Hull City 1 Blackburn Rovers 2

Last updated : 01 March 2009 By Footymad Previewer
Hull City slipped further into the relegation battle after Blackburn Rovers claimed all three points with a 2-1 win at the KC stadium.

Both goals came in quick succession during the first half with Stephen Warnock opening the scoring after 34 minutes and Keith Andrews doubling the lead moments later.

The second half saw both sides go down to ten men as Dean Marney received a straight red on 62 minutes for lashing out at Morten Gamst Pedersen, who was sent off himself minutes later as he picked up his second yellow card of the game.

Ian Ashbee grabbed one back for Hull towards the end of the game but it proved to be mere consolation.

After an evenly matched opening, Sam Allardyce's men scored twice in three minutes to march into a 2-0 lead.

The first came when Matt Duke failed to collect a deflected shot from Pedersen which allowed Roque Santa Cruz to nip in and lay the ball back to Warnock, who made no mistake from 12 yards with a thunderous left-footed strike.

Warnock then turned provider as he raced down the left and delivered a pinpoint cross into ex-Hull man Andrews, who slammed the ball home from close range.

Rovers keeper Paul Robinson had to be substituted at half time after a collision with Hull's Michael Turner left the England international nursing a shoulder injury.

Jason Brown stepped in to make only his fourth senior appearance for Blackburn.

Vince Grella nearly put the visitors further in front early in the second half but his right-footed shot from 20 yards was parried away by Duke.

Hull's day went from bad to worse on the hour mark as Marney saw red for kicking out at Pedersen after the two had collided in an aerial challenge.

However, Blackburn were down to ten men soon after as Pedersen received his second yellow card for a late challenge on Kamil Zayatte.

The home side grabbed one back on 78 minutes as Bernard Mendy floated in a cross from the right towards Ashbee, who struck the ball into the right-hand corner of the net from 12 yards.

Hull's Andy Dawson came close to levelling the scores in injury time but his left-footed strike from 18 yards was well saved by Brown.