MORTEN Gamst Pedersen was on target as Blackburn Rovers took a first half lead in the second leg of their third round Intertoto Cup tie with FK Vetra.
Leading 2-0 from the first leg in Lithuania last week, Rovers took another major step towards a place in the UEFA Cup by increasing their advantage here at Ewood Park.
Rovers made the all-important breakthrough in the 25th minute courtesy of Pedersen, who stooped to guide a header past the keeper from a David Bentley cross.
Before that, Benni McCarthy had also fluffed two golden chances to fire Rovers in front.
But Vetra might also have taken a shock lead when their Brazilian striker Severino got free of the home defence, only to shoot wide of the far post.
The visitors were reduced to 10 men shortly before the break when Dejan Miloseski picked up a second yellow for elbowing Stephen Warnock in the face.
Rovers: Friedel, Ooijer, Nelsen, Samba, Warnock, Bentley, Mokoena, Savage, Pedersen, McCarthy, Roberts. Subs: Dunn, Derbyshire, Tugay, Henchoz, Rigters, Gallagher, Enckelman
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