PHILIP Billing’s third goal in as many Championship games set Cherries on their way to continuing their winning league run with victory against Blackburn Rovers.

In a game of few chances, Billing’s first-half strike was added to by an Arnaut Danjuma effort at Ewood Park.

Adam Armstrong had the opportunity to pull one back late on for Blackburn from the penalty spot, but he was denied by Asmir Begovic.

The 2-0 victory ensured Cherries made it three wins on the spin in the Championship for just the second time this season.

Despite the win, Jonathan Woodgate’s men remain seventh in the table, a point behind Reading and three off Barnsley, who both also won this afternoon.

Woodgate made three changes to the side which beat Middlesbrough on Good Friday. David Brooks returned from injury and illness problems to make his first appearance since mid-February, taking the place of Junior Stanislas, who did not travel due to feeling unwell himself.

Elsewhere, Ben Pearson and Lloyd Kelly were preferred to Jack Wilshere and Diego Rico, who both dropped to the bench.

Blackburn, seeking a first home win since January, welcomed back top scorer Armstrong, who missed Friday’s loss at Wycombe through injury.

Woodgate’s brother-in-law Stewart Downing was named among the Rovers subs.

There was very little in the way of goalmouth action during the early exchanges in chilly conditions in Lancashire, with Cherries seeing a penalty shout waved away when Brooks went down under a challenge from Barry Douglas on the edge of the box.

The first shot in anger came the way of the hosts as Liverpool loanee Harvey Elliott curled over the crossbar.

Cherries then launched an attack of their own with Danjuma wriggling into some space for the first time and breaking into the box, but his shot was blocked and bobbled through to goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski.

Rovers were forced into a change midway the first half with the injured Joe Rothwell replaced by former Tottenham Hotspur man Lewis Holtby.

Little under five minutes later, Cherries had taken the lead.

It was hard to see where a goal was coming from, but out of nowhere Cherries worked the ball forwards to Danjuma, who cut inside and fired goalwards. The shot struck centre-back Darragh Lenihan and fell kindly for Billing to sweep home his third goal in as many Championship matches.

The goal seemed to spark Blackburn into a little bit of life, with Bradley Johnson delivering for Holtby moments later, whose flicked header was held by Begovic.

Armstrong also had a shot blocked by Steve Cook, before teenager Elliott’s curling strike was parried away by Begovic as Cherries went in ahead at half-time.

Blackburn made their second change soon after the restart, introducing striker Sam Gallagher.

And the former Southampton man almost carved a route back into the contest for Rovers. A deep cross to the back post was nodded down by Gallagher for Armstrong, who looked set to slam the hosts level, only for his shot to take a nick and fly wide of the post.

Woodgate then turned to his bench for the first time, introducing Jack Stacey in place of Brooks.

And with 15 minutes to play, Cherries doubled their tally.

Ben Pearson did well to slot the ball through for Danjuma, who made no mistake one-on-one, tucking into the bottom corner.

Rovers made a triple change to try and forge a way back into the contest, with Downing among those introduced.

And the hosts were given a golden opportunity to pull a goal back in stoppage time after Adam Smith tripped Gallagher in the box. However, Begovic denied Armstrong’s penalty with his legs to preserve his clean sheet.

Cook also had to be alert moments later to clear a shot off the line as the visitors held firm to head back down south with all three points.

Cherries: Begovic; Smith, Carter-Vickers, Cook, Kelly; Lerma, Pearson; Brooks (Stacey, 70), Billing, Danjuma (Rico, 90); Solanke (Surridge, 83).

Unused subs: Mepham, Wilshere, Riquelme, Anthony, Long, Travers (g/k).

Booked: Lerma, Solanke.

Blackburn: Kaminski; Nyambe (Buckley, 79), Lenihan, Harwood-Bellis, Douglas; Trybull (Downing, 79), Rothwell (Holtby, 24), Johnson; Elliott (Bennett, 79), Dolan (Gallagher, 56), Armstrong.

Unused subs: Branthwaite, Davenport, Brereton, Pears (g/k).

Booked: Elliott.

Referee: Darren Bond.