JEMAL Johnson stole the spotlight from the illustrious strike partnership of Dwight Yorke and Matt Jansen as he netted Rovers reserves' winner at Morecambe last night.

Johnson replaced Jansen after just 13 minutes of the first half then popped up 13 minutes into the second to coolly slot in the only goal of an otherwise drab affair.

Jansen's injury was probably the scariest moment for Rovers in the whole game when he stayed down after an aerial challenge and a stretcher was summoned.

Fortunately the striker got to his feet having suffered no more than a bang on the head, but it was enough to make him stagger off and be replaced by the lively Johnson.

While Jansen missed most of the match, Yorke didn't make much more impact despite playing for the full 90 minutes.

He provided some neat touches and tidy hold-up play but his general posture suggested he saw being dropped to the reserves as a kick in the teeth rather than a kick up the backside.

But then, there's always far more motivation for the younger players to impress in reserve fixtures, a point that wasn't lost on Jerome Watt.

The enthusiastic winger set up Johnson's goal and also created Rovers' best opportunity of a truly uninspired first half when his 37th minute free-kick was met by Nissa Johansson. The Swede's header was kept out by a save from Arni Arason not unlike the one he produced in the build-up to Manchester United's third goal in the FA Cup derby on Saturday.

On the stroke of half-time City should have taken the lead when Nedum Onuoha teed up Stephen Elliott in the six-yard box. Let's just say his scooped shot over the bar won't exactly have Nicolas Anelka fearing for his place.

And the watching Kevin Keegan won't have been marking Lee Croft's name down on his 'first team potential' list as he also missed an easy chance early in the second half.

But there were no such problems for Johnson as he took a cross from Jerome Watt in his stride and slid the ball into the corner in the 58th minute.

Six minutes later Elliott had another good opportunity and while he was on target with this one, Enckelman showed superb agility to get down and save.

And City also came close to levelling when Christian Negouai, who was once sent off playing against Rovers in the Worthington Cup, hammered one in from 30 yards which Enckelman had to spectacularly pluck from the air.

Rovers: Enckelman, Fitzgerald, Morgan, Donnelly (Byrom 71), Taylor, Johansson, Watt (Weaver 73), Yorke, Jansen (Johnson 13), Nelson, Harkins. Not used: Bruce, Yelldell.

City: Arason, Flood (J D'Laryea 45), Jordan, Wiekens (Tandy 45), McCarthy, Bischoff (B Wright-Phillips 68), Croft, Negouai, Elliott, Onouha, Whelan. Not used: Timms, N D'Laryea.

ROVERS RES 1

MAN CITY RES 0