Premiership: Blackburn go deeper into trouble

Fulham 2 Blackburn 0

Steed Malbranque's lightning breakaway and Barry Hayles' predatory strike secured Fulham's 2-0 victory and plunged 10-man Blackburn into deep relegation trouble.

Andy Cole and Henning Berg were both unlucky not to bag the opener, while Fulham forward Steve Marlet also hit the post.

Hayles pounced in the 32nd minute, when referee Mark Halsey made an excellent decision to play advantage rather than halt a sweeping move for a penalty after Henning Berg's handball. Hayles hammered home the loose ball moments after Berg's offence.

Rovers' woe was complete when Craig Short was sent off in injury time after elbowing Marlet in the face.

Cole came agonisingly close to the opener in the sixth minute when he raced into clear space between Cottagers centre-backs Melville and Alain Goma.

The former Manchester United striker's 14-yard effort thumped against Edwin van der Sar's right-hand post and rebounded into the grateful goalkeeper's hands.

Next, it was the home side's turn to hit the woodwork, when Malbranque's complete miskick fell to Steve Marlet inside the Blackburn penalty area.

The £11.5million striker, with his back to goal, flicked the ball up and swivelled to hook it against Brad Freidel's right-hand upright.

Fulham took the lead after 32 minutes, thanks to that excellent piece of refereeing by Halsey.

Marlet robbed Tugay 30 yards from the home side's goal, raced to the other end of the field and played a great one-two with Hayles.

Marlet's cross from the right hit Berg's arm and Halsey's linesman flagged for a penalty.

However, the referee allowed play to continue under the advantage rule and Hayles swooped to ram the loose ball into the Rovers net from seven yards.

Malbranque established a two-goal cushion for the home side with a fine goal from a lightning breakaway in the 63rd minute.

The France Under-21 international collected Legwinski's clearance just inside his own half and threaded a ball out to Marlet on the right wing.

He delivered a fine deep cross which Malbranque raced 50 yards to meet with a sweet volley that bounced just in front of Freidel and into the net via his left hand.

Van der Sar prevented Rovers pulling one back with a solid save from Craig Hignett's 25-yard drive - and Cole fluffed an absolute sitter from eight yards to sum up Blackburn's inept attacking.

Rovers' woe was complete when Short was sent off in injury time after elbowing Marlet in the face.