A LOOK at the key stats from the match against Leeds.

BRAD FRIEDEL: Showed his class with three wonderful saves in the first half but might have done better for the opening goal...8

JOHN CURTIS: Struggled to keep tabs on Kewell in the opening half hour but grew stronger as the game wore on...6

LUCAS NEILL: Slotted in comfortably on the left considering it's not his favourite position and whipped over a couple of top class crosses...8

HENNING BERG: Mr Dependable again at the back as Rovers coped well with Viduka and Fowler up front...7

CRAIG SHORT: Needed all his muscle against the ox-like Viduka but maybe could have done more to stop Kelly for the opener...7

TUGAY: Kept the ball moving in midfield and desperately unlucky not to score with a thunderous strike...7

DAVID DUNN: Quiet in the opening 20 minutes but gradually became more and more influential with some driving runs...7

ALAN MAHON: Another hard-working display from the young Irishman who bristled with energy in midfield...7

* KEITH GILLESPIE: Left Ian Harte trailing in his wake with an awesome first half performance but didn't receive the same service after the break...8

DAMIEN DUFF: On fire down the left in the opening 45 minutes giving both Gary Kelly and Danny Mills the real runaround...7

MATT JANSEN: Deserved a goal for his phenomenal work-rate after another selfless display as a lone striker...8

SUBS

GRABBI (for Curtis, 61)...5

JOHANSSON (for Short, 61)...6

OPPOSITE CAMP:

MARTYN Little to do despite pressure...6

KELLY Super crosses for the goals...8

HARTE Never a defender...5

MILLS Put to the sword by Duff...5

DUBERRY Did his job at the back...7

FERDINAND A true thoroughbred...8

DACOURT A real box-to-box man...8

BATTY United's own Yorkshire terrier...7

KEWELL Class with two 'Kewell' finishes...7

FOWLER Had a shocker in front of goal...6

VIDUKA Strong as an ox up front...7

SUBS

WILCOX (for Dacourt, 64)...7

STATS:

Goal attempts: Rovers 14 Leeds 14

Shots on target: Rovers 3 Leeds 9

Woodwork: Rovers 2 Leeds 0

Offsides: Rovers 0 Leeds 6

Corners: Rovers 8 Leeds 7

Free kicks: Rovers 16 Leeds 17

REFEREE Andy D'Urso (Essex)...8

Attendance: 28,309

Bookings: YELLOW CARDS - Rovers: Short (foul) Leeds: Kelly, Harte, Mills, Batty (all fouls), Fowler (ungentlemanly conduct)

RED CARDS - None

TIME FOR ACTION:

04Brad Friedel makes the first of a string of top class saves to keep out Oliver Dacourt's free kick

12Matt Jansen can't believe his luck as his header bounces back off the post

42Mark Viduka latches onto a quick free kick but Friedel comes out quickly to save

45Friedel conjures up memories of Gordon Banks with a terrific reflex stop to keep out Viduka's header

46Keith Gillespie rubs his eyes in disbelief as Ian Harte blocks his goal-bound shot

50Nigel Martyn is beaten again by a thunderous effort from Tugay but the crossbar comes to the rescue

55It's 1-0 to Leeds as Harry Kewell drives home the loose ball after Friedel had saved from Fowler

63Kewell makes it 2-0 after meeting a cross from Gary Kelly with a powerful header

64Ciccio Grabbi misses a golden chance to hand Rovers a lifeline

83Henning Berg pulls one back after stabbing home a cross from Grabbi

TACTICS:

GRAEME Souness went with a 4-5-1 formation and it worked well for the best part of an hour with Duff and Gillespie a real handful down the flanks. But once Leeds went 1-0 up the Rovers boss was forced to throw on an extra striker in the form of Grabbi as he went for broke with a 3-5-2

KEY MOMENT :

TUGAY'S shot bouncing down off the bar. Had that gone in then Rovers would have gone in front but instead they found themselves 1-0 down within five minutes DOWN BUT NOT OUT: Henning Berg is sent crashing to the floor but still manages to pull a goal back for Rovers seven minutes from time