ROVERS: Croft's original means so much to Ewood

AN American jury might well have got the verdict wrong, but not Roy Hodgson.

It seemed almost inevitable that the post-match inquest would centre on Gianfranco Zola's squandered opportunities for Chelsea, rather than BlackburnRovers' continuing rise into second place.

But the Ewood boss was an ideal witness for the defence.

"If we are just going to talk about chances, I thought it was a very even game. They had two very good chances and we had about five," he replied, without a hint of sarcasm, to the prosecution's opening gambit.

True, if Zola had taken just one of a hat-trick of openings to level the scores in mid-match, there could well have been a different ending.

But the game was about more than the Italian striker's trial and errors.

It was about the way Rovers responded to the first of the huge challenges facing them over the coming weeks.

In some respects, several players can perform better than they did.

But not a single one of them could be faulted for their commitment or their teamwork which, ultimately, was as vital as Gary Croft's first senior goal for the club, taken with all the composure lacking in his world-famous opponent.

The last time the young left back scored a League goal, something over two years ago, he was playing on the right wing for Grimsby against Portsmouth in front of a few thousand people at Blundell Park!

Vive la difference, as he tucked away a goal which meant so much. Croft, so close to being a scorer against Everton, handled his moment of glory like a veteran and didn't offer Zola any alibi.

"I think he would have stuck that header away nine times out of 10. But that was the one time he didn't so we're happy," he smiled.

Happy indeed after a day that was like the championship season revisited. A vibrant game, passionate crowd and a stunning strike to take the points against a main rival.

Even if the scorer wasn't familiar, the scenario was.

The afternoon fairly bristled with excitement and energy yet, in many ways, it was not the sort of game some had expected.

It turned out to be more of a cup-tie, with space closed down so quickly.

Other Rovers performances have been more fluent but it lost nothing as a spectacle for that, because the game was utterly absorbing.

There were three distinct phases - and Chelsea didn't win the one they dominated, through Zola's failure to put away at least two chances you would expect him to score in his sleep. Croft's superbly-taken goal gave Rovers the edge in the opening period, then Chelsea took command.

Either side of half time, Zola should at least have levelled.

In the last 15 minutes, Rovers came back strongly and, with a little bit of luck, Chris Sutton could well have been celebrating a goal or two himself, no matter how flattering the scoreline might then have been.

When it counted, however, they had men to meet the challenge - Chelsea didn't.

Croft produced a great finish, the back four stood firm against an attack which has scored many more away goals than any other in the Premiership and Tim Flowers made a crucial contribution when it mattered most.

One first-half incident summed up not only how close the game was but how much Rovers were determined to win it.

With four minutes to go to half time, Zola burst through on the left but Flowers was incredibly alert and charged out to beat him to the ball.

The clearance spun off the Italian and towards goal with Zola in pursuit. But Jeff Kenna was diligent and made a magnificent headed clearance.

By then, of course, Rovers had the comfort of the lead. They had started brightly enough and went in front in the 11th minute. Stuart Ripley's free kick was headed out, straight to Croft, who was lurking around the edge of the penalty area.

Instinctively, he struck a sweet left-foot shot in by the angle of post and crossbar and Ed De Goey hadn't a prayer of saving it.

Chelsea, however, began to take charge of the game.

And that Zola threat was quickly followed by another as Dennis Wise crossed from the left and the little striker somehow put his header wide from point-blank range.

The move should have been halted earlier when Mark Hughes clearly committed a foul, so justice was served by the miss.

But it was another example of more unsatisfactory officiating.

Perhaps the job is simply becoming too much for one man as, week after week, questions have to be asked about officials.

The second half began with Rovers twice almost increasing their lead before Chelsea got back into their stride.

Some of the visitors' passing and movement had Rovers at full stretch but they never wilted. Zola missed another when he dragged his shot wide and Dan Petrescu raced in at the near post only to find Flowers invincible.

Rovers weathered the storm and gradually got stronger. In fact, in the last 15 minutes, they could have given the scoreline an unbalanced look.

Sutton was close with a header and a shot, then saw De Goey make a last-ditch save after excellent work by Croft and sub Jason Wilcox on the left.

De Goey even charged upfield for a Chelsea corner in the last minute but was nearly undone on the break.

From my viewpoint, there were still two defenders - excluding the keeper - between Sutton and goal as he raced forward for an almost certain second. But TV failed to clear up the argument, not showing all the defenders.

Still, it mattered not as the final whistle prompted yet another explosion of noise from a crowd who appreciated the significance of this victory.

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