Albion 3 - 0 Blackburn

Ashley Barnes struck his 49th and 50th goal of his Seagulls career while Jake Forster-Caskey nodded home his second goal in as many games to hand the Seagulls a 3-0 victory.

Goalscorer Barnes was named as man of the match but there were calls for Tomas Kuszczak to claim the accolade after pulling off a string of fine saves.

Barnes’ movement was impressive throughout and he found himself one-on-one with Jake Kean midway through the first half but ballooned his strike high and wide, though he would be handed a chance to redeem himself when Craig Conway was fouled inside the box.

The forward coolly slotted the penalty into the right corner, sending the Rovers keeper the wrong way.

Jordan Rhodes spurned his only chance of the game minutes before the break when he sent his header wide.

Joshua King tried his luck early on in the second half but Kuszczak was able to gather both of his lengthy attempts cleanly.

Rovers continued to pressure but it was Albion who were the more effective going forward. They doubled their lead on 56 minutes when Forster-Caskey latched onto Conway’s cross and looped a header past a rooted Kean.

Rovers responded once more but Tommy Spurr could only head against the bar.

It would be the Seagulls’ night and Barnes poached his second of the evening when Kean parried an Andrew Crofts strike into the 24-year-old’s path, with Barnes hammering the ball over the line from close range.

Kuszczak’s athletic save from substitute David Dunn’s late shot rounded off the game for Oscar Garcia’s men.