THE key stats and moments from the game against Southampton.

ROVERS:

FRIEDEL: Made a couple of vital saves early on to keep Rovers in the hunt but his kicking was clearly affected by a foot injury....7

NEILL: Warmed up for Wednesday night's friendly against England with a typically athletic display down the right...7

GRESKO: Looks like a good addition. Calm and composed in possession and did a decent defensive job on Fabrice Fernandes....7

SHORT: A welcome return for the towering centre-back who did a super job in snuffing out the aerial threat of James Beattie....8

BERG: Used all his experience at the back and could have grabbed his first goal of the season but for a sharp save from Niemi....7

FLITCROFT: Must have covered every blade of grass on the pitch in the first half alone as he took the fight to the Saints....7

TUGAY: Appears to be feeling the affects of a long, hard season. Off the pace in midfield and it was no surprise when he got subbed....6

THOMPSON: One of his best performances for some time. Scored a good goal and was a real driving force in midfield....8

COLE: Fashioned a couple of chances for himself out of nothing but he couldn't find a way past an inspired Niemi....7

YORKE: Not firing on all cylinders right now. Struggled to retain possession and lacked the sharpness required to trouble Niemi...6

GILLESPIE: Saw plenty of the ball and he supplied the cross for the goal but Souness clearly felt he wasn't taking on his man enough....7

SUBS: JOHANSSON...(for Tugay, 59) 6

TAYLOR...(for Yorke, 63) 6

OSTENSTAD...(for Gillespie, 90)

NOT USED...GRABBI, KELLY

OPPOSITION:

NIEMI...Kept his side in the game. 8

TELFER...Decent right foot. 6

HIGGINBOTHAM...Quiet debut. 6

LUNDEKVAM...Gritty defender. 7

M SVENSSON...Hit the bar. 6

OAKLEY...Average performance. 6

MARSDEN...Fairly anonymous. 6

A SVENSSON...Not influential. 6

FERNANDES...Flashes of quality. 6

BEATTIE...Threw his weight about. 6

TESSEM...Infuriating. 5

SUBS: PRUTTON...(for Fernandes, 73) 6

ORMEROD...(for A Svensson, 81)

NOT USED...DAVIES, WILLIAMS, JONES

STATS:

Goal attempts: Rovers 14 Southampton 10

Shots on target: Rovers 8 Southampton 6

Woodwork: Rovers 0 Southampton 1

Offsides: Rovers 6 Southampton 3

Corners: Rovers 5 Southampton 5

Free kicks: Rovers 11 Southampton 12

REFEREE...Mr M Riley (West Yorkshire) 6

Bookings - Rovers: None; Southampton: Marsden (dissent). Sendings off: None

Attendance: 24,896

TIME FOR ACTION:

05 Chris Mardsen plays a clever one-two with Jo Tessem but Brad Friedel reacts sharply to palm away his shot

06 Friedel saves again from Fabrice Fernandes after David Thompson loses possession

18 Lucas Neill goes crashing to the floor under a challenge from Michael Svensson but referee Mike Riley says 'no penalty'

20 Antii Niemi makes a wonderful save to keep out Thompson's back-post header

21 Niemi excels himself again with another reflex stop from Henning Berg's point-blank shot

27 Rovers make the breakthrough as Keith Gillespie crosses for Thompson to thump home the all-important goal

34 Michael Svensson nearly bags an equaliser but his looping header brushes the top of the bar

45 Niemi saves again from Tugay following a barnstorming run from Thompson

61 James Beattie races clear but balloons his shot into the Blackburn End

72 Vratislav Gresko makes a vital last-ditch tackle to deny Beattie

87 Andy Cole bursts past a couple of challenges but his shot is saved by Niemi

90 Cole is denied by Niemi again after seizing onto a pass from Nissa Johansson