Two late goals from Ryan Alebiosu and Andri Gudjohnsen earned Blackburn Rovers a dramatic 2-1 victory over Southampton, finally delivering their first home win of the Championship season and lifting them out of the bottom three. Leo Scienza had earlier capitalised on a defensive mistake to give the visitors a first-half lead, but Blackburn's persistence after the break turned the match on its head.
For Scienza, Alebiosu and Gudjohnsen it was a landmark afternoon, each scoring their first goal in English football in a contest that swung wildly between the penalty areas. Southampton created enough chances to be out of sight, with Adam Armstrong twice denied by Balazs Toth and once by the post, but they finished with 10 men after substitute Welington was sent off for elbowing Gudjohnsen in stoppage time, and slipped to 20th as Blackburn climbed to 21st.
Scienza punishes early Rovers lapse
Both sides came into the game under pressure after midweek 3-1 defeats, and that tension showed in a scrappy opening. Southampton threatened first when former Rover Armstrong linked neatly with Finn Azaz and slid the ball across for Cameron Archer, only for Toth to block bravely and keep the scores level.