Southampton's own goal gives Blackburn Rovers Championship survival hope and all three points at Ewood Park.

Above: Blackburn vs Southampton today. Credit: Rebecca Hughes for Constancy Sport

Blackburn Rovers 1-0 Southampton 

Southampton’s Jemma Purfield gave Blackburn Rovers hope in Championship survival after placing it into the back of her own net. Blackburn’s Substitute Maria Edwards was the capitalist for the Lancashire side after making the difference. 

Blackburn Rovers started off well and gained possession easily from the Southampton side that played in their pink kit. Efforts from Tia Primmer, Georgia Walters and Ellie Noble proved vital for the rovers side as they looked to gain points in order to stay up next season. Throughout the opening five minutes, Blackburn Rovers had majority of the possession and provided great pressure to the visitors. Chloe Williams, Lucy Johnson and Ellie Noble had all set up good chances for the hosts but failed to find the back of the net after both shooting from distance with one of the chances finding Fran Stenson in the Southampton net. 

Southampton put some good chances away in the final 10 minutes of the first half as Rachel Rowe and Molly Pike both had long range shots but failed to find the back of the net. Vivienne Lia for Southampton dribbled past the Blackburn defence with four minutes to go on the clock but her cross found no player in the striking pink. Both sides went in with good chances but failed to find the back of the net on both sides of the pitch.

Half-time: Blackburn Rovers 0-0 Southampton 

As the rain started to fall in Lancashire, Blackburn continued to put on the pressure for the visitors as Rachel Dugdale had a chance but saw the side of the post and went out for a goal kick. Blackburn Substitute Maria Edwards had a shot from over 18 yards out but found the hands of Fran Stenson in the Southampton net. Blackburn kept persistent as they both had chances and blocks on either end of the pitch with both Midfielder Tia Primmer and Tyler Toland having a chance and a block to prevent the scoreline changing. 

Blackburn opened the scoring 58 minutes in after a Southampton player found the back of the net. The initial shot was from Substitute Maria Edwards as around 18 yards out she found a cross which fell to the head of Jemma Purfield in the 6 yard box and found the back of her own net. Since Blackburn’s opener, Southampton had chance after chance from Vivienne Lia and Chloe Peplow both had crosses but failed to find a player in the bright pink. Both sides continued to have chances all the way to the final whistle with Hannah Luke, Ellie Hack, Aimee Palmer and Maria Edwards all having shots towards goal but did not find the back of the net. Southampton played quick football to attempt to make the long journey worthwhile but failed to find the net.  

Full-time: Blackburn Rovers 1-0 Southampton. 

Teams: 

Blackburn Rovers: Brooks, Luke, Toland ©, Hack, Noble (Dahou 60’), Williams, Dugdale, Primmer, Walters (Edwards 46’), Johnson (Taylor 87’), Newell. 

Unused Subs: Soper, Settle, Clarkson, Crompton, Davies. 

Scorers: Purfield (OG) (58’) 

Yellow Cards: Edwards (86’) 

Southampton: Stenson, Collett (Peake 46’), Mott, Bourne, Purfield ©, Peplow, Harbert, Rowe, Pike, Lia (Palmer 75’), Mullett (Dennis 60’).

Unused Subs: Haaland, Milne.