Blackburn Beat Hull 2-1 To Escape Relegation Zone

Hull and Blackburn both ended their match with 10 men.

Blackburn Rovers scored two goals in the space of two minutes to beat Hull City 2-1 and claw their way out of the Premier League relegation zone on Sunday.

On an afternoon overshadowed by the League Cup final between league leaders Manchester United and holders Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United beat mid-table rivals Manchester City 1-0 at Upton Park.

Hull and Blackburn both ended their match with 10 men, with the home side's Dean Marney sent off in the 63rd and Blackburn's Morten Gamst Pedersen following eight minutes later for a second booking.

Blackburn took the lead in the 34th minute after an error by goalkeeper Matt Duke was pounced on by Roque Santa Cruz, who set up Stephen Warnock to side foot in to the top of the net.

Warnock then crossed from the left two minutes later for Keith Andrews to tap home. Hull pulled a goal back through Ian Ashbee in the 79th.

Blackburn are in 17th place on 26 points, ahead of Middlesbrough on goal difference.

West Ham had midfielder Valon Bahrami suffered a serious-looking injury in the first half, with the Swiss international given oxygen and then carried off on a stretcher with his knee in a brace.

Jack Collison side-footed the winner with 19 minutes remaining to send the Hammers up to seventh place with 36 points.

Manchester United, with a game in hand, lead with 62 while second placed Chelsea are seven points adrift after moving ahead of Liverpool on goal difference on Saturday with a 2-1 win at home to Wigan Athletic.