ROVERS: Roy's men get even after Gally red card

WHEN you feel you have been stitched up there's one golden rule - don't get mad, get even.

It took Blackburn Rovers a little time to remember the wisdom of those words but, thanks to a magnificent second half comeback, they eventually achieved it.

Kevin Gallacher's 33rd minute dismissal for an off-the-ball tussle with West Ham's Eyal Berkovic - when both men waved their arms fairly innocuously - would have been a joke if it hadn't spelled such potential damage to Rovers' double hopes.

At 3pm, this had looked a very difficult tie against a side with an outstanding home record.

By 3.45pm, it seemed there was more chance of Saddam Hussein joining John Lennon in a chorus of 'Give Peace a Chance' than of Rovers staying in the FA Cup.

And a possible three-match ban for Gallacher poses a threat to their League ambitions.

But, with a performance inspired by Tim Flowers' brilliant save from John Hartson on the stroke of half time, Chris Sutton's outstanding leadership and tartan trouble-shooter Billy McKinlay's heroics in almost every area of the pitch, Rovers salvaged an Ewood replay out of what looked like the wreckage of their FA Cup hopes.

A pulsating tie left everyone breathless.

And, when the dust had settled, BBC TV's Alan Hansen summed up perfectly the rough justice served on Gallacher and Rovers.

"I can't for the life of me understand how a referee who is right on the spot can send Gallacher off there," he said.

"There was a bit of a slap and then an Oscar nomination. He didn't smack him in the face, he sort of half-clipped him."

Both men were simply involved in the sort of tussle which is commonplace. But Berkovic had earlier been singled out by angry Rovers players as a man not to be trusted in the honest endeavour of a typical English cup tie.

His histrionics were like an irritating rash and, when Gallacher mildly scratched it, referee Peter Jones got it wrong on two counts. The punishment was too severe and also one-sided.

But that was symptomatic of his performance. Rovers fans can only hope he favours the home side similarly if he officiates at the replay.

The dismissal, in between two West Ham goals which owed much to Rovers' own errors, threatened to turn the Cup dream into a nightmare after a glorious start.

Gallacher had marked his return from injury with his 17th goal of the campaign, his most prolific season in senior football.

But West Ham were always going to be a handful as they concentrated on exploiting John Hartson's stengths and had the impressive Frank Lampard breaking dangerously from midfield.

And, in the middle part of the game, they were odds-on favourites to go through.

Whatever was said at half time had the right effect as some Rovers players were in danger of seeing the red mist through a blatant sense of injustice. They also had to get their defensive play in order after making such untypical errors. They did to produce a stirring revival that was justly rewarded with an equaliser.

McKinlay was undoubtedly the team's cheerleader as they showed the courage and character that has always been an essential part of British football.

Berkovic - following on from Nicola Berti and David Ginola the previous week - should take note.

Yet there were few hints of controversy in an electric atmosphere as Gallacher took advantage of Sutton's brilliant work to put Rovers ahead in only the second minute.

Sutton beat Ian Pearce to the ball and surprised the West Ham defence with the speed and accuracy of his low cross from the right.

Gallacher, however, was alert and turned it instantly past a startled Craig Forrest.

But then Rovers threatened to cave in, with more than a little help from the referee.

Both West Ham goals should not have happened.

The equaliser saw Garry Flitcroft concede possession. When Stan Lazaridis crossed, Colin Hendry must have been unsighted by Hartson or he would surely have headed clear. Instead Paul Kitson deftly steered a slow-motion shot into the far corner.

Accusing fingers had already pointed at Berkovic before Gallacher went off and there was a danger of Rovers losing their heads as well as the game when West Ham went ahead in the 44th minute.

Tim Sherwood had the situation under control but his poor clearance was intercepted by Frank Lampard, who headed straight for goal. Flowers blocked the shot, gallantly managed to stop the follow-up but was powerless as Hartson drove in a third shot and Berkovic got a touch on the line.

It could have been game, set and match in stoppage time but for Flowers brilliantly tipping a Hartson header on to the bar.

West Ham switched to three centre backs in the second half and looked comfortable.

But Rovers had taken the calm-down tablets and, after Gary Croft wasted a great chance of an equaliser, Roy Hodgson's tactical nouse came up trumps. Having survived the storm, he changed the shape to 4-3-2 by sending on Damien Duff.

Remarkably, within two minutes of his introduction, Rovers were level.

Jason Wilcox, who had gone to left back, played a one-two with Duff and hit a perfect cross to the far post.

Sutton again eluded Pearce and headed in off the post in front of Glenn Hoddle and the ecstatic Rovers fans.

There could still have been another twist as Flowers saved expertly from Kitson's drive and then Rovers survived a remarkable scramble.

They might also have had another goal themselves.

A compelling cup tie and a terrific effort by Rovers who would prefer the replay to be fought on more equal terms.

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