Santa Cruz seeks strong finish

In-form striker aims to fire Blackburn into Europe

By Ben Collins   Last updated: 24th March 2008

Santa Cruz seeks strong finish

Roberts and Santa Cruz congratulate each other

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Blackburn striker Roque Santa Cruz is hoping to fire Rovers into Europe after rediscovering his goalscoring touch.

The Paraguay international had gone five games without a goal before scoring in last week's defeat at West Ham and grabbing a brace as 10-man Blackburn beat Wigan 3-1 on Saturday.

That victory moved Rovers up to eighth and they lie eight points behind fifth-placed Everton with seven games remaining.

Santa Cruz's double against Wigan took his tally to 14 league goals this season and the 26-year-old hopes to maintain that form in the run-in as Blackburn aim to snatch a Uefa Cup place.

"Any striker is happy when they score and I am very happy with those goals, especially because we won," he said.

"I miss it when I don't score that much but I am wishing to score every game now.

Realistic chance

"It is a tough thing (to qualify for Europe) because many teams are fighting for the place," he added.

"But I think the chance is realistic so we will keep pushing and working the same way."

Manager Mark Hughes played Jason Roberts alongside Santa Cruz against Wigan and chose to keep them on despite seeing defender Christopher Samba sent off early on.

And the Blackburn boss was rewarded as not only did both his strike pair get on the scoresheet but they also led the line superbly for the 10-man Rovers.

Strike pair

"I felt they were the key to the performance just by their energy and movement and their ability to work off each other," said Hughes.

"I think they were able to occupy the four back players of Wigan, and as a consequence, the extra man they had did not become of any significance.

"It was a game that if we played the right way we would get opportunities and even with 10 men we were still creating things."