By ANDY NEILD MATT Jansen has scored some spectacular goals during a fledgling career.

None, however, have meant more to the England under 21 star than his stunning second half blockbuster which ensured Jack Walker was given the perfect send off.

After an emotion-charged build up, the likes of which Ewood will never see again, Jansen and his team-mates were desperate to turn on the style in their own fitting tribute to Blackburn Rovers' number one fan.

And the 22-year-old striker made sure they did just that with the kind of wonder goal that would have had Uncle Jack leaping from his seat in the Jack Walker stand.

"That was very, very special," said Jansen.

"We were desperate to get the result and there was a lot of pressure on us to do that.

"But that performance from all the lads was for Jack.

"We were told by the gaffer we had to get a result for him and it would have been terrible if we hadn't got a win.

"We all knew it was going to be a difficult day.

"It was a strange atmosphere and most of the lads said they had never played in anything like that before.

"But the crowd was great, the minute's silence was well respected, and when we finally got on with the football, thankfully, we got the result everyone wanted."

After a traumatic week in which Rovers fans have experienced every emotion possible this was always going to be a testing occasion.

And that's exactly how it panned out as both the players and supporters united in wishing Jack Walker a final farewell. If the pre-match tribute on the giant TV screen left a lump in the throat, then the sight of the players each laying a single red rose in the centre circle made every hair on the body stand on end.

After such an outpouring of emotion, an eerie atmosphere inevitably engulfed Ewood when the match finally got underway. And, despite the best efforts of the crowd to lift the players, Rovers struggled to come to terms with the occasion in the opening half hour.

With Norwich boss Bryan Hamilton opting to string five across the middle in a bid to swamp the midfield, Rovers laboured to take the game by the scruff of the neck in a flat first half.

The match desperately needed a goal to break the sombre mood and when it duly arrived on 24 minutes the wave of relief which swept around the terraces was there for all to see.

Jansen was the architect, slipping a clever ball through for Nathan Blake to chase and the former Bolton striker was poleaxed by keeper Andy Marshall in the box, leaving David Dunn to dispatch the resulting penalty with aplomb.

That seemed to lift everyone's spirits but it was only after a half-time dressing down from manager Graeme Souness that Rovers managed to break free of their shackles.

The second half was only seven minutes old when Damien Duff danced past Matt Jackson before whipping over a pin-point centre for Blake to powerfully head home at the back post.

At that point Rovers were in total control but suddenly the defence went to sleep and City halved the defecit just four minutes later. Lee Marshall sent Phil Mulryne galloping down the left and the former Manchester United man sized up his options before delivering the perfect cross for Iwan Roberts to stroke home.

Hamilton sensed his chance and threw on Gaetano Giallanza as an extra striker in a bid to get something out of the game.

And the tactic nearly paid instant dividends as Fernando Derveld sent Roberts racing clear but the burly striker somehow fired wide with just Alan Kelly to beat.

However, it was left to Jansen to settle the nerves with the kind of scintillating strike which is fast becoming his trade-mark.

Adrian Forbes challenged Dunn on the edge of the box and the ball fell to Jansen who stepped inside before unleashing a left-foot thunderbolt which flew past Marshall into the top left corner.

Then the celebrations really started but, in a chaotic last five minutes, Rovers' defence suddenly fell apart. Forbes and Darel Russell both struck opposite posts before Giallanza bagged a consolation for City deep into injury time.

Rovers held on, however, to bag the three points they so desperately wanted.

Now everyone connected with the club must try and look to the future.

There will be a few more tears yet.

But securing promotion back to the Premiership would be the ultimate tribute to the man who put the pride back into Blackburn.