THE key stats and moments from the game against Arsenal.
ROVERS:
FRIEDEL: Didn't need to reproduce his Highbury heroics but still played his part with a number of vital saves ...7
TAYLOR: Up against the brilliant Robert Pires but did an excellent job of keeping the Frenchman quiet ...7
GRESKO: Looks at home in the Premiership. Solid and reliable defensively and he used the ball intelligently going forward ...7
BERG: A model of consistency at the back. It's going to be a sad day when he finally quits Ewood for good ...8
SHORT: Back in the team after injury and he relished the challenge of keeping the lid on the normally deadly Thierry Henry ...8
FLITCROFT: Outstanding in the centre of midfield. Disrupted the Gunners' rhythm with a series of bone-crunching challenges ...8
TUGAY: What a time to score his first goal of the season! Pulled the strings in midfield by keeping the ball moving ...8
GILLESPIE: Back on top note and gave Giovanni Van Bronckhorst a real grilling. Also supplied the cross which led to Duff's goal ...8
YORKE: Had few clear sights of goal but still caused problems for the Gunners' whenever he dropped deep ...7
SUKUR: Still looks short of match fitness following his recent injury problems but he worked hard in closing people down ...7
DUFF: Great to see him back in the fold. Grabbed a goal and an assist and always offered Rovers an outlet on the break ...8
SUBS:
JOHANSSON (for Duff, 70) 7
GALLAGHER (for Yorke, 79) 7
NOT USED: GRABBI, DOUGLAS, KELLY
OPPOSITION:
TAYLOR: Lacked authority of Seaman ...6
LAUREN: Had his hands full with Duff ...6
EDU: Intimidated by Flitcroft ...6
CYGAN: Personal nightmare ...5
KEOWN: Limped off injured ...5
PARLOUR: No Vieira ...6
VAN BRONCKHORST: Given a roasting ...5
LJUNGBERG: Not at the races ...6
BERGKAMP: No menace from Dennis ...5
HENRY: The Gunners' biggest threat ...7
PIRES: Anonymous by his standards ...6
SUBS:
GILBERTO (for Keown, 18) 6; WILTORD (for Pires, 70) 5;
JEFFERS (for Edu, 70) 5
NOT USED: TOURE, WARMUZ
STATS:
Goal attempts: Rovers 12 Arsenal 9
Shots on target: Rovers 5 Arsenal 6
Woodwork: Rovers 0 Arsenal 0
Offsides: Rovers 4 Arsenal 2
Corners: Rovers 3 Arsenal 5
Free kicks: Rovers 16 Arsenal 16
Attendance: 29,840
Referee: Steven Bennett (Kent) ...5
Yellow cards - Rovers: Duff 16, Tugay 31, Flitcroft 48, Sukur 88. Arsenal: Parlour 53, Van Bronckhorst 76
Sendings off - Rovers: None, Arsenal: None
TIME FOR ACTION:
14 Brad Friedel has to react sharply to palm aside a Thierry Henry free kick
17 Friedel gathers another free kick from Van Bronckhorst before Martin Keown then gets injured
22 It's 1-0 as Damien Duff marks his comeback with a thumping right foot volley
23 Freddie Ljungberg fires straight at Friedel following a clever link up with Henry
29 Craig Short goes close to a second for Rovers with a powerful header from a Keith Gillespie corner
34 Duff forces a brilliant reflex save out of Stuart Taylor with a rasping drive from the edge of the box
41 Robert Pires misses a golden chance to equalise but can't get enough purchase on his header
52 Rovers are rampant as Tugay adds a second with a right-foot shot which arrows into the bottom corner
56 Another Gillespie corner causes panic but Dwight Yorke's header sails over the bar
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article