Rovers draw Bees' sting

Unbeaten in nine games since the start of the season, with five clean sheets in defence, they were well worth a place at the top of the Second Division.

It was hardly the ideal venue for Blackburn Rovers, rock bottom of the Premiership remember, to kick off their Coca-Cola Cup campaign.

Never mind the gap between the two clubs in terms of League position. There would have been more than a few bob waged nationwide on a second round, first leg upset being caused by the busy Bees in front of a crowd nearly twice their average.

But the sort of start Rovers have only been able to dream about in their Premiership matches gave them just the lift they needed, with Garry Flitcroft scoring his first senior goal for the club and Chris Sutton his third in three outings.

And it also helped them hang on in a second half when Brentford, bolstered by reducing the deficit to 2-1 right on the interval, threatened to swarm all over them at times. Two moments right out of Quality Street made all the difference for a Rovers team who have been craving such an advantage as they have searched for that elusive first victory.

But it was still close in the end-close enough to justify that favourite managers' comment at the end of these first leg ties.

"It's still only half time."

And, yes, Brentford boss Dave Webb came out with it!

He was, however, right to do so. For there is still work to do before Rovers can claim a place in the third round after a game that could really only be described as a typical cup tie, certainly in the second half.

It was end-to-end throughout with Rovers struggling at times to put together their passing game on a blustery night and with the ball out of play a lot.

When they did, they looked very good and a class above their opponents. When they didn't, it offered an invitation for a fast, furious and-at their own level I am sure-fearsome Brentford side to stream forward with pace. It was easy to see how they have got off to such a flying start in the Second Division.

I doubt many defenders in that particular division will relish a trip to Griffin Park.

With the ball coming back far too often and too quickly for comfort after the break, Rovers were hard-pressed at the back at times and had to show plenty of character to ride the storm.

The distribution throughout the side visibly deteriorated as they got sucked into what manager Ray Harford so aptly described as a "helter-skelter" type of match.

That suited Brentford down to the ground but, when the chances did come, they weren't good enough to take advantage of them.

In contrast, Rovers showed the sort of clinical finishing that-as long-serving Ewood regulars will recall only too well-is often the crux of the matter when big and small are pitched together.

Still, even though it is only half time-as they say-it was a welcome victory and that should serve to lift confidence for the more important battles ahead. Prepared for an early rush, the Rovers fans behind Kevin Dearden's goal were delighted to see it came from their own team as the usual rules of combat in these contests were turned upside down.

Indeed, if Rovers had been able to claim that other elusive prize-a clean sheet-in the first half, I suspect they might have been able to kill off the tie altogther.

But conceding a well-worked goal to Brentford, not only put the Bees right back in last night's game but also left them a glimmer of hope when they come to Ewood next Tuesday.

Considering the sort of start we have seen to the season, to watch Rovers take a two-goal lead inside 20 minutes was a delight.

And Sutton, who had an excellent first half but clearly tired after the break, was directly involved in both.

For the first, in the 17th minute, he was goalmaker, turning sweetly past Barry Ashby to set up Flitcroft.

It looked as though the midfielder might have waited too long, but his timing was, in fact, perfect as he drilled his shot from left to right and into the far bottom corner. Two minutes later and George Donis took off like Linford Christie out of the blocks down the right wing, produced a precision low cross to the near post and Sutton had got ahead of his marker at the crucial moment to strike it home.

It was an example of superb wing play and goal poaching at its finest.

Brentford were stunned although Tim Flowers had been forced into a good save from Robert Taylor in between the goals.

Understandably, it took the home side some time to recover, with Rovers showing the confidence of old on the ball.

But the flowing rhythm began to break down and Taylor should have done better with a heading chance before, on the stroke of half time, Brentford gained their reward for some good approach play.

Scott Canham, a lively performer, made a superb forward run midway between goal and the left-hand touchline. He was expertly found by Marcus Bent and drove in a cross from close to the bye-line.

Flowers could only palm it away and there was Nick Forster to fire it straight back past the keeper - Game on!

Rovers' neat passing game went by the wayside after the break and they started to look really untidy at times. It didn't help that they had lost Donis early on - though that's no reflection on the efforts of Graham Fenton who went up front with Kevin Gallacher switching wide.

And they also put on Ian Pearce at right back for another casualty, Henning Berg, midway through the second half.

But Brentford, lifted by their goal, certainly threatened an equaliser.

Rovers had lined up again without a man out wide left, though Flitcroft was usually the furthest one out of the midfielders.

When it's working, it looks okay but when it's not it looks unbalanced again as in the second half and Brentford did try to apply pressure down their right-hand side.

But Flowers stood firm, some important interceptions were made in the box and Rovers held their lead, if only rarely threatening to add to it.

Now they must start again next Tuesday and complete the job.

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