Kalinic double boosts Kean's standing

West Bromwich Albion 1 Blackburn Rovers 3

Phil Shaw
Wednesday 29 December 2010 01:00 GMT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Talk of Blackburn Rovers plummeting down the Premier League in the aftermath of Sam Allardyce's sacking sounded like so much hot air as Steve Kean gained his first victory as a manager at the expense of a West Bromwich Albion side who looked more likely to be embroiled in a relegation struggle.

Kean, who had taken one point from two home games, saw the £6m Croat Nikola Kalinic strike either side of a Jerome Thomas goal to double his season's tally. Mame Diouf completed the scoring before Kalinic was sent off, after 64 minutes, for a high challenge on Paul Scharner. Albion's Gabriel Tamas was also red-carded for serious foul play in the 87th minute after cutting down Mame Diouf.

Goalkeeper Paul Robinson exemplified Blackburn's spirit by starting the game despite a calf strain that later forced him off and gave Mark Bunn the chance to make three outstanding saves. Michel Salgado was also determined to play after a bout of sickness that led to his substitution, as Kean memorably put it, "before he threw up". The Scot also reported that Christopher Samba, who had failed a fitness test, was not, after all, intent on leaving. "Chris has assured me he never said he wanted a transfer," Kean said.

The Albion coach, Roberto Di Matteo, whose team have lost seven of the past 10 matches, said: "We need to roll up our sleeves to get enough points to stay in the Premier League." Next up at The Hawthorns: Manchester United on New Year's Day.

Blackburn took an early lead when Kalinic, on the left flank, exploited Scharner's poor positioning to run on to El-Hadji Diouf's long pass, but Albion were soon level, Thomas converting Somen Tchoyi's low cross.

After Robinson's exit Blackburn were helped by Albion's tendency to take the scoreboard advert for "Black Country Gifts" too literally. First, Morten Gamst Pedersen's corner was headed back by Ryan Nelsen for Kalinic to glance home. Then, after a short corner, Nelsen flicked on El-Hadji Diouf's cross for Mame Diouf to score with a brave diving header.

West Bromwich Albion (4-1-4-1): Carson; Jara (Barnes, 74), Scharner, Tamas, Shorey; Mulumbu; Tchoyi, Morrison (Cox, 66), Dorrans, Thomas; Odemwingie. Substitutes not used: Myhill (gk), Cech, Ibanez, Miller, Reid.

Booked Jara. Sent off Tamas (87).

Blackburn Rovers (4-4-1-1): Robinson (Bunn , h-t); Salgado (Hoillett, 52), Hanley, Nelsen, Olsson; M Diouf, Emerton, Pedersen, EH Diouf (Benjani, 82); Dunn; Kalinic. Substitutes not used Givet, Linganzi, Doran, Morris.

Booked Salgado, EH Diouf, Bunn. Sent off Kalinic (64).

Man of the match Nelsen.

Referee P Dowd (Staffs).

Attendance 24,440.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in