Coca-Cola Cup (2nd round 1st leg): Blackburn Rovers 6 Preston North End 0 - Peter White's big match verdict

THE irresistible force met the very moveable object at Ewood last night, with the result that Blackburn Rovers landed themselves in the record books again, while Preston North End made the short trip home licking their wounds.

With half the team that faced Leeds in the Premiership on Sunday sitting on the sidelines - and considering Rovers' past experiences in the Coca-Cola Cup - there might have been cause for some trepidation among the fans.

But only until the first goal went in. After that, Preston were out-thought, outfought and simply outclassed by a Rovers team including two debutants in a completely new-look defence which managed a clean sheet in a 6-0 rout of their neighbours.

Preston had been prominent in a pre-match war of words but when it came to deeds, they were second best - by miles.

The gulf between the divisions was emphasised as Roy Hodgson's experimental side romped to their biggest-ever win in this competition, bettering the 6-1 margin by which Watford were sent packing in the 1992-93 season. Hodgson had much cause for satisfaction. For he had made his intentions clear long before the start.

He wanted victory but his main aims went much further. He aimed not only to test the depth in his squad but also to give players who have largely missed out so far a chance to show what they could contribute on the big stage.

In every respect, the manager and the players turned up trumps.

Marlon Broomes and Tore Pedersen enjoyed their senior debuts for the club as a new partnership in the centre of defence, Gary Croft got a chance at left back and Damien Duff was handed the left flank role.

Tim Sherwood had his first full game of the season, with normal service being resumed, and Anders Andersson too got a start, albeit in an unfamiliar position on the right.

It was tough on the Swede, having to play a wider role than he appreciates and a first half knock didn't help as he took time to adjust to the pace.

But he stuck at his task and was eventually rewarded with a well-taken goal. The best of Andersson, however, will be seen when he is called upon in the centre of midfield. Last night's six-pack meant Rovers have scored 16 goals in the last three Ewood games, a remarkable record. And, out of curiosity, did anyone notice that, at one stage, they had five Scandinavians on the field?

One of them, Lars Bohinen, was back at his best and his partnership with Sherwood proved a crucial factor in overwhelming the Second Division side who were something of a disappointment.

If Stuart Ripley or Kevin Gallacher had been running at them down the right, you felt the scoreline could have been embarrassing for a side who came to play it tight.

But once Martin Dahlin and Chris Sutton had got among them, North End discovered that when the going gets tough, class counts for an awful lot. Most of all, however, it was another wonderful night laden with more golden goals.

You would have to go a long way to see a finer effort than the opener in the 26th minute from Dahlin, both in creation and execution.

Duff, who ran the experienced Gary Parkinson ragged in the first half, scooted past his marker once again and put over a pinpoint cross.

Sherwood rose above what seemed a host of defenders to get the vital touch with his head and Dahlin produced the perfect overhead kick to flash the ball past Tuevo Moilanen in the Preston goal.

Three minutes later it was 2-0 as Sutton found Dahlin and, although he was pounced upon by two defenders, the ball ran free for Sutton to finish clinically with his right foot, just inside the post. The floodgates could have opened before the interval, with Sutton and Dahlin possessing too much pace, power and know-how for the North End defenders.

Though the visitors almost had a rare moment to celebrate on 38 minutes when, with the defence dozing, Tim Flowers had to make a double save from Lee Ashcroft.

It was the 54th minute when Dahlin again made goalscoring look easy. Taking a pass from Gary Croft, the Swede twisted and turned on the edge of the penalty area to make himself space then fired a low shot inside a post and out of the reach of the keeper.

Preston enjoyed their one real spell on top for about 10 minutes, with substitute Jonathan Macken looking their best player.

But play was soon flowing towards the other end and, in the 78th minute, having been on the field a matter of seconds, Gallacher produced the golden touch again.

A free kick was tapped to him by Croft and Gallacher immediately drove forward towards the heart of the Preston defence.

By then the stuffing had almost been knocked out of them and they were slow to close him down. Gallacher accepted the invitation to shoot from just outside the penalty area and the ball flashed into the far corner for another top-class strike.

With six minutes left, it was 5-0 through Andersson.

Gallacher put the ball in from the left and, when it fell for the midfielder, he drove a fierce shot through several bodies and past the helpless keeper.

Surely that was it? Not on your life. On 89 minutes, Bohinen picked up the ball from another cross from the left, this time by Croft, kept his composure while Preston panicked, drifted away from a couple of defenders and 'passed' the ball into the bottom corner of the net.

The final whistle put North End out of their misery and left Rovers to reflect on the formality of a trip to Deepdale for the second leg - with another opportunity for the manager to mix 'n' match with his selection.

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