Blackburn Rovers 2-1 Fulham

Blackburn Rovers boosted their Championship play-off hopes with an entertaining win over Fulham.

Ben Marshall scored with Rovers' first meaningful attack at Ewood Park as poor defending allowed him to power into the area and finish low.

The visitors had chances with Jazz Richards, Cauley Woodrow and Lasse Vigen Christensen all going close.

Jordan Rhodes headed home to double the lead before Ross McCormack's second-half strike gave the Cottagers hope.

And while both teams pushed for a late goal, none came, meaning ninth-placed Blackburn keep their faint play-off hopes alive by moving to within eight points of the top six.

Fulham, who drop down to 15th, created the first chance of the afternoon as on-loan Swansea defender Richards' well-struck shot was saved well by Jason Steele.

Winger Marshall then opened the scoring when he pounced on some slack defending, driving a shot under goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli for his seventh goal of the season.

Striker Woodrow had an excellent chance to equalise for the Cottagers, but his early shot was well wide, before Rovers winger Craig Conway struck the post with a curling effort from the edge of the area.

Rhodes went close with a couple of headers in the second half, before his flick from Marcus Olsson's delivery took him to 10 goals this term.

Woodrow hit the crossbar with a powerful drive as Kit Symons' side pushed forward, and while McCormack pulled one back from close range when he took down Christensen's cross and rifled into the bottom corner, they failed to find a leveller.

Blackburn boss Gary Bowyer on Jordan Rhodes:

"Jordan does what Jordan does very well and we're delighted he put his head onto a wonderful cross from Markus Olsson.

"He's a top striker who scores goals and we're delighted he's got that one now because we expect him to go on a run because that's what happens with him. He gets goals for fun."

Fulham manager Kit Symons:

"We needed to take our chances. We created quite a few and had some good openings but you need to take them when they come along and that's the way it can be sometimes.

"I have high ambitions and high hopes for this group of players and I believe in them massively. Today was a tough one to take but it won't dampen what we do and won't dampen my enthusiasm or my belief in this group of players."