Coventry City 0 Blackburn Rovers 0 - Peter White reports
A LUNCHTIME crisis at Blackburn Rovers' hotel prompted an SOS call for Mr Reliable-and Nicky Marker, once again, didn't let them down.
Already deprived of Jeff Kenna's services through injury, Rovers boss Ray Harford had to rule out Henning Berg at the last minute with a virus that had left the Norwegian under the weather and feeling giddy.
So who could fill in at right back against the Coventry's John Salako, who had been tipped as the man most likely to rip Rovers apart and deepen the crisis threatening the Ewood club?
Marker, of course, to Rovers, he's the fourth emergency service.
Though it might have been a different selection decision if the ever-reliable utility man had told his manager what he told me afterwards.
"We had a discussion about the situation and I said I would be happy to play right back," said Marker, after helping Rovers' defence to earn a point from a scrappy, tension-ridden game which had relegation scrap written all over it.
"It's about four years since I played in that position. I think it was against Manchester City, marking Rick Holden, and he got the man of the match award. "But I didn't mention that!
"Seriously, it was just good to play and to do well in a strange position.
"The manager took the pressure off me and and I'm pleased I didn't let Ray or the rest of the team down. He always stands by me."
Marker did himself proud in a Rovers defence that kept a first clean sheet in the Premiership this season, despite more injury problems.
What a pity he couldn't make his first appearance of the season in a better game.
Gary Croft made his Premiership bow with credit and, when Chris Coleman was stretchered off, Chris Sutton stepped back to do an excellent job in the later stages alongside the consistent Colin Hendry.
Solid was the word about Rovers in front of Tim Flowers who was only rarely needed to extend himself but proved equal to anything Coventry could muster.
Right, that deals with the positive aspects of a windswept clash which could probably best be described by the abuse the home fans hurled at their team and manager at the end - "What a load of rubbish."
It really was dreadful as a spectacle for the fans but Rovers should have had the consolation prize of claiming their first League win. They had by far the better attacking opportunities but the fact that Flowers had to make more key saves than Steve Ogrizovic sums up how they failed to make the most of them.
For half an hour there was only one team in it, though the generosity of both teams in continually giving the ball away was a source of frustration for everyone.
It cried out for someone to put their foot on the ball and slow it down. But, even so, there were several chances when the crucial cross or pass didn't quite end up where it should have done.
The closest thing to a goal came when Sutton headed Jason Wilcox's corner down and it bounced against the near post.
That was after only eight minutes and, on 16 minutes, the striker seemed to be fouled in the penalty area.
But the referee was in keeping with the game. Some of his decisions, both ways, were laughable.
In the 13 minutes before half time, Coventry finally produced something going forward and Rovers relied on Flowers with justified confidence.
The keeper saved well from Salako and brilliantly from a Paul Telfer bullet header.
Lars Bohinen began to recapture some of his sparkle in the second half and his efforts lifted Rovers.
Sutton, again, was surely fouled just as he was about to shoot, Ogrizovic made a great stop from substitute Graham Fenton's shot and Rovers had several promising attacks which petered out. As the manager rightly said afterwards, often because they chose the wrong options.
With time starting to run out and home fans picking on Kevin Richardson as the main target for their disgruntled feelings, Coventry finally provided a threat.
Salako, on the right, wriggled past three half tackles only to shoot straight at Flowers.
Then Liam Daish powered in a header from a corner but Croft was perfectly placed by the post to do his job and head clear.
But Rovers still looked the better bet, if they could find the decisive touch for the final pass or shot.
Two minutes from time, Bohinen worked a clever move with George Donis and seemed to measure his shot from around the edge of the penalty area. Could it be a winner at last? No, as the ball flew agonisingly wide of Ogrizovic's right-hand post.
Home supporters vented their dis-satisfaction in no uncertain terms, while I suspect Rovers fans had mixed feelings.
There would be some satisfaction at an away point but also genuine concern as that first League victory remains so elusive.
The longer the run goes on, the harder it is to break and teams like Leeds, Spurs, Derby and now Coventry have provided ample opportunities.
It can only get harder until they get off the mark.
Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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