ON TARGET: Simon Garner

the records tumbling SIMON Garner is Blackburn Rovers record scorer but one of his 168 League goals really stands out for the former Ewood hero.

The strike which sticks in Garner's mind is his second goal against Manchester City which broke Blackburn's League goal scoring record.

The striker scored a hat-trick in Rovers 4-0 win at Ewood -- but number two was all important.

That was the goal which took his tally to 140 League goals, surpassing Tommy Briggs' record, the Rovers hot shot of the 1950s.

"I remember it well, in fact I was watching a video the other day and it was on," said Garner who now lives in Windsor, and scored 192 goals for Rovers in all competitions.

"It was a break from the left and a left foot shot into the top corner of the net .

"I looked very young as well!

"Can I tell you how it felt without swearing?

"It felt absolutely great.

"It was at Ewood as well so all the fans went mad.

"A lot came into the bar afterwards and were congratulating me. They were always great with me, the fans."

But Garner admitted the nerves almost got to him as he neared the target.

"I was on course for the record for ages. It was all in the press and there was a huge build up.

"It was something I always wanted to do. "Once I was close I was desperate to get it but after that I went through a spell where I just couldn't find the back of the net -- then the goals came all at once!"

Garner was 28 at the time and regarded as one of the deadliest marksmen in the game, dominating the Ewood scoring charts throughout the 1980's.

Rovers were in Division Two and, after spending some time battling against relegation, were continually pipped for promotion to the top flight.

"I remember in another game at Ewood, years earlier, I scored five in one game against Derby County," continued Garner.

"I felt invincible, I thought every time I went near the goal I was going to score. It was amazing!"

And Garner always seemed enjoyed playing local rivals Burnley -- as he always scored!

He fired home two in the last meeting in the league at Ewood 18 years ago in Rovers 2-1 win -- and another moment he relishes followed his move to West Brom in 1992.

"I'd broke my ankle and I'd been out for ages.

"It was my first game back and with almost the first touch, I think there was two minutes on the clock, I scored against Burnley, in front of the Burnley fans.

"I enjoyed it although they certainly didn't!"

Garner, now 41, was also part of the Rovers team that won the Full Member's Cup at Wembley, beating Charlton in 1987. "When I became established at Rovers, I had three ambitions.

"One was to break the League scoring record, the other was to play at Wembley and the third was to play in the Premiership -- two out of three ain't bad!"

Garner wasn't getting first team football in the Rovers side that made it to the Premiership via the play-offs and he left in 1992 to join the Baggies.

"Kenny Dalglish had taken over and I still had one year left on my contract but there was the likes of Kevin Speedie, Mike Newell and then Alan Shearer in front of me so I decided to move on even though Kenny wanted me to stay.

"I was 30/31 and wanted first team football.

"But I enjoyed every minute of my time at Rovers. I spent 15 years there and loved it."