Rovers 0 Man United 0

Peter White's Big Match Verdict

THE last time Blackburn Rovers bowed out of the top flight of English football, they did an embarrassed and almost apologetic soft-shoe shuffle as they dropped through the trap-door.

A fifth successive defeat at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur signalled an end to membership of the elite back in 1966 in front of just 7,256 apathetic supporters at Ewood.

I know, because I was there.

This time, at least, they died with their boots on and the last rites were performed in front of a full house whose incredible loyalty and support for the club, in what can only be described as a catastrophic season, surpassed most things I have seen in a lifetime of involvement in football.

Sadly, it all ended in tears.

And the reasons why were self-evident, even on a night when they clawed a goalless draw from a team whose next three matches are the championship decider, the FA Cup final and the European Cup final!

Rovers' team this season has not had the quality to survive in the Premiership. It is as simple as that. Last Saturday against Nottingham Forest, enough players to make a difference did not have the commitment either, and that is down to their own consciences.

Kidd may not be the most eloquent of speakers but what he says comes from the heart.

It relates to how the fans feel and, deep down, everyone knows that relegation has not happened because of last night's creditable draw with a Manchester United side who, strangely for a club on the brink of history, did not produce the kind of class we might have expected.

Rovers have had their chances to escape the drop and failed to take them. It was asking too much to beat United and keep the unlikely escape route open until Sunday.

But it should not have come down to that.

The disgrace, the disaster if you like, had already been determined by events over a much longer spell.

When it came to the last-chance saloon, everyone was willing to buy a round. But last orders had been called and the inevitable - yes it was inevitable - ultimately happened. In every game there is usually a moment when you either think 'yes, this is it' or shake your head and accept what is coming. Rovers' moment of truth arrived seven minutes from the end of normal time when Ashley Ward had the chance of a lifetime to take the battle to the final day.

He missed it, but no-one at Ewood will blame him for that, because Ward is the kind of man you would always want on your side.

Kidd clearly had a game plan for what must have been one of the most difficult games of his life - and it almost worked.

Knowing the champions-elect so well, he was not going to leave gaps they could have exploited with their pace and superb counter-attacking ability.

Instead, it was obvious that Rovers aimed to try to play the game at their pace, step up a gear in the second half and then try to cash in on the chance they knew was likely to come along.

It was a sound, sensible plan that could have paid off.

But their inability to keep the ball, carelessness when clearing their lines and lack of real threat - sometimes simply in terms of numbers - meant they struggled to dictate. As it happened, United failed on most occasions to produce the quality they needed to cash in on their huge advantage in possession as well as numerous set pieces.

And Rovers, inspired by the fans, stuck to the task with the kind of commitment that should never be in question. It will certainly be needed next season.

In what would have been written off as a dour and scrappy game if it had not been for what was at stake and the atmosphere, which made the nerves tingle, genuine chances were few and far between.

Ryan Giggs climbed high above Gary Croft to head against a post in the 10th minute and Dwight Yorke, cleverly dropping a few yards deeper, forced a brilliant tip over from John Fila. A quiet Andy Cole also wasted a reasonable chance. At the other end, Croft's instant strike was just wide and Ward almost squeezed a way through on the stroke of half time. But the possession and pressure belonged to United.

It was not accidental that, as the game wore on, Rovers began to assert themselves more.

David Dunn produced a run and shot which Peter Schmeichel's fingers touched over, but Giggs warned of United's threat on the break as Filan came out rapidly to thwart him.

In the last 10 minutes or so, Rovers hinted at a happy ending.

Matt Jansen curled a shot across the face of goal, then Damien Johnson's excellent cross was half-cleared to Ward. Schmeichel made a straightforward blast impossible with his positioning and dive, so the striker chipped the ball over the keeper only to see it drift a yard the wrong side of a post.

Stoppage time saw Schmeichel scramble away a dangerous backpass from Gary Neville and time was called on Rovers' Premiership stay.

It's Walsall, Stockport etc on the agenda next season but, if the spirit shown last night can be applied from day one, rather than day 37, then there is hope of a rapid return - especially if those super supporters stay with the club.

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