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Live Commentary: Blackburn Rovers vs. Wigan Athletic

Follow live updates of tonight's crucial Premier League encounter between Blackburn Rovers and Wigan Athletic, courtesy of Sports Mole.

Good evening and welcome to Sports Mole's live commentary of tonight's Premier League encounter between Blackburn Rovers and Wigan Athletic at Ewood Park.

The match is crucial at the bottom of the table - a win for the away side would guarantee their stay in the Premier League, relegating Blackburn in the process.

A draw for Wigan would also all but secure their safety, but nothing less than a home win will be good enough for Steve Kean's side.

Wigan have won five of their last seven in the league, but they have never won at Ewood Park, losing their last five visits.

>Full team news for the match

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So there we have it, Blackburn have been relegated from the Premier League after 11 years at the top level. Truth be told, Wigan were the better side all evening and Alcaraz's goal moments before the end has secured the Latics' spot in the Premier League for another season. Our full report of the match can be found here. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for the coverage.

FULL-TIME: Blackburn 0-1 Wigan (Blackburn relegated from the Premier League).

90min+2: Truth be told, the goal has been coming and Wigan are playing out the final moments with control of the ball.

90 min: We will play an additional three minutes at the end of the match. It's gone for Blackburn, and don't they know it.

89 min: What a time to open the scoring. Blackburn need two goals in the last two minutes to remain in the Premier League.

Wigan take a vital lead with moments remaining as Alcaraz heads a Moses cross into the top corner. That is surely the goal that keeps Wigan in the Premier League, and relegates Blackburn.

87 min: GOAL! Blackburn 0-1 Wigan (Alcaraz)

86 min: So nearly an immediate chance for Sammon after a fine cross from Moses, but it just eludes the striker in the box. It's all Wigan here.

85 min: 'Kean out' rings around the ground with five minutes of football to play. Change for Wigan as Di Santo is replaced by Conor Sammon.

83 min: Another wonderful chance for Wigan as Boyce finds Maloney in the box, but somehow he heads over from close range.

83 min: It's Wigan on the ball as we approach the latter stages of the match, where's the fight from the home side?

81 min: Somehow the match remains level with Moses and McCarthy passing up glorious chances in the Blackburn box. We have 10 minutes of football to play.

80 min: Change for Blackburn as Bradley Orr is replaced by David Goodwillie. Last throw of the dice for the home side.

79 min: Finally Blackburn exert some real pressure with a series of balls into the Wigan box, however, Caldwell is heading everything away.

77 min: It's a good chance to get the ball into the box for Blackburn, but Dann was all over Alcaraz and Al-Habsi will restart the play.

76 min: Blackburn are keeping possession in the final stages, but it isn't enough, they need a goal, and I cannot see where it is going to come from.

75 min: We have 15 minutes of football remaining this evening. Wigan have not kept a clean sheet away since the opening weekend of the season, could it happen on the most crucial of nights?

73 min: Moses has been really impressive for the away side this evening, surely the Premier League big boys will be courting him in the summer.

71 min: Big call from referee Clattenburg as he books Moses for a suspected dive in the Blackburn area. It was wonderful play from the striker as he emerged into the box, but he was always looking for it.

71 min: As it stands, Blackburn would be relegated from the Premier League this evening, while Wigan would be all but safe.

70 min: Chance for Blackburn as Modeste picks up the ball on the edge of the area, but his shot is tame and straight at Al-Habsi.

69 min: However, it comes to nothing, with the Blackburn wall clearing the danger.

67 min: It's a terrible challenge from Pedersen, who brings Maloney down on the edge of the box. It's a free kick in a dangerous position for Wigan.

65 min: It's a terrible waste from Wigan as Di Santo finds himself on the edge of the box, but the Argentine decided to shoot rather than slip McCarthy in.

64 min: It's a wonderful tackle from Antolin Alcaraz as he denies Yakubu a clear run at goal. Both sides have defended well this evening.

63 min: It's Blackburn on the attack as we approach the mid-point of the second period. Can they force the opening goal?

60 min: According to Sky Sports News, a hamstring strain at half-time was the cause of Givet's concern, and not something more serious. That is good news and should lift Blackburn.

60 min: Big shout for a penalty as Hoilett tumbles in the Wigan area, but no decision is forthcoming. Replays have suggested that it perhaps should have been given. Big talking point this evening.

58 min: Givet has been spotted taking his place on the Blackburn bench. The defender looks to be okay following a reported health scare.

57 min: Wigan's best chance of the second period falls to Moses after a Di Santo knock-down, but the striker fires his effort over the bar.

55 min: It's a waste from Moses as he picks up the ball in the Blackburn half, but his shot goes out for a throw-in.

53 min: Chance for Blackburn! Olsson forces a corner down the left, the ball is whipped in by Pedersen towards Yakubu, but the Nigerian's shot is blocked on the line by the Wigan defence.

52 min: It's nice work from McCarthy who searches out Moses in the box, but Dann clears the danger. Wigan are beginning to take control with 52 minutes on the clock.

51 min: Wigan are beginning to gain control of the ball once more, but we have yet to see a real chance in the opening five minutes of the half.

49 min: Blackburn certainly look more positive, with Hoilett seeing more of the ball. Modeste, however, has failed to influence the match thus far.

48 min: The home side have forced a number of corners early in the second half, but Wigan deal with the danger.

47 min: It's been a lively start by Blackburn. They need a big performance this evening.

46 min: Radosav Petrovic has been introduced in place of Givet - it is understood that the defender is now "okay" and we have begun the second period.

