A ROUND-UP of the key moments and facts from Rovers win over Millwall in the FA Cup.
BRAD FRIEDEL: Only called on to make one real save of note but otherwise instilled confidence in the men in front of him...7
LUCAS NEILL: Clearly fired up to show what a good player he's turned into and he did just that with a typically all-action performance...7
STIG BJORNEBYE: Solid and dependable down the left as Rovers stuck to their task defensively...7
MARTIN TAYLOR: Cool and composed at the back in the face of some fierce Millwall pressure, particularly in the first half...7
NILS JOHANSSON: Starting to look like a snip at £2.75 million. Defended resolutely and brought the ball out from the back whenever possible...8
GARRY FLITCROFT: A typically gutsy performance from the skipper as Rovers scrapped for possession in midfield...7
TUGAY: Stroked the ball about on a tricky surface but bypassed too easily at times whenever Rovers were on the defensive...7
DAMIEN JOHNSON: Given a surprise recall and repaid Souness's faith by rolling his sleeves up and getting stuck in down the right...7
ANDY COLE: Popped up in the right place at the right time with a typically predatory finish like all top strikers do...7
MATT JANSEN: Kept the Lions' defence on their toes with an energetic performance up front but never really got a clear sight of goal...7
ALAN MAHON: Delivered a peach of a cross for the goal to cap another hard-working performance on the left...7
SUBS:
DAMIEN DUFF (for Bjornebye, 64)...8
CICCIO GRABBI (for Jansen, 76)...6
NOT USED: Berg, Hughes, Kelly
OPPOSITE CAMP:
GUERET...Led a charmed life 6
LAWRENCE...Outwitted by Mahon for the goal 7
RYAN...Industrious on the left 7
CAHILL: A class act in midfield. 8
NETHERCOTT...A leader at the back 7
IFILL...Always a threat 7
LIVERMORE...Put himself about 7
HARRIS...Missed a sitter in the second half 6
REID...A young man with a bright future 7
WARD...Nearly scored with a header 7
DYCHE...A solid defender 7
SUBS:
BRANIFF (for Ifill, 84) 6
NOT USED: Green, Bircham, Bull, Harpur
STATS:
Goal attempts: Rovers 13 Millwall 9
Shots on target: Rovers 6 Millwall 3
Woodwork: Rovers 1 Millwall 0
Offsides: Rovers 0 Millwall 5
Corners: Rovers 4 Millwall 6
Free kicks: Rovers 10 Millwall 16
REFEREE: Paul Durkin (Dorset)...9
Attendance: 15,004
YELLOW CARDS - Rovers: Mahon (foul) Millwall: None
RED CARDS - None
TIME FOR ACTION:
18Millwall break quickly after a sloppy pass from Stig Bjornebye but Paul Ifill fires over from Matt Lawrence's cross
40Brad Friedel brilliantly palms away a header from Darren Ward after the Lions defender had connected with a Steven Reid freekick
48Friedel punches a Reid cross straight to David Livermore but then recovers to save his shot
56Neil Harris can't believe his luck as he fires over with the goal at his mercy
70Garry Flitcroft fires wide after an electric run from Andy Cole across the face of the area
68Lions keeper Willy Gueret lets a shot from Damien Duff slip through his grasp but the post comes to the rescue
80Cole fires another warning when he volleys straight at Gueret after Taylor knocks down a Mahon corner
87It's there! Cole rises majestically at the far post to head home the winner following a delightful cross from Mahon
TACTICS:
MANAGER Graeme Souness picked Alan Mahon and Damien Johnson to play as his two widemen and they tucked in whenever possible to deny Millwall space in the centre of midfield
KEY MOMENT
DAMIEN Duff's arrival as a second half substitute. Suddenly, Rovers moved up a gear going forward and the Irishman's introduction gave the visitors far more impetus as an attacking force
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