Rovers' Roque sinks Latics

Santa Cruz: Netted brace

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Blackburn Rovers deservedly beat Wigan Athletic 3-1 in Saturday's North-West derby at Ewood Park.

Roque Santa Cruz put the home side in front on 12 minutes after Wigan keeper Chris Kirkland could only parry a David Bentley long-range effort and the striker followed up to head home.

But Wigan replied through a Marlon King penalty on 17 minutes after Emile Heskey was brought down by Christopher Samba, who was sent off.

Just before half-time, Jason Roberts restored Rovers' lead after latching onto a Santa Cruz flick-on and then coolly slotting home.

And Santa Cruz sealed the win in the 63rd minute when heading in a Bentley cross before Wigan midfielder Wilson Palacios was dismissed for a second yellow card.

The portents were not good for Wigan as early as the fourth minute as Kirkland went down injured when, as he came to claim a high ball, he collided with Emmerson Boyce and fell awkwardly on his back.

However, after nearly four minutes of treatment the England international was able to continue and he showed no lingering signs of a problem as he got down sharply to turn aside Bentley's 25-yard shot.

Kirkland at fault

But in the 11th minute the Wigan keeper was at fault for the opening goal, the first he had conceded in six hours and 26 minutes.

Kirkland parried another long-range Bentley strike, this time from the left, straight up in the air and Santa Cruz could not miss with his six-yard header.

Antonio Valencia replied for Wigan with a dipping 30-yard volley but Brad Friedel saved comfortably.

But from their next attack the Latics won a penalty when Samba brought down Heskey with the slightest of touches as he ran through on goal.

Referee Mike Dean showed the red card to the centre-back and King dispatched the spot-kick - his first for the club since joining from Watford in January.

Mark Hughes switched Steven Reid to right-back and returned Andre Ooijer to the centre in order to keep his two strikers on the pitch and Blackburn could have gone ahead again in the 37th minute.

Bentley, from the same area in which he delivered the assist for the opening goal, curled in a free-kick which deflected off the wall and rebounded back from the angle of post and crossbar.

Wigan suffered a blow moments later when Erik Edman, in blocking Roberts' header, badly twisted his left knee as he landed and the Swede departed in some pain on a stretcher, replaced by Ryan Taylor.

Penalty shout

And things got worse in the 44th minute when Roberts, playing against his former club, latched on to Santa Cruz's header to turn his marker and fire through Kirkland's legs.

Rovers had a good shout for penalty in the 53rd minute when Bentley's searching ball picked out Santa Cruz.

The Paraguay striker raced into the box and was just about to shoot when Mario Melchiot's challenge brought him to a halt but Dean saw nothing wrong.

Blackburn's numerical disadvantage was unnoticeable, such was their work-rate, and Santa Cruz had a half-chance on the hour from Morten Gamst Pedersen's left-wing cut-back but he skewed his shot wide.

But the striker grabbed the crucial third goal three minutes later when he stooped to head in Bentley's left-wing cross from close range.

Michael Brown tested Friedel with a swerving drive which the goalkeeper deflected for a corner, with Paul Scharner heading over Taylor's resulting cross.

Wigan's afternoon went from bad to worse when Palacios, who had been booked in the first half, went in late on David Dunn and was shown a second yellow and then red card.

The Latics forced a number of corners in the latter stages but failed to take advantage.