Bakary Sako's second-half strike gave Wolves a deserved victory over Blackburn at Ewood Park.

The midfielder struck with 12 minutes remaining when he found the net from 25 yards after a good first touch.

Rovers almost got a point but Colin Kazim-Richards headed off target from close range from Fabio Nunes' cross.

The defeat for Blackburn hindered interim boss Eric Black's chances of getting the job permanently as he has not won a game in his three in charge.

Steve Kean effect

A crowd of 17,034 watched this match - Blackburn's previous highest attendance this season was 13,935 against Leicester on 25 August

A crowd of 17,034 turned out at Ewood Park, the highest of the season, for Blackburn's first game at home since Steve Kean's departure.

But it was the visitors who started the brightest, Sako forcing Blackburn goalkeeper Paul Robinson into an early save with a fierce strike.

Rovers' claims for a penalty when Jordan Rhodes went down under a challenge from Richard Stearman were waved away by referee Nigel Miller before Sylvan Ebanks-Blake hit the post for Stale Solbakken's side.

Rhodes had the hosts' best chance of the opening half when he forced Carl Ikeme into a reaction save, before Anthony Forde curled wide after the break for Wolves.

Then with 12 minutes remaining, the ball came out to Sako from a corner. His first touch took him into space before he beat Robinson with a fine effort.

Kazim-Richards should have done better moments later when Nunes' ball caused confusion between Ikeme and Wolves centre-back Christophe Berra but he squandered the chance.

Blackburn are now without a win in four games, while Wolves move to third.

Blackburn Rovers caretaker manager Eric Black:

"That's two weeks in a row. I'm not saying we'd have gone on to win the game but they're crucial decisions and they're so blatant. That's two ridiculous claims we have had.

"How they can decide Jordan (Rhodes) has fallen by his own means is beyond me. Their boy falls over as well so contact must have been made.

"I'm not deluding myself; I don't think we did enough to win the game but we certainly did enough not to lose it."

Wolves manager Stale Solbakken:

"I think we were rock solid today taking into consideration how this week has been for us, taking into account injuries for Slawomir Peszko, Razak Boukari and Kevin Doyle, who was injured in training yesterday.

"What I'm proud of is the players who played in not the most familiar roles played very well. I think the confidence in the team in the first half was very good. Some of the youngsters also got game time today."

Lineup, Bookings (2) & Substitutions (5)

Blackburn Rovers

  • 01 Robinson
  • 02 Orr
  • 03 Mn Olsson
  • 05 Givet
  • 16 Dann
  • 06 Lowe (Etuhu - 72' )
  • 10 Formica (Nunes - 46' )
  • 13 Murphy
  • 31 G Hanley
  • 11 Rhodes
  • 39 Kazim-Richards

Substitutes

  • 34 Kean
  • 07 Nunes
  • 08 Dunn
  • 12 Pedersen
  • 18 Etuhu
  • 21 Nuno Gomes
  • 23 Rochina

Wolverhampton Wanderers

  • 13 Ikeme
  • 05 Stearman (Forde - 53' )
  • 14 Johnson
  • 16 Berra
  • 32 Foley
  • 08 Henry Booked
  • 11 Ward
  • 26 Davis (Zubar - 61' )
  • 28 Doumbia
  • 09 Ebanks-Blake (Batth - 87' )
  • 10 Sako Booked

Substitutes

  • 36 McCarey
  • 23 Zubar
  • 25 Batth
  • 34 Margreitter
  • 22 Jonsson
  • 27 Forde
  • 18 Nouble
Ref: Miller
Att: 17,034

Match Stats

Shots

14 11

On target

8 3

Corners

6 3

Fouls

3 6

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:20 Full time

Full Time The referee ends the match.

90:00 +3:20

Paul Robinson takes the free kick.

90:00 +3:20 Booking

Booking Bakary Sako receives a caution for time wasting.

90:00 +3:08

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Martin Olsson by Bakary Sako.

90:00 +1:23

Scott Dann has an effort at goal from outside the box missing to the wide left of the goal.

90:00 +0:40

Effort from deep inside the area by Anthony Forde misses to the right of the goal.

89:47

The referee blows for offside. Paul Robinson takes the indirect free kick.

87:37

Free kick awarded for a foul by Danny Batth on Jordan Rhodes. Free kick crossed by Danny Murphy, Roger Johnson makes a clearance.

86:35 Substitution

Substitution (Wolverhampton) makes a substitution, with Danny Batth coming on for Sylvan Ebanks-Blake.

83:57

Corner from right by-line taken by Fabio Nunes.

82:14

Foul by Scott Dann on Roger Johnson, free kick awarded. Carl Ikeme takes the indirect free kick.

81:34

Ronald Zubar gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Fabio Nunes. Fabio Nunes crosses the ball in from the free kick, Ronald Zubar makes a clearance.

81:05

Bakary Sako takes a shot. Gael Givet gets a block in.

78:51

Close range headed effort by Colin Kazim-Richards misses to the right of the goal.

78:35

Outswinging corner taken by Danny Murphy.

77:20

Assist by Tongo Doumbia.

