THE last time Blackburn Rovers were awarded a penalty, David Beckham still played for Manchester United, Arsenal were Premiership also-rans, and Chelsea fans had never heard of Roman Abramovich.

But after 566 days, 19 months, 53 games and 4809 minutes of Premiership football that amazing sequence finally came to an end in the impressive surroundings of the City of Manchester Stadium.

Just like the day John F Kennedy was assassinated, every Blackburn fan will remember in years to come exactly what they were doing the moment Rovers were finally awarded a penalty.

A statute in honour of Mark Clattenburg, the match referee who bravely pointed to the spot, should be erected outside Ewood Park, perhaps 12 yards away from the one the fans would like commissioned for Tony Parkes - the Rovers legend who was unceremoniously sacked after 34 years' loyal service on Friday.

There have been countless 'stone wall' cases for a penalty over the last season and a half but, remarkably, every one has been overlooked or turned down flat...until now!

The golden moment came in the 77th minute, as Rovers trailed 1-0 to an Antoine Sibierski goal in a game they had dominated.

Steven Reid fed a delightful ball through to Paul Dickov, who burst clear of the City defence, and as he pulled his leg back to shoot, Danny Mills cleaned him out with the kind of clumsy challenge that has punctuated his career.

Penalty! There was absolutely no doubt about it.

But given that Rovers' last spot-kick was awarded at Leeds United on April 26, 2003, when Michael Duberry handled a Damien Duff corner, it was no surprise that the visiting fans held their breathe for a split second and awaited the referee's decision.

Thankfully, Mr Clattenburg had the courage of his convictions and duly delivered the right verdict but even then there was still some sweating to be done before the celebrations could begin.

After waiting so long for a spot-kick, who was brave enough to take it, knowing it might be another 19 months before Rovers get another?

Step forward, Paul Dickov - the diminutive striker with a taste for the big occasion.

The Scottish international is still revered in the blue half of Manchester after spending six happy years at City.

But the last time he paid his former club a visit, he was booed off the pitch for scoring from the spot as Leicester won 3-0 here last season.

It must, therefore, have been tempting for Dickov to duck the responsibility this time, secure in the knowledge that he had done his bit by winning it in the first place.

No chance!

The man who saved Rovers' skin with a priceless equaliser at Norwich last week, delivered the goods once again, confidently stepping forward to stroke a firm right footed shot inside the base of David James' left hand post.

"Paul Dickov is a small guy but he's putting in big performances for us at the moment and he's an influence in every game we play," said Rovers boss Mark Hughes.

"Opposition defences don't like playing against him because he's a good player with high energy who makes things happen and he's made things happen again today."

In fairness, had Rovers left here empty-handed it would have ranked as the biggest injustice since Deidre Barlow was falsely imprisoned because Hughes' side were comfortably the better team for large parts of a game that took an age to catch fire.

At the back, Nissa Johansson and Andy Todd did an excellent job of snuffing out the threat of Nicolas Anelka but it was in midfield where Rovers' superiority really showed.

Tugay, who worked harder than I've ever previously seen him do in a Blackburn shirt, formed an impressive alliance with Barry Ferguson in the centre of the park and they comfortably won their battle with Paul Bosvelt and the footballer formerly known as Steve McManaman.

They were aided and abetted, too, by the ever-willing Reid and Brett Emerton, who provided real energy and drive from the flanks.

There were times when Rovers looked anything but a bottom of the table side.

They zipped the ball about intelligently but for all their neat approach play, they still lack a cutting edge in the final third, a problem which has haunted them all season.

City, in contrast, looked completely devoid of ideas going forward - a trait not normally associated with Kevin Keegan's teams - and they were overly reliant on the pace of Shaun Wright-Phillips, often resorting to banging the ball aimlessly forward for the speedy striker to chase.

In Keegan's defence, his squad is ravaged by injuries but if this was typical of the fayre being regularly served up here then City fans deserve better and it might be time for the former England manager to fall on his sword.

In the meantime, the green shoots of recovery are beginning to sprout for Rovers.

Hughes' side are now three games unbeaten and perhaps even more importantly, they are starting to look fitter, stronger, sharper and more organised as the hard work on the training ground shows signs of bearing fruit.

It was Rovers who looked more like the home side for large spells of the first half.

Jon Stead, Tugay and Lucas Neill had already gone close before Dickov turned Sylvain Distin on the edge of the area only to shoot straight at David James.

City were bereft of ideas in comparison. The only time they threatened Brad Friedel's goal was a shot from Willo Flood, who had tricked his way past Jay McEveley.

Rovers, meanwhile, continued to press forward with menace and a radar-like pass from Dickov released Stead but the striker lifted his effort just over the crossbar.

Then, as half time approached, a bolt from the blue hit the visitors.

James launched a long kick down the centre of field that got flicked on to McManaman, who in turn sprayed a first time pass out to Wright-Phillips, who was lurking with intent on the flank.

A quick dab on the accelerator from the England midfielder took him past McEveley in a blur and Sibierski turned in his low cross from six yards out.

That was a huge psychological blow but this Rovers side no longer rolls over and dies like it might have done in the past.

Crucially, there was no knee-jerk reaction from the bench and that sense of calm was reflected on the pitch.

Even when Matt Jansen, who was on as a second half substitute for the injured Stead, fluffed a golden chance to make it 1-1 there was no sense of panic as Rovers kept passing the ball, waiting for an opportunity to come their way.

Eventually, one did in the 77th minute but from the most unlikely of sources.

Mills' rash challenge earned him a red card and Rovers a penalty, which Dickov duly converted.

From then on, only one team threatened to take all three points as City's 10-men hung on grimly.

David Thompson, who was making only his second appearance of the season, singed James' fingertips with a trademark strike from 25 yards.

Then, right at the death, the ball dropped invitingly for Dickov just inside the area but his shot crept inches wide of the far upright.

Nevertheless, the recovery continues to gather momentum and Rovers are even getting penalties now.

THE

START

City: James; Mills, Jordan, Dunne, Distin; Sibierski, Bosvelt, McManaman, Flood; S Wright-Phillips, Anelka. Subs: Reyna (for Flood, 65) Not used: Onuoha, Fowler, B Wright-Phillips

Referee: Mr M Clattenberg 8.

Bookings: City; Jordan Rovers; Todd, Thompson. Sendings off: Mills (professional foul)

Attendance: 45,504

Goals: City 1 Rovers 0 - Sibierski, 45 mins

City 1 Rovers 1 - Dickov (pen), 77 mins