21.04: It is understood that the second period has been delayed due to a health problem with Blackburn defender Gael Givet.

So there we have it, we remain 0-0 at the interval of this crucial encounter at the bottom of the Premier League table. Both teams started the match well, but Wigan certainly improved as the half developed and continued to look the most likely. Blackburn boss Kean needs to raise his players ahead of their biggest half of football of the season. Our report of the opening 45 minutes can be found here.

HALF-TIME: Blackburn 0-0 Wigan

45 min+2: Chance for Wigan on the stroke of the interval as Beausejour attempts to find Moses in the box, but Dann makes the clearance.

45 min: We will play an additional two minutes at the end of the half.

44 min: Change for Blackburn as Dunn is replaced by Martin Olsson. It looks like an injury for the veteran midfielder.

43 min: Little over two minutes remaining in the opening half, and it is Wigan who continue to look the most likely as Moses heads wide.

41 min: It's another horrible waste from Pedersen, who fires straight across the box with a free kick in a wide position.

40 min: We haven't seen much from Hoilett in the opening period of the match. He is Blackburn's best player by a country mile, and boy do they need a performance from him this evening.

38 min: The rain is really coming down at Ewood Park as we approach the interval. Wigan have certainly dominated the match thus far, and their fans are the most vocal.

36 min: Chance! Glorious chance for Wigan as Di Santo whips a dangerous cross towards Moses, but somehow the forward heads back into the box, rather than past Robinson.

36 min: Remember, Blackburn need to win their last two games to have any chance of remaining in the Premier League. Wigan, meanwhile, just need a point, but they are playing like the team who need the win.

34 min: It's more good work from Moses, who finds Beausejour, but the midfielder's pass is just too long for McCarthy who made a break into the box. We remain 0-0.

32 min: Wonderful chance for Wigan to take the lead as the ball fell to Moses in the box, but Gary Caldwell unbalanced his teammate, allowing Blackburn to clear.

32 min: There's a really nice look to the Wigan team this evening with James McArthur and James McCarthy patrolling the midfield, allowing Moses and Maloney to attack with intent.

30 min: The match has gone ever so untidy in the past few moments, with nerves starting to show.

28 min: It's a disappointing effort from Morten Gamst-Pedersen as the winger fires a free kick straight into the stand.

27 min: Blackburn's main threat so far has certainly come from the presence of Yakubu, with Modeste roaming around the Nigerian. Wigan, meanwhile, have adopted more of a passing game, sticking to the principles they have displayed all season.

25 min: Wigan continue to look the more likely as we approach the 30-minute mark, with Di Santo a real threat to his former club.

24 min: Chance for Moses to open the scoring as he loses Dann in the corner, but his effort is pushed wide by Robinson.

23 min: Really high-tempo stuff this evening with both sides exchanging punches.

22 min: Wigan continue to play the ball around the Blackburn half with ease, but the home side's midfield remains compact in the early stages.

20 min: Chance for Blackburn as David Dunn is allowed to advance into the Wigan half, but his effort drifts high and wide.

20 min: The away side really do play some nice football in and around the opposition's box. On this form, they look more like top-10 than relegation contenders.

18 min: Junior Hoilett shows nice feet as he advances past the Wigan defence, but his final ball was lacking when he might have done better.

17 min: Blackburn enjoying their best spell of possession as the 20-minute mark approaches, with Yakubu a particular threat.

15 min: Both teams have made strong starts to the encounter, but it would be fair to say that Wigan look more dangerous in advanced positions.

13 min: Wigan are playing some really nice stuff in these early stages with Moses, Maloney and Emmmerson Boyce all involved, but Dann once more clears the danger.

11 min: Blackburn's clearest sight of goal so far falls to Modeste after nice work from Yakubu, but his effort is high of the bar.

9 min: Fine chance for Wigan to take the lead as Franco Di Santo advances on goal, but his effort is beaten away by Robinson. Really smart stuff from Wigan in the early stages.

7 min: We have a chicken on the pitch here at Ewood Park, much to the amusement of tonight's crowd. It certainly looks like fowl play, and a supporter of Venky's, however, the troublemaker has been removed.

6 min: Wigan are looking dangerous in these early stages as Jean Beausejour fires a low cross towards Maloney, but Scott Dann clears the danger.

5 min: Chance for Modeste after a cutting pass from Jason Lowe, but Wigan stopper Ali Al-Habsi was on hand to clear the danger. End-to-end stuff here at Ewood Park.

4 min: Early chance for Wigan as Moses picks up the ball outside the box, but his effort is wide of the post.

4 min: When Blackburn's owners, Venky's, took control of the club in 2010, they promised Champions League football within four years. Oh how times change.

2 min: It's been a lively start from both sides in the early stages with Yakubu and Anthony Modeste both enjoying touches of the ball for Blackburn.

1 min: It's a bright start from Wigan with Shaun Maloney looking for Victor Moses, but it just drifts behind and Paul Robinson will restart the play.

1 min: The usual 'Kean out' chants could be heard with kickoff approaching and it is Wigan who get us underway this evening. Who will stamp their mark on the early stages of the match?

19.55: The players are emerging onto the turf at Ewood Park, and what a 90 minutes of football we have ahead of us. Tonight's referee is Mark Clattenburg.

19.50 Even if Blackburn can secure a quite stunning comeback, questions about the future of boss Steve Kean will certainly remain. It is understood that the club's owners, Venky's, are not represented at the match tonight.

19.45: We are just 15 minutes away from the start of one of the most important Premier League clashes in recent seasons. It could be all over for Blackburn this evening, while Wigan could once more complete a sensational escape.

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