KELLY: Never really tested as Palace failed to unlock a stubborn Rovers rearguard. 7

CURTIS: Gave Rovers attacking options down the right and always looked comfortable on the ball. 7

BJORNEBYE: Solid without being spectacular but nevertheless a sound debut from the Norwegian. 7

DAILLY: Commanding at the back, comfortably snuffing out the threat of Morrison up front. 7

SHORT: His physical presence gave Rovers the edge against Forssell and Morrison. 7

MCATEER: Bristling with energy down the right but his final ball occasionally let him down. 6

FLITCROFT: An inspirational figure in the centre of the park. When the going got tough, Flitty got going. 9

DUNN: Full of energy and invention. Sheer persistence made the first, pure genius the second. 9

DUFF: Always a threat going forward without ever hitting top form. 7

BLAKE: Led the line brilliantly and capped an impressive display with a well-taken goal. 8

JANSEN: Gave the Palace defence the run-around, always looking Rovers most likely source of a goal. 8

SUBS;

JOHNSON: Had little time to make an impact after replacing Dunn with 15 minutes left.

PALACE:

TAYLOR: A sound debut after signing from Arsenal. 7

SMITH: Wound up the crowd with a series of petulant fouls. 5

FULLARTON: Another who was prone to the odd rash challenge. 5

AUSTIN: His hesitancy allowed Dunn to cash in for Rovers' opener. 6

ZHYI: Had his hands full against a rampaging Blake. 6

RUDDOCK: Struggled to keep tabs on Jansen. 6

MULLINS: Totally anonymous as Flitcroft and Dunn won the midfield battle. 5

MORRISON: Starved of service, made little impact. 5

FORSSELL: Palace's most dangerous player but missed a sitter. 6

POLLOCK: Left chasing shadows in midfield. 5

HARRISON: Should have been sent off for a viscious lunge. 5

SUBS:

BLACK:

GRAY:

CARLISLE:

ATTENDANCE...18,733

SHOTS...Rovers 12 Palace10

SHOTS ON TARGET...Rovers 5 Palace 0

WOODWORK...Rovers 2 Palace 0

CORNERS...Rovers 7 Palace 4

FOULS COMMITTED...Rovers 12 Palace 13

OFFSIDES...Rovers 4 Palace 3

REFEREE...Mr C Wilkes 5

BOOKINGS; Rovers: None. Palace: Smith (foul); Fullarton (foul); Pollock (foul); Harrison (foul) TIME FOR ACTION:

10 Damien Duff's shot comes back off a post after taking a wicked deflection off Neil Ruddock

14 Matt Jansen lets fly from 25 yards but his shot flashes just wide of the far post

18 Craig Harrison escapes with a booking after a viscious lunge at John Curtis

33 Palace's first chance falls to Mikael Forssell but he drags his cross-shot wide

40 David Dunn's persistence pays off as he robs Dean Austin before teeing up Nathan Blake for the opener

44 Rovers go 2-0 up as Dunn feeds Jansen for a clinical second

47 A Jason McAteer centre picks out Duff but his shot bounces back off a post

49 Jansen is denied his second after a linesman's flag rules out his close-range strike

55 Dunn nearly caps a man-of-the-match performance with a stunning free kick but Stuart Taylor claws his effort to safety

66 Forsell bursts clear of the Rovers defence but fails to beat Alan Kelly from 12 yards