Yakubu: Back and on the mark

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Blackburn 3-2 QPR

Blackburn almost threw away a three-goal lead as they improved their chances of avoiding relegation by beating Queens Park Rangers 3-2 on Saturday.

Steve Kean’s men appeared to be on their way to a straightforward victory when they led 3-0 at the interval, but a Jamie Mackie brace led to finger-nails being bitten by home fans at a bitterly cold Ewood Park.

Both teams had suffered dreadful results last weekend - Blackburn crashing to a 7-1 defeat at Arsenal and QPR losing at home to relegation rivals Wolves - but it was Rovers, boosted by the return from suspension of Yakubu, who dominated the first 45 minutes.

The Nigerian striker broke the deadlock the 15th minute when he latched on to Paul Robinson’s long free-kick and left Anton Ferdinand for dead before firing past the wrong-footed Paddy Kenny.

Just eight minutes later Blackburn doubled their lead when, after Junior Hoilett had led a swift Rovers counter-attack, Steven Nzonzi shot home.

The hosts added a third in first-half stoppage time when Hoilett’s shot deflected in off Nedum Onuoha.

That should have been that but Mark Hughes’ side rallied after the interval and they started the second half very brightly with Bobby Zamora and Shaun Wright-Phillips both going close to halving the deficit.

Rovers appeared to have weathered the storm but, with 19 minutes left, substitute Jamie Mackie pulled a goal back when he turned Taye Taiwo’s cross past Robinson.

The nervous home team began to sit deeper and deeper and Mackie scored a second goal in stoppage time.

But even though QPR won a late corner, Blackburn hung on to claim three precious points.