Wolves 0-2 Blackburn: Junior Hoilett is the star of the show as Blackburn pick up a vital win

Blackburn Rovers pulled away from the relegation zone after a crucial 2-0 win against fellow Premier League strugglers Wolverhampton Wanderers.

A brace from Junior Hoilett secured Blackburn crucial points in its mission to stay in the English top flight.

Despite being level on points, Wolves came into this game with only one league win in their last 15 after falling to a thumping 5-0 defeat at the hands of Fulham last week, whereas Blackburn had recorded a promising draw at home to Aston Villa.

Yet three points for either team would not only see them leap-frog its opponent but it would  also pull it out of the Premier League relegation zone.

Wolves’ were boosted by the return of Sebastian Bassong in the heart of the defense after a hamstring injury while captain Roger Johnson remained on the bench after being reprimanded earlier in the week for turning up to training drunk.

For Blackburn, Marcus Olssen replaced Radoslav Petrovic while youngster Jason Lowe was restored to the starting line-up after suspension.

The opening exchanges proved scrappy, with neither team managing to get into its rhythm. However, the first half chance fell to Yakubu in the 10th minute but he wildly skewed the ball over the bar after it fell to him just outside the Wolves area.

Yet it was Wolves who should have scored a minute later after Jarvis was found unmarked by Edwards’ driven cross a few yards from the Blackburn goal, but it caught the winger unawares and he couldn’t direct the ball on target when it looked easier to score.

Both teams were showing a lot of attacking intent but it was Blackburn who took a deserved lead on the 42nd minute.

Junior Hoilett, who had been bright on the left-wing, dispatched a well-hit volley past Hennessey after a long throw by Morten Gamst Pederson wasn’t dealt with by the Wolves’ defence and found the Canadian unmarked in the area.

As the half was brought to a close Wolves’ players were greeted with boos by the home fans. But Blackburn were well worth their slender lead with both Hoilett and Yakubu looking dangerous and Wolves seeming unimaginative going forward.

The second-half started much like the end of the first, with Wolves misplacing many of their passes in midfield allowing Blackburn to counter-attack, often through the impressive Hoilett, and put concerted pressure on the back four.

On the 60th minute, David Edwards was replaced by Michael Kightly as Wolves looked to get a goal back. Yet Blackburn continued to press forward and worry the Wolves defense on the counter.

And it was a Blackburn break-away that lead to another superb goal. On the 69th minute, Yakubu found Hoilett in plenty of space in the middle of the Wolves’ half, and after bringing it forward hit a driven shot from 25 yards that curled perfectly into the right-hand corner of Hennessey’s net to score his second goal of the game.

Hoilett’s second goal had visibly deflated Wolves as Blackburn began to step up the pressure, much of the running being done by Hoilett who was beginning to run the game at the front.

On the 72nd minute Wolves’ could have conceded yet another goal after a Blackburn corner from the left was almost deflected into the net by Kevin Doyle, but it hit the bar and landed safely in the hands of Hennessey.

Wolves were almost offered a lifeline back into the game when in the 86th minute, Nenad Milijas who had come on for the impressive David Davis, headed over the bar after a brilliantly mazy run and cross from Jarvis.

Despite some late pressure by the Wolves' attackers,  Blackburn managed to hold on and record a crucial victory. The quality of the attack proved the difference between the two teams with both of Hoilett’s goals proof enough of this gap.