GARY Bowyer cut a delighted if relieved figure after bruised and battered Blackburn Rovers earned a 1-0 win at 10-man and managerless Fulham yesterday to make it six points out of nine at the end of a ‘massive week’.

A typical poacher’s goal from the irrepressible Jordan Rhodes settled a hard-fought contest in which Rovers lost Lee Williamson, as well as fellow midfielder Tom Cairney, to injury after he was the victim of a dreadful tackle from Shaun Hutchinson that earned the Cottagers defender a straight red card on the stroke of half-time.

Despite their numerical disadvantage rock-bottom and winless Fulham, buoyed both on and the pitch by the departure of deeply unpopular boss Felix Magath, finished the stronger and they would have got the equaliser their caretaker manager Kit Symons felt they deserved had it not been for a brilliant save from goalkeeper Jason Steele who, along with fellow full debutant Shane Duffy, impressed.

Rovers boss Bowyer admitted his side had made hard work of their second victory in the space of eight days – following the home success of Wigan Athletic the previous Saturday – and their first clean sheet of the campaign.

But he had nothing but praise for the response they showed from the midweek home loss to Derby County.

“The desire and resilience was there again and we’re really pleased to get our first clean sheet of the season and come away with the three points at the end of what’s been a massive week,” said Bowyer, who hailed the travelling Rovers support as ‘magnificent’.

“To get six out of nine has been a great effort from our lads.

“This was never going to be an easy fixture, what with them losing their manager, and Kit Symons has done a tremendous job in such a short space of time in getting them organised and up for it.”

There was further good news to come after the game when it was confirmed that Williamson had not suffered a broken leg and that he had been able to walk away from a challenge which Hutchinson apologised for.

“Fortunately for us and for Lee, he has got lucky,” said Bowyer.

“He has a lovely pattern down his leg so he will be badly bruised, that’s for sure, but fortunately at this moment there’s no break in it. We’re delighted for him.

“Willo, I thought, was playing ever so well up until that point, but the main thing is that he has been able to limp out of here.

“It is one of them where the ball runs away from the lad, he has apologised and that’s no problem.”

Stand-in Fulham boss Symons, who scouted for Rovers during Mark Hughes’ time in charge of the club, said: “There was nothing in the first half, 11 v 11, and even in the second half we put up a good performance and had a few chances to win the game or get back into it when they got the goal.

“We were very much in the game and it was a disciplined, resolute performance with 10 men.

“We had to change the shape and formation a few times to try and get us back into it but it didn’t quite work.

“But I couldn’t ask any more of the players. I am delighted with the performance overall.”