Match ends, Blackburn Rovers 0, Brighton and Hove Albion 1.
BlackburnBlackburn Rovers0BrightonBrighton & Hove Albion1
An own goal by Matt Kilgallon gave Brighton a hard-fought victory over Blackburn at Ewood Park.
Brighton's Joao Teixeira went close from 30 yards as the visitors dominated play early on.
Chris O'Grady's fine cross was inadvertently turned into his own net by Kilgallon midway through the first-half.
Jordan Rhodes and Marcus Olsson went close for Rovers in the second-half but Brighton held on to claim the points.
The win lifts Chris Hughton's side to 16th whilst Blackburn remain 10th following their second home defeat in five days.
The visitors started brightly and nearly took the lead through O'Grady but his fine driven shot struck a post before Teixeira's excellent 30-yard strike narrowly went wide as the away side went in search of a vital three points.
Brighton's early dominance soon paid off as O'Grady's pinpoint cross was met by Kilgallon, whose near-post header flashed past Rovers keeper Jason Steele.
Blackburn's best chance of the first half fell to Ben Marshall but his powerful effort was tipped over by David Stockdale.
After the break, Tom Cairney's excellent cross found an unmarked Rhodes but the Scottish international was expertly denied by Stockdale down to his left.
The home side continued to push for an equaliser late on but Olsson's rasping drive was saved by Stockdale as Brighton held on to their narrow lead.
Blackburn boss Gary Bowyer: "The goal probably matched the quality of the game. It wasn't a classic was it? I didn't see a great deal wrong with our goal that got chalked off by the way. Second half, we had a bit more of a go and then their goalie, to be fair to him, has pulled out two great saves.
"I think obviously with the restrictions under us with the embargo, the amount of games we've had to play including the cup run and games you play just after the cup games, we've played I think 13 games in the last 43 days and that probably took its toll."
Brighton boss Chris Hughton: "I thought our game management today was very good. I know they've had a few problems here with injuries and the amount of games but they're still a very good outfit with a threat up front.
"Particularly in the first half, we kept the ball well in the periods we had to, defended well for 90 minutes which you know you're going to have to, and got a bit of fortune with the goal but I thought we deserved it overall."
"We're delighted with the progress we've made."
Line-ups
Blackburn
Formation 4-4-2
- 30Steele
- 2Henley
- 15Baptiste
- 4Kilgallon
- 14Olsson
- 19TaylorSubstituted forSpurrat 54'minutes
- 25Spearing
- 10Cairney
- 12Marshall
- 9BrownSubstituted forGestedeat 54'minutes
- 11Rhodes
Substitutes
- 3Spurr
- 13Eastwood
- 17Williamson
- 20Songo'o
- 26Lenihan
- 31Mahoney
- 39Gestede
Brighton
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 13Stockdale
- 2Bruno
- 33Halford
- 3Greer
- 30Bennett
- 24Ince
- 28Kayal
- 32LedesmaBooked at 36minsSubstituted forCalderonat 68'minutes
- 6Stephens
- 17Vilaca TeixeiraSubstituted forForster-Caskeyat 88'minutes
- 11O'Grady
Substitutes
- 4Hughes
- 12Mackail-Smith
- 14Calderon
- 18Forster-Caskey
- 22Holla
- 25Lua Lua
- 31Walton
- Referee:
- Stuart Attwell
- Attendance:
- 13,605
Match Stats
Home TeamBlackburnAway TeamBrighton
- Possession
- Home55%
- Away45%
- Shots
- Home16
- Away10
- Shots on Target
- Home7
- Away1
- Corners
- Home7
- Away1
- Fouls
- Home7
- Away8
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Blackburn Rovers 0, Brighton and Hove Albion 1.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Ben Marshall (Blackburn Rovers) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Jordan Rhodes.
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Attempt missed. Rudy Gestede (Blackburn Rovers) header from the centre of the box misses to the right.
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Foul by Jay Spearing (Blackburn Rovers).
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Beram Kayal (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Brighton and Hove Albion. Jake Forster-Caskey replaces João Teixeira.
Post update
Markus Olsson (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Beram Kayal (Brighton and Hove Albion).
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Attempt blocked. Matthew Kilgallon (Blackburn Rovers) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
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Corner, Blackburn Rovers. Conceded by David Stockdale.
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Attempt saved. Markus Olsson (Blackburn Rovers) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Alex Baptiste.
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Jordan Rhodes (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Rohan Ince (Brighton and Hove Albion).
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Attempt saved. Jay Spearing (Blackburn Rovers) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
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Attempt blocked. Jordan Rhodes (Blackburn Rovers) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Rudy Gestede with a headed pass.
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Attempt blocked. João Teixeira (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Joe Bennett.
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Attempt missed. Rudy Gestede (Blackburn Rovers) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Thomas Spurr.
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Attempt saved. Jordan Rhodes (Blackburn Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Matthew Kilgallon.
Post update
Foul by Thomas Spurr (Blackburn Rovers).
