Premier League: Blackburn 4 Swansea 2

Blackburn striker Yakubu struck all four goals in their 4-2 win over Swansea at home, to ease pressure on under-fire manager Steve Kean.

The Nigerian struck a brace in each half, much to the delight of manager Kean.

Hosting the league’s worst away team statistically was the only possible tonic to turn around Blackburn’s results, amid consistent calls from Rovers fans to evict Kean from the managerial role.

But it was Swansea that produced the game’s first chance, as winger Scott Sinclair curled an attempt wide of the target.

Despite the Welsh club’s control of the match early, it was the hosts who struck first on 20 minutes, predictably from a counter-attack.

Gael Givet cut back to Yakubu, who struck a left-foot strike into the far corner in a sensational finish.

On 34 minutes, the Welsh club broke Blackburn’s deep resistance with a long cross right-side from Mark Gower.

Leroy Lita chose placement over power as he leaped backwards inside the six-yard box, to cushion the ball into the far corner with an equalising header – their first goal in four league matches.

Rovers went ahead once more in first-half stoppage time, with Yakubu heading in from close range off Simon Vukcevic’s volley into the danger area.

Similarly to the first half, Blackburn scored against the run of play with Yakubu poaching typically after the robust Chris Samba created disarray inside the visitors’ box.

The Nigerian headed home from close range after Samba laid down Morten Gamst Pedersen’s header to claim the hat-trick.

Swansea pulled a goal back on 66 minutes when Luke Moore cleaned up the rebounded save from substitute Wayne Routledge’s shot.

But Yakubu ensured Rovers of a deserved victory from the penalty spot late, after Vukcevic was clearly fouled by City defender Neil Taylor in the area.