ROY Hodgson saw Blackburn Rovers go top of the Premiership last night with a remarkable 4-0 win at Aston Villa but warned: "It's a dream end you are looking for, not a dream start."
The Rovers boss was playing it cool and quickly shot down suggestions of euphoria after the biggest away win since Nottingham Forest were beaten 5-1 in April 1996.
It was inspired by a Chris Sutton hat-trick but Hodgson pointed out: "Nobody's running around in our dressing room thinking they have won a cup because they have started the season well.
"I am not trying to play down the performance but my message, and I hope I have put it over very clearly, is that being top of the table after two games is not the be all and end all.
"We were top at Inter after 12 games and finished third. We didn't even get in the Champions' League. Parma, after five games, were bottom and they are in the Champions' League.
"The old cliche of it's where you finish that counts, not where you are at the beginning, is firmly embedded in my mind after the experiences of last season.
"It's a dream end you are looking for.
"I am happy we have started well but my feet are more than firmly on the ground. They are actually still entrenched."
Sutton too was staying calm, despite a great start.
"I have always felt that if I can keep fit and have a run of games, I can do well," he said.
"With the service I get from the other players in the team, I believe I can score goals. "In my first season, I scored over 20 and we won the title. I wasn't playing a lot under Ray Harford. We didn't always see eye to eye but that's water under the bridge.
"And last season I felt my form was good when I had a run of games.
"It's a long season and we aren't title challengers just because we've won two games, even though it was important to get a good start.
"We are all working hard and Jason and Stuart look full of confidence. The team looks well balanced and we are getting crosses in again, quality crosses.
"It's always nice to get off the mark for the season, especially with a hat-trick.
"We've had a couple of indifferent seasons, we lost Alan Shearer and there aren't many players who can guarantee you 30 goals. But I'm not Alan, I'm Chris Sutton and I just want to do well with my own game.
"I came to Blackburn to win things and that hasn't changed."
Rovers have been linked with Liverpool's unhappy left winger Mark Kennedy. But with Jason Wilcox now settled and back in top form, and Damien Duff hoping to press his claims, don't expect an Ewood bid.
Stephane Henchoz had to be substituted at half time last night, with a groin strain. It's too early at the moment to tell how serious it is.
Many at Villa Park thought Stuart Ripley had finally ended his scoring drought.
But the fourth goal went to Kevin Gallacher as Ripley's shot took a huge deflection off the Scot to beat the keeper.
It's April 1994 since Ripley last scored but Hodgson smiled: "I never feel sorry for players. If we can score five goals in two games and continue to win matches then I don't care if Stuart Ripley doesn't score for 42 games.
"It doesn't make the slightest difference, football's a team game not an individual game.
"He might be unfortunate, he might not be invited to open the fetes and supermarkets. But in my experience he can count himself lucky, because opening supermarkets is a very dubious pleasure!"
Rovers' title odds have been slashed from 66-1 to 25-1 by William Hill. Manchester United remain favourites at 11-10.
Rovers reserves play their opening Pontin's League game of the season tonight against Tranmere at Ewood (7pm).
Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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