Marcus Bent's third goal in successive games was enough to give Blackburn three points as Graeme Souness' side reversed the scoreline from their defeat at The Hawthorns earlier this season.

West Brom had lost just once in six league games prior to their visit to Ewood Park, but in-form Rovers moved within a point of the automatic promotion places with their third straight victory.

After a quiet first half the home side threw everything at the Baggies after the break and were in front two minutes into the second half.

Israeli international Eyal Berkovic, on loan from Celtic, pulled the ball back for Bent who did not hesitate in ramming home his ninth goal for the club.

Alan Mahon came close to extending the lead shortly afterwards. His left-footed drive deflected wide for a corner from which his resulting shot found the boot of David Dunn, who side-footed over from six yards.

By now West Brom were struggling and only rarely looked capable of taking anything from the game, although Bob Taylor may have claimed a point for his side on 58 minutes.

After nodding over the best chance of the first half, the striker miscued his shot to give Brad Friedel his easiest save of the season.

Taylor then hooked a right-foot shot wide on 75 minutes, again failing to trouble Friedel who was enjoying a quiet afternoon's work.

Rovers never rested on their one-goal advantage with Damien Duff almost finishing off the visitors in injury-time. But the winger could not beat Russell Hoult from a tight angle.

Teams:

Blackburn (0) 1 West Brom (0) 0

Blackburn: Friedel, Curtis, Short, Berg, Duff, Gillespie (Hignett 79), Berkovic, Dunn, Mahon, Bent, Jansen (Hughes 83).

Subs Not Used: Taylor, Keller, Filan.

Goals: Bent 47.

West Brom: Hoult, Butler, Sigurdsson, Carbon (James Chambers 59), Van Blerk, Sneekes (Roberts 55), Adam Chambers (Lyttle 80), Fox, Appleton, Taylor, Jordao.

Subs Not Used: Quinn, Jensen.

Booked: Adam Chambers, Roberts, Fox, Butler.

Att: 23,926

Ref: G Laws (Whitley Bay).