Blackburn Rovers 2 Tranmere Rovers 0 - Peter White's match verdict

FOR what seemed an interminable 82 minutes, this game promised nothing but another of those afternoons of blood, sweat and jeers.

In terms of watchability it had about as much going for it as a highlights video of England's Euro 2000 qualifying programme.

Then a disenchanted Ewood was suddenly transformed from despair to delight - though relief might be a more appropriate word.

And, while Ashley Ward and Nathan Blake grabbed the goalscoring glory, the real vote of thanks goes to the man in Row Z of the Jack Walker Stand.

When a huge Tranmere clearance landed up in the 'gods', the anonymous Blackburn Rovers fan headed it straight back and received a standing ovation!

Forget the fact that his virtuoso piece of skill was just about the first thing home supporters had been able to cheer all afternoon.

It not only woke up the crowd, it set up a quick throw-in to bring about the breakthrough and turn the jeers into cheers. "Get his name and address and sign him," was one comment made with understandable cynicism.

At the very least he should be sought out and offered a free season ticket for life.

For the fan's decisive intervention was in stark contrast to the dilemma facing Rovers boss Brian Kidd.

Deprived of a powerhouse midfield by long-term injuries, Kidd seems torn between playing his favoured 4-4-2 with two attacking wingers and a more-cautious 4-3-3.

The main problem is that most teams, like Tranmere, will come to Ewood, stick up two fingers and put nine defenders behind the ball.

And, unless they have the width to get round the back in their 4-3-3, Rovers aren't capable of breaking them down.

The hub of Kidd's dilemma is that he is concerned that 4-4-2 might leave him too weak in the central engine room and therefore in danger of handing the initiative to the opposition - especially when Rovers themselves remain clearly nervous and tentative at home.

Maybe it's simply a question of personnel, for Damien Duff's introduction finally brought the touch of classy flank play which created a winner.

The manager's problem has no easy solution but, having said that, any formation Rovers field against a team of Tranmere's basic instincts should be good enough. Again on Saturday, however, the players did not look like it for so much of a dreadful game.

Perhaps we should be grateful for small mercies and hope that, having gained the vital first home win, confidence will now start to blossom - because there is no doubt these players are better than the home performances they have produced so far.

It was enough to drive a man to drink, as they showed so little quality as an attacking force and too often invited Tranmere pressure through their own shortcomings.

They were physically overwhelmed in some areas, especially by the giant Georges Santos, who could count himself fortunate the referee was lenient.

But that's a diversion as the first rumblings on the jitter scale among the fans were registered after just 28 minutes with frustration on the field transferred to the stands and back again.

It was a scenario for another home disaster and Rovers had to ride their luck before coming good at the end.

Just two minutes before Ward's crucial strike, Tranmere hit a post through the dangerous Alan Mahon. Maybe that will prove a watershed in the season, the little bit of luck that has been needed to kick-start things in the right direction.

The depth of Rovers' fall over the past 18 months or so is emphasised by the fact that it was the first time since December 1997 that they have won back-to-back League games.

That freefall is reflected in the standard of football, especially a shoddy first half. Jason Wilcox was the only man who provided any quality service into the box and Matt Jansen should have made more of an early chance.

How different it might have been if he had.

Instead, Tranmere posed the occasional threat as Rovers failed to take advantage of what looked a susceptible left-hand side of the Merseysiders' defensive ranks.

The start to the second half was a little brighter but disenchantment was growing fast, especially when Mahon rattled the post following another of their long-throw moves.

Suddenly, it all came right as the man in the main stand made his contribution. From the throw, Duff wriggled to the bye-line, produced a quality far-post cross and the tireless Ward rose to lob a header back across goal and over the line.

The relief was evident and, five minutes later, Blake controlled a clearance on his chest in the centre circle, ignored Ward who looked offside and went on his own instead.

He caught the Tranmere defence square, sped through the middle and, with the keeper indecisive, shot low into the net.

Keith Gillespie was denied a third by the keeper but that would have been pushing things too far.

A rare home win was as much as we could have dared ask from a dire afternoon.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.