be of vital importance to them.