Blackburn Rovers moved six points clear of the relegation zone with a crucial victory over Wigan at Ewood Park.

Rovers opened the scoring just before half-time when Benni McCarthy headed in Morten Gamst Pedersen's corner.

McCarthy turned provider 15 minutes after the break when his free-kick was flicked in by Ryan Nelsen.

Antonio Valencia had a shot rebound off the bar and one saved by Paul Robinson who also blocked an effort from Hugo Rodallega and Emmerson Boyce.

The home crowd greeted the final whistle with loud cheers after Rovers were pushed to the end by a Wigan side with little to play for. The three points were vital and will go a long way to securing Blackburn's top-flight status.

Wigan, who had won just two games from 12 going into the Ewood Park encounter, came close to taking an early lead through Ecuadorian Valencia who fired in a cracker from 25 yards that rattled the crossbar.

For Rovers, that was their only big scare of a first half which they controlled and where their gameplan of getting the ball up to 6ft 4in tank Christopher Samba gave the Latics constant jitters.

The makeshift striker twice went close - first, when he failed by fractions to get any contact with Stephen Warnock's cross at the far post and then when his poked effort was deflected behind by the alert Titus Bramble.

Wigan's defence seemed set to go in at half-time having coped with Rovers' bombardment, but unfortunately for them minutes before the whistle McCarthy, who had been fairly anonymous, leapt highest to beat keeper Chris Kirkland and head in Pedersen's corner.

Kirkland never looked comfortable with the high balls and should have got a fist to Pedersen's delivery, but he did not have a hope of saving Rovers' second.

That goal came courtesy of a sparkling free-kick from McCarthy that was brilliantly flicked in by captain Nelsen for his first goal for the club.

Wigan, who had played like mid-table team going through the motions, were jolted into action after the second goal.

In one short blitz, N'Zogbia had a header tipped over, while Boyce, Valencia and Scharner all had efforts cleared off the line.

Robinson's save from Boyce and Valencia were particularly special but both efforts were eclipsed by a stunning low save from Rodallega's angled drive.

Rovers rode the brief storm and comfortably saw out the last 10 minutes. The victory takes Blackburn to six points above the relegation zone with an away fixture at Manchester City up next for Sam Allardyce's men.

BBC SPORT