Victory puts Blackburn seventh

LONDON (AP):

Blackburn moved provisionally into seventh place in the English Premier League by beating West Bromwich Albion 2-0 yesterday courtesy of goals in a seven-minute spell either side of half-time.

A spectacular own goal by Romania defender Gabriel Tamas put Rovers ahead in the 41st minute and the win was secured in the 47th when Canadian forward David Hoilett thumped a 25-yard drive past goalkeeper Boaz Myhill for his first league goal.

"It means a lot, I've been waiting for it for a long time," said the 20-year-old Hoilett, who made his debut for the club last year but has only previously scored in the cup competitions.

It was the third home victory in a row for Blackburn under new manager Steve Kean.

"We knew it was going to be a tough game, but we really stuck at it and I thought we were excellent," Kean said.

West Brom, which have now lost home and away to Blackburn in the space of four weeks, have won once in seven league matches and are only three points above the relegation zone.

Very disappointing

"At 1-0 down at half-time we were still in the game, but the way we came out in the second half was very disappointing," West Brom manager Roberto Di Matteo said.

Twenty-two different nationalities participated in the match at Ewood Park, a Premier League record.

Ninth-place Bolton play Chelsea, who are fourth, today.

Manchester United are still top of the standings after a 5-0 win at home to Birmingham on Saturday. Arsenal beat Wigan 3-0 to move into second, overtaking Manchester City, which lost 1-0 at Aston Villa.

Arsenal are two points behind United having played a game more, and a point clear of City.

After a slow start, Blackburn made most of the running in the first half and West Brom were indebted to Myhill for keeping the scores level before Tamas' gaffe.

The visitors' only chance before the break fell to top scorer Peter Odemwingie, after just 30 seconds. Norway international Morten Gamst Pedersen lost possession in midfield, allowing Odemwingie to pounce and smash a 25-yard volley that was pushed away by Paul Robinson.

Swedish winger Martin Olsson and Christopher Samba twice had low shots saved by Myhill as Blackburn started to dominate. But the goalkeeper could do nothing to prevent Tamas' header flying past him.

Making his debut

United States midfielder Jermaine Jones, making his debut for Rovers following his six-month loan move from Schalke, slipped a ball through to David Dunn, whose angled cross was powered into his own net by Tamas from eight yards out.

West Brom have now conceded at least one goal in 21 straight league games.

Hoilett made it 2-0 when he picked the ball up 35 yards out, cut inside and unleashed a swerving effort that powered through the attempted save of Myhill for his first Premier League goal.

West Brom finished the better of the sides, with Robinson saving shots by Jerome Thomas and Chris Brunt, but Blackburn had few problems seeing out the win.

Queens Park Rangers beat Coventry 2-1 yesterday to extend the London team's lead in the second-tier League Championship to five points. Winger Wayne Routledge scored the winner in his first game since rejoining QPR on loan from Premier League side Newcastle.