ROVERS: It's a miss-tery

THE latest speculation doing the rounds at Bramall Lane yesterday was that Blackburn Rovers' pre-season build-up had been scripted by Ruth Rendell, writes PETER WHITE.

There's certainly been more than enough mystery to cover a new TV series, especially in the opposition penalty area.

For, with the notable exception of the game against Norrkoping, Rovers have kept everyone in the dark as to just how they manage to make so little of so many scoring chances.

And you would need considerably more than the combined deductive powers of inspectors Morse and Frost to hazard a guess as to the final shape of Rovers' line-up when they walk out to face Derby County when the real thing begins on Saturday.

Injuries, of course, have been the major factor depriving Roy Hodgson of the opportunity to make full use of several players who are expected to figure in his strongest side.

In that respect, it has not been a particularly satisfying pre-season exercise.

Hodgson again took some plus points from yesterday's clash but it was disappointing to lose a game which could so easily have been won.

No real mystery, however, why they didn't.

Sheffield United made far more of far fewer scoring opportunities than Rovers, whose final service, as well as final shot or header, lacked genuine quality too often for comfort.

The goals Rovers conceded wouldn't require too lengthy an inquest either - just a quick glance at the video and a few sharp words about the marking in the middle of the penalty area.

With players such as Henning Berg and Colin Hendry still hoping to be available for Saturday, we don't even know the personnel who will be responsible for guarding John Filan's goal against Derby.

And, just as in Aberdeen on Wednesday night, the result means little. But going into the new season with the serious and familiar question marks over the team's firepower remains a concern.

Martin Dahlin's pedigree is such that if he continues to find scoring positions as he did in his first full game in Rovers colours, then surely the timing and sharpness will come and he will cash in.

He failed to do so from some straightforward openings against the Blades but partner Kevin Gallacher will take great heart from his overall display and cracking goal.

The Scot has certainly staked his claim for a shirt.

So too has Stuart Ripley. When he went on in the second half, the service distinctly improved and could have brought an equaliser, even a winner, if Rovers could have found the finishing power to match.

Up to the penalty area, they controlled much of the game. But where it counts, they too often let themselves down.

Two other "mysteries" were solved after the game.

Hodgson revealed that Graeme Le Saux, who played the 90 minutes and was booed by a number of Rovers fans, would figure in his plans as long as his performances and commitment were right.

And Ian Pearce's surprise late substitution, after being involved in an off-the-ball incident with Carl Tiler, was cleared up by referee Uriah Rennie.

He asked Rovers to substitute the defender so that he would not need to take disciplinary action, though the incident didn't look particularly serious to me.

"The game had been played in a very good spirit and I thought it was the best thing to do," said the ref, who was following a trend that seems to have become quite commonplace.

Rovers were caught cold in the opening minute when Brian Deane took a Dane Whitehouse pass, escaped the attentions of the central defenders and lifted an excellent finish past Filan.

Ten minutes later, Dean lost Pearce and fired wide when he might have done better but, once Rovers settled down, they looked comfortably the better side - up to the penalty area.

Simon Tracey saved a Dahlin header, Pearce put another header just wide and the United goal stayed intact as Dahlin's overhead kick and Gallacher's cross shot were also off target.

The equaliser, in the 33rd minute, was brilliant. Gallacher broke away, Le Saux made an excellent decoy run outside him and the Scot cut inside past a couple of defenders before whacking a superb shot into the far top corner from the edge of the penalty area.

But carelessness crept straight back in a minute later.

Tiler had gone forward for a free kick which was cleared. He stayed up and, when Whitehouse put in an excellent cross, there was only the diminutive Le Saux in front of the big defender who powered home a header.

Filan had to make two excellent saves from Jan Fjortoft in the second half but, generally, it was Rovers looking for an equaliser.

Gallacher headed just wide from an excellent combination by Jason Wilcox and Le Saux, Dahlin's touch let him down when Wilcox had put him clean through and Pearce hit the outside of a post from Ripley's searching cross.

Rovers kept at it for Gallacher to force a good save from Tracey but Dahlin's frustration grew when he headed a Le Saux cross down and saw the ball bounce over the bar.

In the dying minutes, Dahlin seemed to have got everything right from Ripley's cross but Tracey had anticipated the striker's touch and pulled off a superb save.

If Dahlin continues to get into these kind of positions, the goals will surely flow - but not just yet.

A final word about two ex-Rovers, Nicky Marker and Mark Patterson, who both did well for a competitive Blades team.

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