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
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