Match ends, Blackburn Rovers 1, Southend United 0.
BlackburnBlackburn Rovers1SouthendSouthend United0
Blackburn strengthened their promotion push after Danny Graham's header on his 100th appearance for the club secured victory over Southend.
Graham's 16th this season earned the leaders their fourth straight victory, and moves them four points clear of third-placed Shrewsbury.
Southend's top scorer Simon Cox had the first real chance of the game, with a neat volley that David Raya dived through a flurry of bodies to save.
At the other end, Craig Conway lashed over and Graham should have done better with an effort that Mark Oxley saved.
Blackburn increased the tempo in the second half, which saw Jack Payne's effort blocked and Graham fire straight at Oxley after a swift break.
He made up for that miss in the 59th minute, when he met Conway's inch-perfect cross at the far post to head home.
Raya made a stunning save late on to prevent Charlie Mulgrew's clearance finding the net and the ball was hacked off the line to secure a vital win.
Match report supplied by the Press Association.
Line-ups
Blackburn
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Raya
- 31Bennett
- 25DowningBooked at 90mins
- 14Mulgrew
- 3Williams
- 29Evans
- 6SmallwoodBooked at 84mins
- 32ConwaySubstituted forAntonssonat 74'minutes
- 18A Armstrong
- 23DackSubstituted forPayneat 12'minutes
- 10GrahamSubstituted forSamuelat 78'minutes
Substitutes
- 9Samuel
- 11Whittingham
- 13Leutwiler
- 16Caddis
- 17Bell
- 19Payne
- 20Antonsson
Southend
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 1Oxley
- 24Demetriou
- 48White
- 6Turner
- 3Coker
- 18Mantom
- 11McLaughlinSubstituted forFortunéat 82'minutes
- 16YearwoodSubstituted forRobinsonat 66'minutes
- 8Timlin
- 7KightlySubstituted forHarrisonat 82'minutes
- 10CoxBooked at 90mins
Substitutes
- 4Wordsworth
- 5Ferdinand
- 9Fortuné
- 13Bishop
- 21Harrison
- 31Robinson
- 44Wright
- Referee:
- Andy Woolmer
- Attendance:
- 13,186
Match Stats
Home TeamBlackburnAway TeamSouthend
- Possession
- Home52%
- Away48%
- Shots
- Home8
- Away9
- Shots on Target
- Home4
- Away2
- Corners
- Home6
- Away7
- Fouls
- Home12
- Away12
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Blackburn Rovers 1, Southend United 0.
Post update
Foul by Dominic Samuel (Blackburn Rovers).
Post update
Theo Robinson (Southend United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Corner, Southend United. Conceded by Derrick Williams.
Booking
Paul Downing (Blackburn Rovers) is shown the yellow card.
Booking
Simon Cox (Southend United) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Corner, Southend United. Conceded by Elliott Bennett.
Post update
Charlie Mulgrew (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Michael Turner (Southend United).
Post update
Corner, Southend United. Conceded by Derrick Williams.
Booking
Richard Smallwood (Blackburn Rovers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by Richard Smallwood (Blackburn Rovers).
Post update
Jason Demetriou (Southend United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Corner, Southend United. Conceded by Derrick Williams.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Marc-Antoine Fortuné (Southend United) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.
Substitution
Substitution, Southend United. Marc-Antoine Fortuné replaces Stephen McLaughlin.
Substitution
Substitution, Southend United. Shayon Harrison replaces Michael Kightly.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Stephen McLaughlin (Southend United) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.
Substitution
Substitution, Blackburn Rovers. Dominic Samuel replaces Danny Graham.
