GARRY Flitcroft's first Premiership goal for Blackburn Rovers was a long time coming - more than a year, in fact, after he made the move from Maine Road to Ewood, writes PETER WHITE.

But the former Manchester City midfielder wasn't in the least bit surprised that it was immediately followed by another.

And he will be on the prowl to rack up a hat-trick of sorts when Rovers visit Southampton tomorrow for the game which could clinch their Premiership status.

Flitcroft has been an important part of a midfield trio who have helped turn the tide after a disastrous start.

But the biggest flaw in their game plan has been a minimal scoring contribution to the cause.

So little wonder that Flitcroft's celebrations ranked fairly high on the Richter Scale, following his injury-time equaliser at Highbury a fortnight ago.

He broke his Rovers duck in the most spectacular fashion, then hit another cracker in the 4-1 victory over Sheffield Wednesday and wouldn't deny that a sense of relief was probably the greatest feeling.

"Yes, it's a weight off your shoulders, because sometimes you can try too hard to get a goal and I think I have been doing that," he said. "I think scoring gives you confidence. I remember Niall Quinn telling me at City that once you score one goal you feel like you can score in every game.

"After the Arsenal match, I seemed to get a lot more chances in the game against Sheffield Wednesday.

"It just happens like that and hopefully I can get a few more. I wouldn't mind getting another one at Southampton."

Flitcroft has always been recognised as a genuine box-to-box player who usually weighs in with his share of goals. But the last couple of seasons have been frustrating for him in that respect.

It hasn't, however, been for a want of effort that his name was missing from the Premiership scoring lists for so long.

"I have still been getting forward this season, but the chances don't seem to have been dropping for me. Or, when I have had them..." he shrugged with the look of a man who is aware that he is eminently capable of a better scoring record.

It's certainly a fair criticism to state that not enough goals have come from midfield this season.

Billy McKinlay, albeit playing a more defensive role these days, had to wait to score his first of the campaign against Manchester United, while Tim Sherwood has managed three.

That trio have been together for most of the season, with Lars Bohinen once again finding himself out in the cold.

The Norwegian has shown that he has the ability to get forward and score goals from midfield but has been unable to break his rivals' stranglehold on the senior places, except through injury or suspension.

Bohinen's long-term Ewood future must be in doubt. Indeed he has admitted as much, though the delay in the new manager arriving has meant such matters have had to go on hold.

It's a pity such a flair player has not been able to be accommodated but he is not the only one and Tony Parkes has only to point to results to show that he has been justified in sticking with his three musketeers.

And he will send them out at the Dell tomorrow with renewed confidence after taking four points from the last two games.

"It's a tight ground and there's usually a bit of atmosphere around the place," added Flitcroft. "But confidence is sky high after beating Sheffield Wednesday 4-1 and we'll be going there looking for a result."

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