A LOOK at the key stats and figures from the win over Aston Villa.
Rovers:
BRAD FRIEDEL: A strong display from Rovers' keeper. Taken over Peter Schmeichel's mantle as the most commanding keeper in the top flight...8
LUCAS NEILL: Given a few problems by Samuel in the opening half hour but grew stronger as the game wore on...7
HAKAN UNSAL: Still short of match fitness after not playing for a while but set up Dunn for the opener with a raking cross-field pass...7
HENNING BERG: Given a few anxious moments by the speedy Darius Vassell but stuck to his task with typical dogged determination...7
NISSA JOHANSSON: Made a couple of timely interventions when Villa asked the questions before switching to a full-back role late on...7
GARRY FLITCROFT: Snapped at the heels of Boateng and Hitzlsperger in midfield as Villa struggled to get off the starting blocks...7
TUGAY: Made a welcome return after suspension and it was the defensive side of his game which caught the eye before he tired after the break...7
DAVID DUNN: Set the ball rolling with a stunning left-foot finish which beat Schmeichel all ends up to cap another industrious performance...8
ANDY COLE: Deserved a goal for sheer persistence alone having struck the woodwork twice in the opening 25 minutes...8
MATT JANSEN: Ran himself into the ground up front dragging defenders all over the place courtesy of some clever movement...7
DAMIEN DUFF: Simply unstoppable on this kind of form. Led the Villa defence a merry dance before finally settling Rovers' nerves with a glorious left-foot strike...9
Subs:
TAYLOR (for Unsal, 57)...6
YORDI (for Jansen, 60)...6
GILLESPIE (for Tugay, 66)...6
NOT USED: Hignett, Miller (Gk)
Opposite camp:
SCHMEICHEL...Powers starting to wane 6
DELANEY...Given a roasting by Duff 6
MELLBERG...Struggled with Jansen 6
BOATENG...Quietly efficient 6
ANGEL...Lacked spark 5
STAUNTON...Struggled to cope with Cole 6
BARRY...Cultured left-footer 7
HADJI...Totally anonymous 5
HITZLSPERGER...Overawed in midfield 5
VASSELL...Villa's biggest threat 7
SAMUEL...Lively first half 7
SUBS:
MERSON (for Hadji, 46)...7
HENDRIE (for Hitzlsperger, 46)...7
BALABAN (for Angel, 72)...5
NOT USED: Kachloul, Enckelmann (GK)
STATS:
Goal attempts: Rovers 20 Villa 6
Shots on target: Rovers 8 Villa 4
Woodwork: Rovers 3 Villa 0
Offsides: Rovers 6 Villa 4
Corners: Rovers 5 Villa 5
Free kicks: Rovers 13 Villa 16
REFEREE...Steve Bennett (Kent) 8
YELLOW CARDS - Rovers: Unsal (foul) Villa: Boateng (foul), Delaney (foul)
RED CARDS - None
Attendance...21,988
TIME FOR ACTION:
05Rovers make a storming start as Andy Cole strikes the crossbar from a corner
07Get in! David Dunn makes it 1-0 with a thunderous left-foot shot which flies past Schmeichel
10Rovers get behind Villa again as Damien Duff crosses for Cole but his header is saved by Schmeichel
21Brad Friedel reacts brilliantly to palm aside a shot from Darius Vassell after great work by Samuel on the left
25Cole can't believe his luck after his shot comes back off the post and Duff's follow up is then saved by Schmeichel
67Cole connects with another Duff cross but fails to get enough power on his header
85It's left to Duff to finally settle the home fans' nerves as he slams in a thunderous left-foot shot
89Cole's persistence finally pays off as he grabs number three with a cheeky lob over Schmeichel
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