ROVERS: Aston-ishing! Goal ace Gally bags hat-trick in rout

THE presence of former off-spinner and current Lancashire CCC chairman Jack Simmons in the guest box turned some thoughts towards summer and the cricket scores.

And, if the vast gulf between these two teams had been truly reflected in the scoreline, he might have been tempted to nip out onto the balcony and wave Blackburn Rovers in - having declared to leave Aston Villa with the forlorn hope of avoiding an innings defeat.

'Flat Jack' saw Rovers on a real high - and, as a non-League striker of some repute in his younger days, knows a bit about the game.

He can only have been impressed, very impressed.

An aggregate of 9-0 over two Premiership games against Villa speaks volumes for the revolution under Roy Hodgson.

It is always difficult to weigh the outstanding play of one team against the abysmal performance of the other and strike the right balance.

But, after recent experiences, this sort of show had been on the cards.

Rovers were ruthless in their individual battles and that contributed to an awesome - I do not use the word lightly - team performance.

It combined individual ingenuity with all the unselfish support play that can easily be taken for granted but which is such an essential ingredient of a successful side.

The best teams, for all their flair, work harder than everyone else.

But, of course, the memories will be of outstanding individual contributions, not least from Kevin Gallacher who scored a wonderful hat-trick.

Tim Sherwood played it long, played it short, showed superb vision and still did his share of defensive duties.

If the skipper had a fraction more pace, he would have been a fixture in the England side a long time ago. Memo to Glenn Hoddle - he is still worthy of consideration. Garry Flitcroft signed off before his ban with a fine performance alongside him and the midfield pair were a prime factor in Rovers taking an immediate grip.

Amazingly, Chris Sutton failed to score but he needn't lose any sleep over that. He was excellent once again.

And, of course, there was another surprise from the manager, whose pre-match message to the players had been simple - just keep on playing the way you have been doing and the results will come.

Hodgson, who has introduced Jason Wilcox as a substitute left back occasionally, handed him the role from the start. He was a revelation and it gives the team yet another attacking option.

There simply wasn't a weakness. Jeff Kenna must be playing the best football of his career, Stuart Ripley enjoyed his afternoon against an old team-mate Alan Wright and Damien Duff was able to indulge in exhibition stuff near the end.

The two central defenders, Colin Hendry and Stephane Henchoz, didn't have much to do but were clearly superior to an expensive strike force and the only Rovers player who deserved sympathy was Tim Flowers.

How do you judge a man who doesn't have to exert himself and make a save until two minutes from time? Flowers, I am sure, will happily settle for the clean sheet.

In contrast, Villa were second rate - inept where Rovers were inspired, casual where Rovers were clinical and even their own fans taunted them.

When Savo Milosevic - who lost his boot, his concentration and finally his head - threatened to become involved in an unsavoury spat with the Villa fans, it said it all about the visitors. Their manager Brian Little was emotional after the game, refusing to answer questions after a short comment.

But how could he defend his players? In truth, he couldn't, there was only a majestic Rovers performance to admire.

The goals, and there could easily have been more, summed up so many of Rovers' strengths and, maybe, Villa's weaknesses.

They stemmed from inventiveness, good movement, unselfish work by team-mates and clinical finishing.

Fittingly, the first went to Sherwood.

Flitcroft got just enough on Duff's right wing corner for Sherwood to charge in at the near post and volley the ball home with an outstretched leg.

That was after 22 minutes of Rovers domination with only the occasional scare from Stan Collymore and he soon became only a sideshow to the main event.

Eight minutes later, Rovers were two up with a magnificent goal.

Sutton, working back again, saw off Mark Draper and played a neat pass forward to Sherwood who, with his back to the Villa goal, flicked it onwards to put Gallacher away.

The Scot outpaced a defender and showed great composure to fire firmly past the advancing Bosnich.

On 54 minutes, Gallacher again displayed superb finishing skills.

Racing onto a Hendry clearance on the left, he cut inside before tormenting Steve Staunton. It looked as though the chance might have gone but Gallacher glimpsed an opening and poked a shot low into Bosnich's bottom left-hand corner.

It was a supreme piece of poaching, while his hat-trick goal on 69 minutes was simplicity itself.

Ripley whipped in a left-wing corner, Gallacher moved while defenders dozed, and beat everyone in the six-yard box to stick home a header. The double substitution was sensible and the standing ovation for the departing duo richly deserved.

Rovers also deserved another goal to reflect their performance and they got it with nine minutes left.

Sutton chested the ball off for Ripley - with the personal goal drought now a distant memory - to swivel and hit an unstoppable volley past Bosnich from the edge of the penalty area.

Duff, Flitcroft, Sutton, all could easily have joined the list of goalscorers.

But, in this side, it truly doesn't seem to matter who scores. It all comes down to teamwork and, allied to the individual contributions, that was of the highest order.

When summer does come, the fans will still be savouring the annihilation of Aston Villa.

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