BLACKBURN Rovers boss Gary Bowyer hailed a ‘professional’ performance by his side after they returned to winning ways with a 2-0 Lancashire derby success at home to Blackpool on Saturday.

Rovers secured a comfortable victory with goals either side of half-time from David Dunn and new club captain Grant Hanley.

It was a victory which moved them up to eighth in the table and kept them five points behind the final play-off place.

Bowyer said: “It was important that we turned our performances into wins and we’re delighted that we’ve done that.

“I thought it was a very professional job. It was a tough game and Barry Ferguson’s got them fighting for their lives and it took a bit of brilliance from Dunny to unlock them.

“We felt we should have been more up with the possession we had in the first half and been more clinical again.

“That gives us something to work on but in terms of the performance, it was very professional.”

Bowyer was delighted by the display of debutant Craig Conway who signed on transfer deadline day from Cardiff City.

The new winger came off the bench to set up Hanley’s winner and also created an excellent opportunity for Jordan Rhodes to score a third.

Of Conway, Bowyer added: “He’s just going to get better and better for us.

“You saw from his set-play delivery what a threat he’s going to be and he also showed his ability to go on the outside and put a great cross in.

“If I was Jordan Rhodes and Rudy Gestede and our other forwards I’d be excited by Craig as they know he’s going to put the ball in the right areas.”