YAKUBU'S 96th minute penalty has earned Blackburn Rovers a crucial Premier League point in a thrilling 3-3 draw at the DW Stadium.

The Nigerian slotted home his second of the game from the penalty spot after goalkeeper Paul Robinson had been kicked in the head by Dave Jones.

David Dunn was dismissed on 48 minutes, with his side trailing 2-1 and looking beaten, until Hoilett's highly controversial 60th minute equaliser.

Morten Gamst Pedersen took a left wing corner to himself and then crossed for Hoilett to head home from close range. Incredibly the goal stood.

But, despite a battling second half display, Crusat's weak poke squirmed under Robinson to pile the pressure on boss Steve Kean.

Until at the death, Robinson threw himself at Pedersen's corner and earned Rovers a lifeline.

Watched by co owners Venkatesh and Balaji Rao, a large away following got behind their side throughout but also voiced their disgust at Kean and owners Venky's.

The borthers are understood to have left at half time.

Rovers enjoyed the perfect start on just two minutes when, after a couple of flicks from David Dunn and Steven Nzonzi, Gary Caldwell's error allowed Yakubu to race clear on goal.

The Nigerian reached the ball just before the onrushing Ali Al Habsi and lofted it over his grasp to send the large travelling army wild.

Wigan should have got a penalty on six minutes after Victor Moses was tripped by Morten Gamst Pedersen in the penalty area but the hosts didn't have long to wait for their equaliser.

Grant Hanley headed Ronnie Stam's right wing cross partially clear on eight minutes but, picking up the loose ball in space on the edge of the area, Jordi Gomez fired a low shot past Paul Robinson at his inside post.

Pedersen was inches away from giving Rovers the lead again on 20, when his 30-yard free kick cannoned off the inside of the post, across the goal to safety.

In a pulsating end-to-end encounter it was Wigan looking the biggest threat with Rovers continually looking open to their counter attack.

Victor Moses and Mohamed Diame were a constant threat with the visitors struggling to gain any control of the game.

Roberto Martinez's men were rewarded for their efforts just past the half hour mark, thanks in no small part to some slack Rovers defending.

Gary Caldwell lost Scott Dann to latch on to Dave Jones' left wing corner and head the ball into the corner of the net.

Rovers were given a mountain to climb just three minutes after the restart when David Dunn was sent off for his second caution, with Michel Salgado having been replaced by league debutant Adam Henley at half time.

With the away fans in full voice against their manager and owners, Rovers gained an unlikely route back into the game on the hour mark.

Morten Gamst Pedersen incredibly took a left wing corner to himself and his subsequent low cross was deflected to Hoilett who headed home at the far post.

There were no protests from the home team at the time but replays clearly showed Pedersen kicked the corner to himself.

Rovers should have been ahead on 73 minutes when Yakubu raced clear on goal but, after rounding Al Habsi, he saw the ball cleared off his toes.

Paul Robinson then brilliantly denied Hugo Rodallega from close range but Crusat's late strike looked enough to break Rovers hearts.

Until Yakubu kept his colol in the dying seconds