Clean sheet pleases Kean

Blackburn Rovers manager Steve Kean was thrilled to see his side keep another clean sheet and claim a vital three points against Sunderland.

A goal apiece from Junior Hoillett and Yakubu saw Rovers pick up a 2-0 victory at Ewood Park on Tuesday and move six points clear of QPR, who occupy the final relegation place.

Rovers also secured a second clean sheet in as many games, delighting the manager who appears to be slowly winning over some of his doubters.

“Not only have we got back-to-back wins but back-to-back clean sheets. We have been worked hard on that aspect,” Kean said.

“I felt when (Martin Olsson) cleared that one off the line I was thinking ‘give us a another clean sheet’ and now we have some daylight.”

“There is still a lot of football to be played and we looked at this month as an opportunity to put points on the board and possibly put a little bit of gap between the teams around us.”

“Looking now at the last 11 games we have got 17 points and to keep chipping away and keep adding points is encouraging.”

Blackburn’s next scheduled match is due to be against Bolton, but it is still not known if the match will take place due to Fabrice Muamba’s continued stay in hospital after suffering a cardiac arrest.

“I wish the Bolton game was under other circumstances but if it is on we will go out and try to get some more points,” he said.

“But if Bolton do not feel they are prepared properly – because it has been a very disruptive week – we will respect it and rearrange it any time it fits in with their schedule.”

“We know Saturday is going to be a difficult occasion and it will be very emotional, if it goes ahead, for the Bolton players but we are delighted Fabrice is making progress.”

Sunderland manager Martin O’Neill also spoke after the match, admitting his side simply weren’t good enough.

“We didn’t play well enough, it’s as simple as that. We didn’t play well enough and we have to. We have to be stronger, obviously,” O’Neill told Sky Sports.

“Credit to Blackburn, they did fine, but we just didn’t play well enough.”

“We played poorly against West Bromwich Albion and there were shades of that tonight. I was expecting better obviously from all of us, including myself.”

“If we’re not up for the games, then we’ve got a problem.”