Blackburn Rovers 2-0 Hull City: Hosts' improved second half sees them beat Tigers
- Published
- comments
Blackburn Rovers celebrate Ben Brereton Diaz's fourth goal of the season, which doubled their lead against Hull City
Blackburn Rovers ended a run of three Championship games without a win as they overcame out-of-form Hull City at Ewood Park.
Tyrhys Dolan twice came close for Blackburn, his second effort a long-range curled shot which forced a fine diving save from Matt Ingram.
Daniel Ayala headed in from a corner as Blackburn led on the hour mark and they added to their lead soon after.
Ben Brereton Diaz fired in from inside the box for his fourth goal of the season as Rovers held on for victory.
The result means Hull have now gone six games without a win in the league and have not scored since their opening day win against Preston.
On the other hand, Blackburn move up to seventh thanks to their first Championship win since beating Nottingham Forest on 18 August.
There were boos from the home crowd at the conclusion of a tepid first half which saw few chances to either side.
After the break, Ingram thwarted the hosts once more as he saved from Daniel Butterworth's shot from distance before palming away Dolan's rebounded strike.
However the hosts took the lead when Joe Rothwell's corner was met by Ayala at the far post and he nodded home inside a crowded box.
Brereton Diaz's strike calmed the home side's nerves and, after letting a two-goal lead slip to draw 2-2 with Luton on Saturday, there was to be no repeat of that collapse as Tony Mowbray's side held on for victory.
Blackburn Rovers boss Tony Mowbray:
"Danny Ayala doesn't have to prove anything to anybody in my mind. He's got promotion twice out of this league and led a Middlesbrough team out of this league. He can do it.
"I played until I was 37 at centre-half. He's still a boy in centre-half terms and you can see his worth.
"Even though it was the first clean sheet in a while, I think defensively the team have been pretty good this year. I've always felt we've looked pretty solid and as I said, it's a very young team.
"It's not always the centre-half's fault. I think the team is doing alright and the message from me is keep supporting this group of lads."
Hull City boss Grant McCann:
"I thought we were excellent between both boxes tonight, and then a spell where we conceded off a set-play, an individual mistake which is disappointing for us. But Jacob [Greaves] will learn.
"Our general play was good. I thought we controlled most of the game in terms of what we were trying to do and then that spell for 10-15 minutes, Blackburn came strong and we've obviously conceded off a set-play. The second was just a sucker punch.
"I was pleased with the boys, they kept going, created opportunity after opportunity. We're slashing at things at the minute, maybe trying too hard. I've never seen as many shots go over the crossbar, especially from players who are usually deadly in those situations."