We played for pride

Captain Jonathan Greening believes Albion reclaimed more pride as they bowed out of the Premier League with another impressive performance.

The Baggies skipper reckons the club said farewell to the top-flight for at least a season with another statement to their rivals as the home side said goodbye to veteran midfielder Tugay with tribute masks and away fans made a similar gesture for manager Tony Mowbray.

Each of the 3,000 travelling supporters were handed a mask as they went through the turnstile at Ewood Park.

"It was always going to be a difficult game because we were relegated already," said Greening.

"The atmosphere for Tugay was good so we just tried to dictate the tempo on a hot day.

"I had a good chance at the end, Chris Brunt had a volley which produced a great save and we should have won it really.

"There was nothing for us to play for other than pride but I thought we showed a lot of people that we are good enough to play Premier League football and showed what a good team we are.

"I loved the masks. It was good.

"We had 'SuperKev' (for Kevin Phillips) in the last game last year and now this.

"I signed a few of the gaffers' masks outside but I had to make sure it wasn't the real thing - I don't think he'd let me do that!"

The game's main talking point was the red card shown to former Albion striker Jason Roberts in the second half.

The Blackburn forward was dismissed for allegedly striking Baggies defender Jonas Olsson but Greening admitted his own surprise.

"Jonas said he got elbowed a few times but he thought it was a bit harsh really," said former Middlesbrough and Manchester united midfielder Greening.

"It was a strange one but the referee saw it and he sent Jason off."