Marshall cools relegation talk

BEN MARSHALL kept his cool and Shane Duffy used his head to ease Blackburn’s goal shortage – and their worries about being dragged into a relegation fi ght.

Marshall’s early penalty was followed by Duffy’s second- half header to set up a fi rst win in 10 league matches for Rovers, before a late third from on loan Sunderland striker Danny Graham.

Paul Lambert’s side are progressing nicely in the FA Cup and have a televised fi fth- round home tie against Premier League side West Ham to look forward to on Sunday.

They have been rather less convincing in the league, though, scoring just three times in nine matches before fi nding their way back to form last night against a Fulham side who are falling towards danger themselves.

Marshall was the architect of the opening goal, surging forward from right- back before he was fouled by the unimpressive Everton loanee Luke Garbutt.

Having won the penalty, the former Stoke and Leicester player converted it himself, sending Andy

BLACKBURN

Lonergan the wrong way.

Blackburn showed much more conviction than they did in Saturday’s 2- 0 home defeat by league leaders Hull. They survived a couple of early scares from Cottagers centre- back Michael Madl, who had an attempt cleared in front of goal by Darragh Lenihan and then blasted wide from a corner.

Marshall created chances for Chris Brown and Graham as Rovers chased a second goal. But Alex Kacaniklic, on as a fi rst- half substitute, almost brought Fulham level out of nowhere with a 25- yard shot that fi zzed wide.

However all hope of a comeback from the visitors was snuffed out when former Everton defender Duffy was left unmarked to head in only his second goal of the season from Elliott Bennett’s free- kick.

Fulham’s misery was completed late on as Graham struck his fi rst Blackburn goal from close range.