New Zealand defender Ryan Nelsen broke a four-year English Premiership soccer drought when scoring a decisive goal for Blackburn Rovers in their 2-0 defeat of Wigan this morning (NZ time).
A glancing header in the 60th minute was the Blackburn captain's first goal in 111 appearances for the club, sparkinga roar from his home crowd at Ewood Park.
His timing was impeccable as the result lifts Blackburn six points clear of the relegation zone with four games remaining, nearly assuring them of a berth in next season's Premier League.
Nelsen, 32, has come close to scoring on numerous occasions this season and finally got on the scoresheet when he rose right to meet Benni McCarthy's right-wing free kick.
McCarthy had given them the lead after half an hour.
Meanwhile, Nelsen was in the news for a different reason in the leadup to the match after criticising Blackburn's former manager Paul Ince.
The Christchurch defender said the move to replace former England midfielder Ince with Sam Allardyce in December was the right one and had rejuvenated Rovers' season.
"Before Sam came in we were an absolute sinking ship, in big trouble," Nelsen told The News of the World newspaper.
"If the directors had not moved when they did we'd have been in serious trouble now.
"There is no disrespect to Paul. He will be a fantastic manager when the time is right but results are all that matters.
"Sam changed little things that his experience as a manager saw that Paul didn't."