77:20 Goal scored

Goal - Bakary Sako - Blackburn 0 - 1 Wolves Bakary Sako fires in a goal from just inside the penalty area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Blackburn 0-1 Wolverhampton.

75:42

Bakary Sako takes the inswinging corner, Tongo Doumbia takes a shot. Blocked by Scott Dann.

73:51

Anthony Forde has an effort at goal from the edge of the area that misses to the right of the target.

72:51

The ball is delivered by Stephen Ward, Scott Dann manages to make a clearance.

71:43

The referee blows for offside. Carl Ikeme takes the free kick.

70:51

Bakary Sako makes a clearance.

70:51 Substitution

Substitution Jason Lowe leaves the field to be replaced by Dickson Etuhu.

70:51

Fabio Nunes takes a outswinging corner from the left by-line to the near post,

70:29

Colin Kazim-Richards takes a shot. Blocked by Stephen Ward.

69:58

Colin Kazim-Richards takes a shot. Blocked by Christophe Berra.

67:07

Bakary Sako has an effort at goal and missed to the left of the goal.

65:57

Jordan Rhodes takes a shot. Blocked by Christophe Berra.

65:29

A cross is delivered by Martin Olsson, Roger Johnson makes a clearance.

63:44

Danny Murphy takes a shot. Roger Johnson gets a block in.

63:44

Danny Murphy takes a shot. Karl Henry gets a block in.

63:04

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Jason Lowe from the left by-line, Roger Johnson makes a clearance.

60:32 Substitution

Substitution David Davis goes off and Ronald Zubar comes on.

60:15

Jordan Rhodes has a shot on goal from long range that goes wide left.

58:04

Colin Kazim-Richards takes a shot from just inside the penalty box which clears the bar.

56:48

Corner taken by Jason Lowe from the right by-line, Scott Dann takes a shot. Save by Carl Ikeme.

56:08

Bradley Orr takes a shot. Blocked by Stephen Ward.

54:26

Corner taken by Bakary Sako from the right by-line, clearance made by Scott Dann.

50:54 Substitution

Substitution Richard Stearman goes off and Anthony Forde comes on.

50:54

The referee blows for offside against Colin Kazim-Richards. Indirect free kick taken by Roger Johnson.

50:40

Fabio Nunes crosses the ball.

48:32

The ball is sent over by Fabio Nunes, clearance made by Roger Johnson.

46:34

David Davis crosses the ball, Bradley Orr makes a clearance.

45:35

The ball is sent over by Colin Kazim-Richards, save by Carl Ikeme.

45:01

The referee gets the second half underway.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution Mauro Formica goes off and Fabio Nunes comes on.

45:00 +3:07 Half time

Half Time The referee calls an end to the first half.

45:00 +0:34

Colin Kazim-Richards is caught offside. Stephen Ward takes the indirect free kick.

44:42

Free kick awarded for a foul by Colin Kazim-Richards on Christophe Berra. Roger Johnson takes the free kick.

43:11

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Jason Lowe, Colin Kazim-Richards has an effort at goal from 6 yards. Comfortable save by Carl Ikeme.

40:45

Free kick awarded for a foul by Mauro Formica on Stephen Ward. Carl Ikeme restarts play with the free kick.

37:24

Jordan Rhodes takes a shot. Save by Carl Ikeme.

35:53

Shot by Mauro Formica from just outside the area goes over the net.

34:56

Centre by Stephen Ward, blocked by Grant Hanley.

33:11

The ball is swung over by Martin Olsson, Christophe Berra manages to make a clearance.

32:50

Roger Johnson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Gael Givet. Free kick taken by Scott Dann.

31:43

Corner taken by Bakary Sako, Paul Robinson manages to make a clearance.

31:28

Centre by Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, Scott Dann makes a clearance.

30:22 Booking

Booking Karl Henry is cautioned.

29:44

Free kick awarded for a foul by Karl Henry on Colin Kazim-Richards. Jason Lowe takes the free kick.

27:58

The referee penalises Jordan Rhodes for handball. Karl Henry takes the free kick.

24:54

The offside flag is raised against Tongo Doumbia. Paul Robinson takes the free kick.

22:53

Centre by Martin Olsson, Carl Ikeme makes a save.

20:41

Lobbed right-footed shot by Colin Kazim-Richards. Save made by Carl Ikeme.

19:35

Effort from outside the area by Bakary Sako goes wide right of the goal.

18:58

Header from close range by Sylvan Ebanks-Blake strikes the post.

11:16

Jordan Rhodes sends in a cross, Christophe Berra manages to make a clearance.

11:16

Jordan Rhodes sends in a cross, clearance made by Christophe Berra.

10:23

Tongo Doumbia produces a right-footed effort from long distance that goes harmlessly over the bar.

10:02

Jason Lowe delivers the ball, clearance by Roger Johnson.

7:41

Sylvan Ebanks-Blake produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that misses to the right of the net.

5:50

Unfair challenge on Colin Kazim-Richards by Roger Johnson results in a free kick. Martin Olsson takes the indirect free kick.

4:18

Bakary Sako takes a shot. Save made by Paul Robinson.

0:00

The match begins.

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