Last-gasp Rovers sink Blackpool

A Brett Emerton goal three minutes into injury time snatched a 2-1 victory for Blackburn Rovers in their Lancashire derby with Blackpool on Saturday.

Australian international Emerton pounced with the last kick of the game to deny the Tangerines a share of the points after Matt Phillips had netted an 85th-minute equaliser for Ian Holloway’s men.

The defeat was desperately hard on Blackpool, who had undeservedly fallen behind on 20 minutes when defender Charlie Adam steered a header into his own net for a freakish own goal.

However the win was doubly sweet for Rovers boss Sam Allardyce — sacked by Blackpool 14 years ago — who before the match had bemoaned his team’s failure to hold on to leads this season.

In four previous matches this term Blackburn have taken the lead only to see their opponents claw back the initiative.

It looked as if Saturday’s encounter with Blackpool was unfolding along similar lines when substitute Phillips picked his way through the Rovers defence to score late on for the Seasiders just moments after coming on.

But just when a draw seemed the likeliest result Blackburn pressed for a winner. Benjani Mwaruwari’s shot was blocked and Emerton was on hand to prod home the winner.