FA Cup 3rd round: Blackburn Rovers 4 Wigan Athletic 2 - Peter White's big match verdict

KEVIN Gallacher is having the time of his life - and it could get even better.

A summer in France and World Cup glory beckon for the wee Scot with the big heart and finishing power to match.

But, in this mood, could there be a chance to go gathering cups in May, before flaming June brings a red-hot conclusion to his season of glory?

Gallacher's 'Who Dares, Wins' spirit epitomises the attacking bravado that Blackburn Rovers have brought to the Premiership, as Second Division Wigan Athletic discovered to their cost for an hour or so at storm-lashed Ewood.

Whether it is striking exocet-style goals from outside the penalty area, or claiming them from the faintest of close-range deflections, he's the man.

His first goal, and Rovers' second, was the crucial moment of the afternoon, even though it had a challenger for strike of the day from Tim Sherwood's exquisite chip.

For it left Wigan simply too far adrift, despite the false hope inspired by their gallant late fightback.

They could argue that a clear penalty claim and the chance to make it 4-3 seriously influenced the outcome.

And, if Wigan had started as they finished, they might well have masterminded a much closer contest. But, once in front, Rovers always looked winners to me.

Still, it's a rare day when almost everyone is happy with the outcome.

Rovers' fans were pleased a potentially tricky obstacle had been overcome and delighted by the class and quality of two of the goals which crowned more excellent attacking play. Wigan picked up a cash consolation, grabbed a couple of goals to remember themselves and their chairman Dave Whelan took the whole lot of them for a night on the town. Given the former Rovers full back's financial resources, it no doubt added up to rather more than a couple of pints and a fish supper.

But Whelan was proud of his present club and also happy for his old one.

Now he has a message for Rovers - "I want them to go on and win the cup."

There was no reason for anyone to be disgruntled.

It could have been a walkover but, once Wigan realised they might make more of a game of it if they actually attacked, it prevented the afternoon going off the boil.

They had battled their way through the gales to Ewood but manager John Deehan decided to leave the defensive hatches battened down, omitted top scorer David Lowe and that was his first and probably crucial mistake. It was reminiscent of the way Rovers handed the initiative to Manchester United at Old Trafford. You can rarely afford to do it and Wigan ultimately paid for their ultra-caution.

Rather than the game of two halves, it was a game of two thirds and a third.

And, although Wigan's fightback earned them kudos from their supporters, the damage had been done.

The game was up by half time when they trailed 2-0 and still hadn't shown any signs of trying to change the attacking straitjacket they had placed upon themselves.

It was really only a matter of time before Rovers pierced the massed ranks of the Wigan defence though it took a while before they could create the necessary space with good movement.

Stuart Ripley, coming deep, got Jeff Kenna away down the right in the 21st minute and a dangerous cross into the penalty area saw Chris Sutton put pressure on Pat McGibbon. The ball came off the defender and looped high over his own keeper.

The second owed more to Rovers' finishing power, with the build-up again from Ripley feeding Kenna in the 38th minute.

This time, Kenna charged inside, Sutton made an excellent run to drag defenders away, leaving space for Gallacher. There was still a lot to do but Gallacher composed himself, noted the keeper's position and curled his shot from just outside the penalty area over Roy Carroll - great strike.

Wigan didn't threaten in the first half and were three down in the 49th minute.

Ripley raced down the right, crossed low and the ball was deflected out by Colin Greenall to Sherwood on the edge of the box.

His magnificent chip into the far top corner said it all about the difference between the divisions and the teams.

Wigan, who had switched David Lee to the right, saw the winger shoot narrowly wide with their first genuine chance then finally changed to 4-4-2.

But, on the hour, their defence capitulated again when Damien Duff produced another marvellous break before driving in a low cross. Greenall, fortunate not to concede an own goal shortly before, intervened and looked certain to do so this time.

As the ball looped goalwards off his foot, however, Gallacher claimed the final touch to help it over the line. Two minutes later, Wigan's more adventurous policy paid off when Lee took full advantage of Patrick Valery's slip to race away and beat Tim Flowers low to his right.

On 68 minutes, it was Lee the creator, crossing low from the right for sub David Lowe to turn the ball home - 4-2.

Just four minutes later, Flowers seemed to flatten Lee in the penalty area but the referee, as he had done in the first half when Duff was barged to the ground, waved play on.

That could have made it interesting but Rovers always looked capable of more goals with Carroll making saves from Gallacher and Sutton.

Wigan had their moments, Rovers went through more comfortably than the score suggests with some excellent individual displays, not least from Gallacher, Sherwood, the irrepressible Duff and Kenna, who not only enjoyed two 'assists' but also subdued the threat from Lee, forcing him to switch wings to have any effect. Now the challenge is - make Dave Whelan's day!

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