Brighton & Hove Albion have survived a second-half onslaught to beat Blackburn Rovers 1-0 at Ewood Park.

The Seagulls started the match on the front foot as Emmanuel Ledesma's early free kick was headed narrowly wide by Gordon Greer, before Chris O'Grady struck the post from outside the box. A speculative effort from Joao Carlos Teixeira could have also broken the deadlock but it flashed inches wide.

The visitors eventually took the lead midway through the half when O'Grady's cross was headed into his own net by Matt Kilgallon.

Blackburn thought they had an equaliser shortly after, but Jordan Rhodes was adjudged to have fouled David Stockdale before he put it in the net from a few yards out.

Brighton came close to doubling their lead after half time as Rohan Ince put Ledesma's cross wide from six yards, while Rhodes had a header for the hosts brilliantly saved by Stockdale shortly afterwards.

Substitute striker Rudy Gestede suffered the same result as Rhodes, as his header was tipped over the bar by the in-form keeper, before he then kept out Marcus Olsson's well-struck shot from long range.

Blackburn huffed and puffed, but they couldn't find their way through.