A ROUND-UP of the key moments and facts from Rovers win over Sheffield Wednesday.
ROVERS:
FRIEDEL: Made a crucial first half save from Sibon to prevent Wednesday from putting the tie back in the melting pot...7
CURTIS: Given the task of keeping Sibon quiet and grew into the role after the Belgian went close with a couple of early chances...7
BJORNEBYE: Linked up impressively with Duff on the left but blotted his copy-book by conceding the penalty...8
TAYLOR: A gritty performance from the giant defender against the physical threat of Efan Ekoku...7
JOHANSSON: Solid defensively alongside Taylor and used the ball effectively whenever he had space...7
FLITCROFT: Got carried away by his own enthusiasm but some refs would have given him the benefit of the doubt...6
TUGAY: A class act again in midfield and does anyone wear the blue and white halves with more passion?...8
HIGNETT: Weighed in with his customary goal late on to ease the pressure at the death...7
JANSEN: Linked up brilliantly with Cole up front and set the ball rolling with a real poacher's finish...7
*COLE: Proved he's more than just a goalscorer with some sublime link-up play and scored the goal his all-round performance deserved...8
DUFF: Another inspired display from the jet-heeled Irishman. Scored himself and played a big part in Cole's goal...8
SUBS:
MAHON...(for Jansen, 61) 7
NOT USED: BERG, HUGHES, GRABBI, KELLY (GK)
OPPOSITE CAMP:
HEALD...Thrown in at the deep end 7
MCLAREN...Workmanlike in midfield 6
BROMBY...Will be Premiership player 7
SOLTVEDT...Led the charge in midfield 8
QUINN...A sweet left foot 7
SIBON...Always a threat 7
EKOKU...Put himself about 7
HASLAM...Given a roasting by Duff 6
HAMSHAW...Sacrificed at half-time 6
WESTWOOD...Outsmarted by Cole 6
GEARY...Run of the mill 6
SUBS: BONVIN...(for Hamshaw, 46) 6
O'DONNELL...(for Geary, 70) 6
NOT USED: Donnelly, Maddix, Roberts (GK)
STATS:
TALE OF THE TAPE (ROVERS FIRST)
18...Goal attempts...9
8...Shots on target...5
1...Woodwork...0
11...Free-kicks...23
3...Offsides...1
8...Corners...7
Referee...Mike Riley (Leeds)
BOOKINGS: Rovers; Hignett and Mahon (both fouls), Cole (ungentlemanly conduct) Wednesday; Ekoku, Haslam, Geary, Bonvin (all fouls), Westwood (ungentlemanly conduct)
SENDINGS OFF: Flitcroft (violent conduct)
Attendance: 26,844
TIME FOR ACTION:
20: Stand-in keeper Paul Heald gets his first real taste of action when he saves from Matt Jansen following Andy Cole's clever flick
26: Brad Friedel performs heroics with a breathtaking fingertip save to turn aside a Sibon blockbuster
35: It's 1-0 to Rovers as Martin Taylor turns a Craig Hignett corner against the post and Jansen pockets the rebound
38: Rovers double their money as Damien Duff rams home number two with a vicious cross-shot
53: Disaster strikes as skipper Garry Flitcroft sees red for a two-footed challenge on Soltvedt
58: Wednesday are handed a lifeline as Stig Bjornebye handles a corner allowing Efan Ekoku to score from the spot
67: Cole can't believe his luck as he pulls down a Bjornebye cross but his shot trickles wide of the upright
82: Cole finally grabs the goal his performance deserved after a brilliant one-two with Duff
84: Wednesday strike back again as Soltvedt leaps to head home Alan Quinn's centre
88: Cardiff here we come as Hignett tucks away his fifth goal in as many starts
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