Blackburn 1-0 Leicester

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Nikos Dabizas plunged Leicester closer to relegation as his woeful own goal was enough to hand Blackburn victory.

The Greek international intercepted Andy Cole's cross and diverted it into his own net after 42 minutes.

Ian Walker had produced a stunning save to keep the Foxes' Premiership hopes alive but Marcus Bent and James Scowcroft went wide at the other end.

Brett Emerton and Cole scuffed chances to extend Rovers' lead after half-time but Leicester could find no answer.

The tension at Ewood Park was palpable as both sides struggled to find their fluidity in the opening stages.

But Leicester goalkeeper Walker kept a cool head in the eighth minute, producing a stunning save to deny Vratislav Gresko.

Tugay tapped a free-kick to the Slovakian from 30 yards out and his shot took a deflection from Leicester skipper Muzzy Izzet to leave Walker wrong-footed.

But the England international changed direction and dived to the right to palm it away to safety.

KEY MOMENTS 8 mins: Walker recovers well to save Gresko's deflected shot 42 mins: Dabizas scores an own goal as he turns Cole's cross past Walker 65 mins: Scowcroft shot goes wide of the far post to deny Leicester their best chance

Leicester also missed an early chance when Izzet won a free-kick just outside the area but he drilled his shot into the wall.

With much resting on the outcome of the match both sides got back to basics, hastily clearing their lines and pumping the ball upfield.

Jon Stead looked dangerous down the left for the home side but his snatched shot at goal in the 21st minute went wayward.

Leicester also put Rovers under pressure but Ferdinand, who was carrying a knee injury, and Marcus Bent wasted their best chances.

Ferdinand could not get a clean shot on a strong header into the box from James Scowcroft while Bent headed wide from an Izzet corner after 34 minutes.

Three minutes from half-time, the visitors' spirited forward play was undermined by one of their own defenders.

Before the game I thought we might have a chance, but now we've lost, we've had it From Mike Bassett Have your say on 606

Dabizas, under pressure from Stead, slid Cole's square cross into his own net to gift Blackburn a vital goal.

Stead came close to adding a second just after the restart as Micky Adams' side failed to clear their lines.

The 21-year-old's right-footed shot beat Walker but just skidded wide of the post.

Minutes later, Cole wasted his good run down the right by sending his shot high and wide instead of passing to the unmarked Stead.

Leicester pressed forward though they had to do so without Ferdinand who was replaced by Steve Guppy after 60 minutes.

But bad luck continued to dog the Foxes as Scowcroft again saw his shot go inches wide of the far post.

Blackburn finally relaxed in the finally 20 minutes of the match and attacked the Leicester goal with more confidence.

Emerton saw his shot blocked by Ben Thatcher while Stead was again denied by Walker in the dying moments.

Leicester's defence held firm but it was too late to prevent Rovers ending their nine-match winless run at home and makes a swift return to Division One all but a mathematical certainty for the Foxes.

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Blackburn: Friedel, Neill, Amoruso, Short, Gresko, Andresen (Emerton 68), Flitcroft, Tugay, Douglas, Cole, Stead. Subs not used: Reid, Johansson, Gallagher, Enckelman.
Booked: Amoruso, Douglas.

Leicester: Walker, Sinclair, Dabizas, Heath (Canero 78), Thatcher, Scowcroft, McKinlay (Freund 45), Izzet, Bent, Ferdinand (Guppy 63), Dickov. Subs not used: Gillespie, Nalis.
Booked: McKinlay.

Attendance: 22,749.

Referee: R Styles (Hampshire).