Blackburn Rovers record back-to-back Championship wins for the first time this season as they beat Cardiff City 1-0 thanks to Joe Rankin-Costello's goal.
In a match with little cutting edge in the final third, Rovers edged the points thanks to the 24-year-old's first goal of the season. Playing further forward in midfield, he raced on to Tyrhys Dolan's clever pass and finished past the goalkeeper.
Cardiff will feel aggrieved they weren't ahead by that point, having scored through Dimitrios Goutas in the first half. The defender's header was ruled out with Karlan Grant judged to have been in Leopold Wahlstedt's line of vision as the header flew past the pair of them.
Rovers had looked the most likely to score though and took the game to Cardiff, who sat deep and tried to stay compact. They were indebted to Wahlstedt for a fantastic save to ensure the points, though, as he lept to his right to push Ollie Tanner's powerful shot past the post.
The full-time whistle marked successive clean sheets in the league too, with one goal conceded in their last three. A remarked improvement from the 11 that had gone into their net in the trio of league games beforehand.
Jon Dahl Tomasson stuck with the bulk of the team that beat Queens Park Rangers before the break, with one change. Callum Brittain came into the side for Dilan Markanday after impressing as a right-winger in the second half at Loftus Road.
Cardiff have made a solid start to the new season but came to Ewood Park looking to frustrate their hosts. They sat in a low block, very compact and narrow, making it difficult for Rovers to fashion any clear openings.
The best work came down the right-hand side, with Brittain and Rankin-Costello combining to try and unpick a rigid defence. It was that combination that created the first real opening, with Brittian's cross finding his fellow full-back in the box but he diverted the shot wide under pressure.
Cardiff seemed quite happy with a point from the off but were organised and structured in their work. They were controversially denied the opener against the run of play as Goutas' thumped a header into the back of the net but it was ruled out.
With the away fans and players celebrating, the linesman put up a late flag to chalk off the goal. Looking at the replay, it would appear to be for a harsh offside decision on Karlan Grant, stood in front of Leopold Wahlstedt as the ball flew past him.
That was a let-off for Rovers and they continued to probe for the opener but neither team could find the necessary quality to open the other side up.
The second half was following a familiar pattern but turned on 53rd minute. Dolan picked out the run of Rankin-Costello beyond the Cardiff defence and he fired past Jak Alnwick to break the deadlock.
The 24-year-old could and maybe should have put them further ahead too as he latched on to a loose ball and ran at goal. A fantastic recovery challenge from Perry NG stopped him from getting hot shot away as he hesitated on his finish.
Cardiff didn't pose much of a threat but they did have a glaring chance to get level, which they wasted. Substitute Callum Robinson found space in the penalty area but luckily, he dragged his shot just wide of the corner.
The Bluebirds began to commit men forward and would have been level but for a majestic save from Wahlstedt. Substitute Tanner fired a powerful shot inside the box and the goalkeeper flung to his right to keep it out, celebrating the save like he'd scored.
It turned out to be a crucial save, with Rovers edging the contest to take home the points. In truth, it's not a game that will be front and centre of the highlights package but that makes the win even sweeter.
Three points takes them up to 14th in the Championship table ahead of a trip to Millwall on Tuesday night.
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