Gam-buster! PEDERSEN CRACKS FOXES.

Byline: LINDSAY SUTTON

BLACKBURN 2 Gomes 33, Pedersen 79 LEICESTER 1 Vardy 55 MORTEN Gamst Pedersen's winning strike proved there's life in the old dog yet - even if some don't think so.

The 30-year-old's goal was the perfect way to shove any derisive comments made by Blackburn's pretentiously named 'Global Advisor' Shebby Singh back down his throat.

Singh had inferred that the long-serving Norwegian's 'legs had gone' while also stipulating that boss Steve Kean would be sacked if he lost three games on the trot.

Little wonder that after his goal, Pedersen grabbed a walking stick, stood with it and then threw it away.

Kean described Pedersen's stick celebration as "a bit of a tongue in cheek" gesture, which he was sure would be taken as "a bit of fun".

But both the popular Pedersen, and the often unpopular Kean, can take comfort from the fact that relegated Rovers chalked up their second win in four days. It was hard on Leicester who bossed much of the game, only to find themselves behind to a smash-and-grab first-half goal by Nuno Gomes.

Leicester's record nonleague signing Jamie Vardy, a pounds 1million purchase from Fleetwood, looked to have hauled the Foxes back into the game, and went on to have a 'goal' ruled out for offside.

But then came party pooper Pedersen to prove he can still deliver. Sub Ruben Rochina's attempted shot was deflected into his path, and the old hand swung a right-foot shot across goal, past the outstretched arms of keeper Kasper Schmeichel and in off the far post.

Foxes boss Nigel Pearson admitted the winner was "a great piece of skill" but added: "We were certainly worth a win, but key decisions didn't go our way.

"I can't understand why we had a good goal disallowed. Vardy was certainly not offside - but you sometimes have to endure these things."

Rovers' opener on 33 minutes was a shock to the buoyant Foxes who had started impressively.

Jason Lowe went down the right flank to put in the low cross for Portuguese striker Gomes who hit his first-time effort past stranded keeper Schmeichel.

Yet Rovers could easily have gone behind early on.

Former England keeper Paul Robinson made a couple of good saves, and a last-gasp deflection by Scott Dann helped Blackburn's cause.

Then David Nugent got in a close-range header - but he didn't count on Robinson pulling off a neat save.

Nugent again played in Andy King, who saw his shot deflected wide by Dann. Another corner saw Nugent look odds-on with a header on target - but this time Bruno Ribeiro saved the day as he cleared from the goal-line.

Then came Vardy's memorable strike - even though he had needed a helping hand from Blackburn defender Dann, whose tame backpass gave him his chance.

Vardy looked as though he'd secured his side a point, but Pedersen's goal 11 minutes from time made the Foxes rue their earlier missed chances.

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?ROVER WE GO: Blackburn's Nuno Gomes opens the scoring ?OLD GOLD: Morten Gamst Pedersen's goal defied his critics