West Bromwich Albion 3 Blackburn Rovers 0 - match report

West Brom recorded a convincing victory over 10-man Blackburn at The Hawthorns to effectively make certain of their Premier League status for next season.

A Martin Olsson own-goal gave the Baggies a seventh-minute lead and Marc-Antoine Fortune and Liam Ridgewell made certain of the win with second-half strikes.

But Roy Hodgson's men had to rely on some fantastic goalkeeping by Ben Foster to preserve their 1-0 advantage early in the second half before they pulled clear.

The win took them to 39 points and eased any lingering fears that they would be dragged back into the survival scrap.

Albion started the game superbly and forced a series of corners that Blackburn failed to deal with.

And it was the fourth of the flag-kicks that brought the opening goal as the hosts' pressure proved too much for the visitors.

Captain Chris Brunt delivered to the far post, where fellow Northern Irishman Gareth McAuley headed powerfully towards goal and Olsson sliced into his own net.

Albion continued to heap pressure on the Blackburn goal immediately after taking the lead but they then allowed their tempo to drop and the final 25 minutes of the half were evenly contested.

And Rovers had a chance when Olsson's cross from the left found Bradley Orr at the far post but he headed over.

A neat Albion break involving Marc-Antoine Fortune and Keith Andrews ended with the Ireland international unable to pick out Peter Odemwingie with his cross.

A cross from Orr a few minutes later found Scott Dann, who headed straight at a grateful Ben Foster.

Albion went forwards again through Billy Jones and his teasing cross narrowly evaded three Baggies players as they slid into the six-yard box.

But at the final minutes of the half two weaving runs from Junior Hoilett caused problems for the Baggies.

First he fired high and wide but his second effort rebounded to David Dunn, whose shot tested Foster.

Foster had to be alert seven minutes into the second half to clear ahead of Yakubu after a woeful backpass from Youssouf Mulumbu.

And the Baggies keeper made a fabulous double save to preserve his side's lead on 56 minutes, first to deny Yakubu and then to keep out Orr's follow-up.

Foster was then involved in an angry clash with Martin Olsson over the ball not being cleared to allow treatment for a prone Blackburn player.

With 21 minutes remaining it was 2-0 as Brunt robbed Yakubu outside the Baggies box and crossed to the far post, where Fortune rifled home a shot.

The third goal arrived with five minutes remaining as Graham Dorrans swung a free-kick into the six-yard box and Ridgewell steamed in to head past a helpless Paul Robinson.

Blackburn's misery was completed when substitute Anthony Modeste was sent off for kicking out at Billy Jones.