Pedersen inspires Rovers success

Miloševski dismissal
Vėtra were reduced to ten men after Morten Gamst Pedersen had headed in the opening goal to give Blackburn the cushion of a 3-0 aggregate lead and the Lithuanian visitors paid dearly for the 40th-minute dismissal of Dejan Miloševski as Jason Roberts, Benni McCarthy and Christopher Samba each scored in seven second-half minutes to put the match beyond doubt.

Pederson impact
Vėtra had made a promising start and could have gone ahead when Brazilian striker Lima Severino sprang the offside trap only to fire wide. However, the hosts took the lead midway though the first half as Pedersen met David Bentley's cross with a firm header and matters then worsened for the visitors when Miloševski was shown his second yellow card for a foul on Stephen Warnock.

Full advantage
Blackburn took full advantage and, three minutes after the restart, made it 2-0 on the day when Pedersen pulled the ball back for Roberts to score from close range. On 54 minutes McCarthy stretched the lead further when meeting Bentley's cross with a spectacular volley and, a minute later, it was four as Samba rose to glance in the inspirational Pedersen's free-kick. The win puts Blackburn through to the second qualifying round of the UEFA Cup.