BLACKBURN Rovers made it a hat-trick of league victories with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over near-neighbours Wigan Athletic in a pulsating match at Ewood Park this Sunday.

Benni McCarthy was the match-winner, but it was half-time substitute goalkeeper Jason Brown who was the hero as he saved a second half spot-kick when the scores were level after Heskey had opened the scoring early on before David Bentley levelled just before the break.

The day had started badly for Mark Hughes as Shabani Nonda failed a fitness test before the game, a knee injury meant Francis Jeffers was the only change from Thursday night.

Those exerts in midweek looked to have taken their toll early on as with just two minutes on the clock when Rovers founds themselves a goal behind, Emmerson Boyce played a neat one-two with Valencia down the right wing and his centre was swept home by Emile Heskey who had stole a yard of space in the penalty area. It wasn't the start Rovers were requiring, Friedel picking the ball out of the back of the net was his first touch of the game.

To their credit the home side immediately went hunting for a quick equaliser, Benni McCarthy put an effort wide from Bentley's centre from the right on four minutes, then two minutes later the South African turned Arjan De Zeeuw brilliantly in the area, but his left-footed strike rolled agonisingly wide of Kirkland's far post.

In between those two efforts Francis Jeffers thought he was through with just the 'keeper to beat only to be thwarted by the flag of the linesman, replays showed that it was a Wigan boot who had touched the ball last therefore the Liverpudlian should have been allowed to continue.

The game followed a very similar pattern to the one between the two sides last season back in April. Paul Jewell's side content to frustrate, slow play down, take as long as they could with throws and free-kicks and generally make the play very fragmented which stopped Rovers getting their high-tempo passing game going.

But in saying that Rovers still weren't without their chances in the opening half, midway through the half Lucas Neill slipped the ball through to McCarthy again in the area, he aimed to steer the ball into the corner of the net only to be denied by Chris Kirkland who made a find stop with his body.

Just past the half hour Rovers again created an excellent chance, Brett Emerton threaded the ball through to Francis Jeffers, he looked to find his strike partner with a ball across the area, but it was just too high for the South African.

Wigan ended the first half strongly, Ecuadorian international Luis Antonio Valencia fired wide, whilst Friedel had to save from Camara and De Zeeuw efforts.

But all of Wigan's time-wasting came home to roost seconds before the end of the first period, when David Bentley dummied a ball upfield to him from Lucas Neill allowing Francis Jeffers read the play and feed the ball onto the Rovers winger who had come inside, and just like on Thursday night, Bentley found the back of the net, this time with a steered shot that curled into the back of the net past the despairing dive of Chris Kirkland.

Rovers were dealt a blow at half-time as Brad Friedel didn't re-appear at the start of the second half, that meant a senior debut for Jason Brown in goal.

Buoyed by the goal just before the break, Rovers start the second half in the ascendancy, pushing Wigan right on the back foot with some scintillating attacking football.

Francis Jeffers got the better of Arjan De Zeeuw just after the restart, but his effort was blocked, then McCarthy was though but thwarted by the offside flag.

Just before the hour mark Robbie Savage had a free-kick opportunity from a similar position to the one he scored from back in Salzburg, but whilst the Welshman hit the effort well, Chris Kirkland made a fantastic save, tipping the ball over the bar.

The England goalkeeper again pulled off a fantastic save to deny Morten Gamst Pedersen who hit a tremendous volley towards goal.

Rovers were so dominant in the first twenty minutes of the second half that they really needed to grab the lead that their play deserved but with Kirkland keeping the home side at bay Wigan were always in the game.

But with fifteen minutes remaining all of Rovers' good play looked to have come undone, again it was a ball over the top that had Rovers troubled, Heskey outpaced Ooijer and the Dutchman's last gasp effort was to bring down the former Liverpool and Birmingham striker. Referee Howard Webb had no hesitation in pointing to the spot, Ooijer - who's fan club was present in the Jack Walker stand - was booked to make things worse.

Substitute Svetoslav Todorov had already scored against Rovers once this season on the opening day for Portsmouth, but he came up against the unknown quantity of Jason Brown.

The Bulgarian hit the ball to the 'keeper's right, Brown made the save, the ball rebounded back to the Wigan striker, he hit it forward again and Brown again blocked, the ball looped into the air, McCulloch headed goalwards and the Welshman was at the right place at the right time to grab the ball high on the line.

The Rovers fans paid Brown the highest of compliments by chanting "Are you Friedel in disguise?", the only worry was that it was the sixth penalty conceeded already this season, thankfully five of them have been saved.

Boosted by Brown's save Rovers roared back into action, Lucas Neill played a teasing ball upfield which somehow saw Arjan De Zeeuw marking both substitute Jason Roberts and Benni McCarthy, the Wigan defender's plight wasn't helped by an uncharacteristic rush of blood from goalkeeper Chris Kirkland who came out of his are to try to assist, but the ball fell to Roberts who showed speed of thought to touch the ball onto McCarthy.

With the goalkeeper stranded Benni McCarthy had the easiest goal of his fledgling Rovers career by netting his fifth goal in nine games to put Rovers in front for the first time in the game.

Just before the end of the game Kirkland had come up for a Wigan corner kick, Rovers broke quickly and eventually saw Roberts through with just the goalkeeper to beat but once again his route to goal was blocked by Kirkland who made the save with a outstretched boot.

Had Kirkland not been in such good form the scoreline could have been much much greater.

So once again there was no Euro hangover from Rovers as they made it four wins from four in league and cup.

ROVERS: Friedel (sub Brown 46 mins), Emerton, Ooijer, Khizanishvili, Neill (c), Bentley, Tugay (sub Mokoena 70 mins), Savage, Pedersen, Jeffers (sub Roberts 70 mins), McCarthy. Subs not used: Gallagher, McEveley.

WIGAN: Kirkland, Jackson, De Zeeuw (c), Camara (sub Todorov 64 mins), Kilbane (sub McCulloch 74 mins), Heskey, Landzaat, Valencia (sub Teale 67 mins), Boyce, Scharner, Baines. Subs not used: Johansson, Pollitt (GK).

Booked: Jeffers, Ooijer, Mokoena (Rovers), Scharner, Kilbane, Baines, Landzaat (Wigan).

Attendance: 17,859