Blackburn sank Norwich 3-0 with Paul Dickov grabbing two of the goals.
Blackburn Rovers clinched a valuable 3-0 win against Norwich City with Paul Dickov grabbing a brace for the hosts.
The weather may have been stormy, with a hailstorm battering the players at one point, but it was plain sailing for Rovers after Morten Gamst Pedersen opened the scoring on 17 minutes.
The Canaries started brightly with Darren Huckerby finishing miserably after latching directly onto Robert Green's long kick.
Against the run of play, Pedersen drew first blood for the hosts after Tugay swept a fine pass out to the left. Pedersen nodded the ball past Simon Charlton, filling in at right back for the injured Marc Edworthy, and lashed it goalwards with his right foot.
Green could only parry the Norwegian's drive into the net and it laid the foundations for what turned out to be a comfortable win for Mark Hughes's side that extends the gap between the two sides to eight points.
Jim Brennan wasted a glorious opportunity to level the scores after unselfish work by Huckerby but the Canadian failed to connect properly with his left foot after being teed up by his team-mate. Dean Ashton then forced a firm block by Brad Friedel after collecting a Gary Holt pass.
Green was also busy at the other end; thwarting Dickov after good work by Ryan Nelsen and then keeping out a free kick by the lively Pedersen.
However, the England squad member was beaten all ends up when Pedersen's vicious inswinging corner was met astutely by Dickov at the near post and the ball flew into the net with 39 minutes gone.
Green had to be on his toes to palm away another corner by Pedersen and even the introduction of Leon McKenzie for Brennan at the break failed to enhance City's attacking prospects. The substitute headed weakly after Graham Stuart burst down the right and it was soon to get worse for the East Anglians.
Ashton carelessly gifted possession to Paul Gallacher and the Scot fed his compatriot Dickov outside the area. The former Manchester City striker managed to get in a shot that Green really should have dealt with but the keeper inexplicably allowed the ball to squirt into the net for a third goal.
Green did better with a Gallagher shot and yet another inswinging corner by Pedersen and worked wonders to pull off a double save to thwart Steven Reid and Gallagher with time running out.
Tugay, whose effort was deflected wide by Gary Doherty, and Andy Todd, also went close as Rovers continued to dominate and Robbie Savage was afforded a good ovation from the crowd when being substituted late in the game.
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| Blackburn Rovers | Team Name | Norwich City |
| 3 | Goals | 0 |
| 8 | Shots on target ( Inc Goals ) | 5 |
| 5 | Shots off Target (inc woodwork) | 2 |
| 5 | Blocked Shots | 2 |
| 12 | Corners Won | 3 |
| 16 | Total Fouls Conceded | 15 |
| 2 | Offsides | 3 |
| 2 | Yellow Cards | 1 |
| 0 | Red Cards | 0 |
| 59% | Possession | 41% |
 | ||
