A LOOK at the teams, formations and tactics from last night's game against Bolton.
TEAMS:
Rovers (3-5-2): from right to left
Friedel
Neill, Berg, Bjornebye
Johnson, Flitcroft, Tugay, Mahon, Duff
Jansen, Grabbi
Subs: McAteer (for Mahon, 56), Bent (for Grabbi, 74), Hughes (for Johnson, 77) Not used: Hignett, Filan (gk)
Bolton (4-4-2): from right to left
Jaaskelainen
Barness, Bergsson, Whitlow, Charlton
Hansen, Warhurst, Nolan, Gardner
Pedersen, Ricketts
Subs: Holdsworth (for Hansen, 46), Wallace (for Ricketts, 63) N'Gotty (for Pedersen, 83) Not used: Hendry, Banks.
THE HERO: AUSSIE international Lucas Neill atoned for his earlier mistake with a timely equaliser to cap an impressive home debut THE VILLAIN: REFEREE Jeff Winter made some strange decisions especially when he failed to take action against Paul Warhurst after the former Rover clattered Alan Mahon in the first half THE VERDICT: ONCE again Rovers were left to rue a host of missed chances and it would have been a travesty of justice if Wanderers had sneaked away with a win
FORM GUIDE:
FRIEDEL: Well protected by the men in front of him but possibly could have cut out the corner leading up to Bolton's goal...6
NEILL: What a snip at £600,000. Lost Wallace for Bolton's opener but more than atoned for his mistake with a last-ditch equaliser...8
BERG: A lot rested on his shoulders in the absence of Taylor and Short but he came through with flying colours...7
BJORNEBYE: One or two lapses of concentration but did well on his return in a more central role...7
*TUGAY: Different class in midfield stroking the ball around Ewood with consummate ease before a lack of match fitness caught up...8
FLITCROFT: Another combative performance from the skipper as Rovers won the midfield battle...7
MAHON: A real team player at the moment answering the call for Souness in a variety of different positions...6
JOHNSON: No-one works harder for the team than this man and he slotted in comfortably despite his recent lack of action...6
GRABBI: Just what does he have to do to score? This time the bar denied him the chance to open his Ewood goal-account...6
JANSEN: Denied his third goal in as many games by a brilliant save from Jaaskelainen at the death...7
DUFF: Looked a real handful when he ran at the Wanderers defence but should have scored from two golden opportunities...7
SUBS -- MCATEER: Pepped things up when he came on...7
BENT: Added pace upfront...6
HUGHES: Gave Wanderers something extra to think about...6
OPPOSITE CAMP:
JAASKELAINEN: Denied Jansen with a blinding stop...7
WHITLOW: Solid and dependable...7
BERGSSON: Defying the ageing process...7
WARHURST: A niggly competitor...6
HANSEN: Disappointing Dane...6
PEDERSEN: Posed little threat...6
GARDNER: Drifted in and out...6
NOLAN: Worked hard...6
RICKETTS: Kept quiet...6
BARNESS: Duffed up by Damien...6
CHARLTON: Did a job...7
SUBS -- HOLDSWORTH: Made little impact...6
WALLACE: Proved his worth...7
N'GOTTY: Brief cameo
STATS:
Goal attempts: Rovers 19 Bolton 9
Shots on target: Rovers 6 Bolton 4
Woodwork: Rovers 1 Bolton 0
Offsides: Rovers 6 Bolton 2
Corners: Rovers 9 Bolton 2
Free kicks: Rovers 15 Bolton 16
YELLOW CARDS -- Rovers: None
Bolton: Hansen, Warhurst, Wallace (all dissent), Jaaskelainen (time-wasting)
RED CARDS -- None
TIME FOR ACTION:
14: Rovers first chance falls to Garry Flitcroft but he shoots over from 25 yards
27: Henrik Pedersen tests Brad Friedel with a snapshot from 20 yards after Ricardo Garner causes panic with an electric run
30: Friedel is in action again as Bo Hansen pulls the trigger following a poor defensive header from Henning Berg
34: Alan Mahon blazes over the bar after Ciccio Grabbi dummies a Damien Duff cross
39: Mahon's corner flashes across the face of goal just missing the outstretched boot of Lucas Neill
43: Tugay spots Jussi Jaaskelainen out of his goal but his shot from 40 yards flashes agonisingly wide
48: Grabbi pulls a great ball back to Mahon but the young Irishman fires into the Blackburn End
55: In a rare breakaway Michael Ricketts blasts an effort over the bar
59: Matt Jansen plays in Damien Duff but with just Jaaskelainen to beat he shoots wide
62: Duff bursts through again but this time Jaaskelainen saves the day
67: Grabbi can't believe his luck as his shot cannons back off the crossbar following a jinking run
69: It's 1-0 Bolton as Rod Wallace rises to head home Ricardo Gardner's corner
87: It looks like being one of those days as Jaaskelainen somehow saves Jansen's point-blank effort
87: Rovers finally get their just rewards when Neill connects with Duff's corner to open his Ewood goal-account
TACTICS:
Trailing 1-0 with 13 minutes left, Rovers boss Graeme Souness went for broke throwing on Mark Hughes in an adventurous 3-4-3 formation and it paid off despite Sam Allardyce's best attempts to shut up shop with a late switch to 5-4-1
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