A match too soon

JACK Walker was never happier than when he was watching his beloved Blackburn Rovers.

And had he been there at Gresty Road he would have stood in the stand, his chest puffed out with pride at the way Graeme Souness's men fought to the end.

After the traumas of the last few days, this game was always going to go one of two ways for a squad still coming to terms with the death of their number one fan.

Desperate to give Jack the perfect send off, Rovers could have played out of their skins and stuck five past Crewe in a fitting tribute.

Or could it have been a game too soon for a crop of players clearly effected by the huge shadow currently hanging over the club.

In the end, the goal feast failed to materialise as Rovers were forced to settle for a 0-0 draw.

But the way they passed this test of character said far more about what Jack means to this club than three points and a 5-0 drubbing ever could have done.

Indeed, a 0-0 draw at Crewe is no disaster.

Twice last season Alex boss Dario Gradi mapped out a successful strategy designed to frustrate Rovers and maximise his limited resources.

And that proved to be the case again as his bargain-basement battlers ground out a point.

In a switch from his normal 4-3-3 formation, Gradi chose to stick an extra man in midfield and the likes of Kenny Lunt and Neil Sorvel revelled in their scrap with David Dunn and Garry Flitcroft.

As a consequence, Rovers managed to control most of the game with some neat approach play but they struggled to open up a well-drilled Alex defence, who comfortably snuffed out the threat of Matt Jansen and Nathan Blake.

In fact, the home side nearly got off to the ideal start with a goal inside two minutes.

David Wright whipped over a teasing centre which Colin Little met with a powerful header but somehow Alan Kelly pulled off a stunning reflex save. After that, Rovers assumed the ascendancy but, for all the pretty patterns weaved in midfield, they were reduced to shooting from distance.

Suddenly, midway through the second half the game was brought to life by a flash of genius from Dunn.

Rovers were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the box and the 20-year-old stepped up to bend an unstoppable effort into the top left corner.

But Dunn's celebrations were quickly curtailed by referee John Brandwood who made it clear he had awarded an indirect free-kick. Nevertheless, that seemed to be the tonic Rovers needed and they moved up a gear for a final flourish.

Dunn headed over from a Damien Duff centre and a Jansen effort flashed just over the top.

Then, in a desperate late assault, Stig Inge Bjornebye swopped passes with Blake in the final minute and raced into the area but Jason Kearton thrust out an arm and turned his shot aside.

However, the cruellest twist of the lot came three minutes into injury time when Jansen rose to meet Flitcroft's header but his effort bounced back off the bar.

So it wasn't to be, but after the emotions of the last few days, Rovers were just glad to get this one out of the way.

Now they have to do it all again at Spotland tomorrow.

Full match report in today's Lancashire Evening Telegraph