A LOOK at the key moments from the game against Aston Villa.
ROVERS:
FRIEDEL: But for him Rovers' embarrassment would have been even more acute on a day when the rest of the team simply failed to turn up...7
CURTIS: Looked a little off the pace after being brought in from the cold but that's only to be expected given his recent lack of action...6
McEVELEY: Not one of his better days in a first team shirt but then he was hardly helped by the people around him...6
JOHANSSON: Never got to grips with the two up front and Dublin took full advantage for the second goal...5
TAYLOR: Should have been stronger for the first goal when he was outmuscled by Dublin in the air...5
GRESKO: Difficult to judge him on this evidence given that he was having to play out of position on his debut...6
FLITCROFT: Spent most of the afternoon having to do the work of two men as Villa bossed the engine room...6
TUGAY: When he performs like this he's a luxury in the team, especially when Rovers don't have the ball...5
THOMPSON: Currently suffering from a dip in form but he'll bounce back given time...5
COLE: Barely had a sniff up front where he was starved of quality service by his colleagues...5
YORKE: Wouldn't have enjoyed his latest visit to Villa Park and his sloppy pass which led to the second goal summed up his afternoon...5
SUBS:
OSTENSTAD (for Curtis, 46) 5, GILLESPIE (for Thompson, 70) 5, JANSEN (for Gresko, 78)
NOT USED: DOUGLAS, KELLY
OPPOSITION:
ENCKELMAN: Dodgy kicking...6
DELANEY: Solid defender...7
MELLBERG: Stroll in the park...7
JOHNSEN: Won battle of former Utd players...7
SAMUEL: Better at full-back...7
GUDJONSSON: All-action midfielder...8
MOORE: Exciting young player...8
HITZLSPERGER: Full of energy and invention...8
BARRY: Wish he was a Rover...7
VASSELL: Pace caused problems...7
DUBLIN: Still got it...9
SUBS:
DE LA CRUZ (for Moore, 79), STAUNTON (for Delaney, 84), HENDRIE (for Gudjonsson, 90)
NOT USED: CROUCH, POSTMA
STATS:
Goal attempts: Rovers 6 Villa 15
Shots on target: Rovers 1 Villa 8
Woodwork: Rovers 0 Villa 0
Offsides: Rovers 4 Villa 1
Corners: Rovers 2 Villa 8
Free kicks: Rovers 23 Villa 10
Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral)...7
Bookings: Rovers; Thompson, Johansson, McEveley, Taylor, Flitcroft (all fouls) Villa; Barry (diving)
Sendings off: None
At Villa Park Att: 29,171
TIME FOR ACTION:
01: Tugay fires over after Dwight Yorke charges down a Peter Enckelman clearance
02: It's 1-0 to Villa as Dion Dublin rises to head home a Joey Gudjonsson free-kick
38: Another Gudjonsson free-kick causes havoc but Brad Friedel saves Ronny Johnsen's shot
39: Friedel saves the day again with another stop to deny Steffan Moore
40: Disaster strikes as Dublin makes it 2-0 with a low shot following good work from Gareth Barry
47: Rovers fail to deal with another long ball but this time Moore drags his shot wide
52: Darius Vassell singes Friedel's fingertips with a blockbuster
56: Thomas Hitzlsperger curls another effort just wide of the post
69: Hitzlsperger goes close again but Friedel is equal to his shot
78: Rovers muster their first effort on target when Peter Enckelman saves from Garry Flitcroft
81: Game, set and match as Gareth Barry tucks away Villa's third following good work from Ulises De La Cruz
88: Darius Vassell has the chance to make it four but can't squeeze his shot past Friedel
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