Albion 1 Blackburn 3

Ten-man Blackburn executed the perfect smash and grab raid on Albion to condemn the Baggies to a third straight defeat.

Nikola Kalinic's double – before he was sent off – and Mame Biram Diouf's close range header moved Rovers above Albion in the Premier League.

Jerome Thomas had levelled in the first half for an Albion side, who dominated for much of the game, before Gabriel Tamas was also sent off with three minutes left.

Paul Scharner had earlier hit the bar and Gonazlo Jara saw his follow up effort cleared off the line in the second-half, as the Baggies pressed but they couldn't find a way back.

Albion boss Roberto Di Matteo made two changes from Sunday's 2-0 defeat at Bolton, as Thomas replaced the suspended Chris Brunt while Nicky Shorey returned for Marek Cech.

But any hopes of a strong start were dashed just three minutes in when Blackburn edged ahead.

Morten Gamst Pederson's curling pass picked out Kalinic, who was just onside, to burst down the left and, with goalkeeper Scott Carson in no man's land, the striker picked his spot in the far corner.

It stunned Albion and they had been made to pay for a sluggish start but almost levelled seven minutes later.

Sharp passing between Jara and Peter Odemwingie saw the latter feed Graham Dorrans, but his angled effort was superbly turned behind by Paul Robinson.

However, the hosts were shaky at the back and Kalinic almost bagged another 15 minutes in when he fired over.

James Morrison was millimetres away from equalising soon after, when his 25-yard drive whistled wide, but Albion did level on 17 minutes.

Morrison refused to yield possession in the middle and found Somen Tchoyi on the right, for the Cameroon international to deliver a fine low cross for Thomas to turn in at the far post.

It was a fine goal and Albion began to find their rhythm, as they tried to turn the screw on Blackburn.

The Baggies started to toy with their visitors, handing out a passing lesson in the process, as they probed Rovers' defence.

Thomas curled wide after swapping passes with Morrison just after the half hour, as the home side looked on the verge of a second.

Blackburn escaped a minute before the break after the ball pinballed in their box and the visitors were relieved to hear the half-time whistle.

Away goalkeeper Robinson was replaced by Mark Bunn at the break – who was in action immediately – to parry Odemwingie's sharp near post effort behind two minutes after the restart.

But, for all Albion's good play, they found themselves behind again seven minutes after the break thanks to a classic Blackburn set-piece.

Pedersen swung in a corner from the left and, when Ryan Nelsen headed back across goal, Kalinic had a simple task of nodding in from four yards.

Carson almost presented the Croatian with a hat-trick five minutes later, when he passed straight to the unmarked striker six yards out but recovered.

However, Rovers did grab a third on 62 minutes after Pedersen and El-Hadji Diouf combined for the latter to cross for Mame Biram Diouf ,who couldn't miss.

Two minutes later and Albion were given a lifeline when Kalinic was sent off – the striker seeing red for reckless over the top challenge on Scharner.

Simon Cox immediately replaced Morrison and was instantly denied by Bunn, before putting the rebound over from close range.

Albion had the initiative but struggled to break down a stubborn Rovers defence and they were also reduced to 10 men three minutes from time.

Mame Biram Diouf turned Tamas and arrowed towards goal, only for the defender to crudely bring him down for a straight red card that ended Albion's recovery hopes.