SOUTHAMPTON 1 ROVERS 0

But the real charity came from Blackburn Rovers.

This game seemed to be there for the taking, but perhaps Rovers had been reading the record books.

They haven't enjoyed the taste of victory at The Dell for almost 60 years.

It's such a jinxed ground for them that the news of their 1938-39 triumph was probably only knocked off the front pages by the imminent outbreak of the Second World War!

Seriously though, once they started to spurn a string of chances on Saturday, you could almost sense the outcome.

"Alan Shearer 78 minutes, that's what will happen," offered one hardened hack from the national Press shortly after half time.

But you know how often they get it wrong.

Sure enough, it was that other supreme matchwinner Le Tissier, who emerged from what has seemed like a season's sabbatical for such a talent, to take a pressure penalty late in the game and send Rovers back up the motorway with a depression hanging over them.

It was fitting, in one sense, that Le Tissier should be the man to settle the game.

For he produced some moments to remember in a game too readily forgotten.

But defeat was still largely self-inflicted for Rovers who looked the more cohesive side throughout but managed to come unstuck.

At one end, they failed to cash in against a makeshift defence and wobbly goalkeeper.

Then, to cap it all, they handed Saints a gift chance to raise the south coast side's hopes of escaping the trapdoor once again.

And Le Tissier doesn't often miss penalties, not even in a game when it looked as though both teams had given up scoring for Lent.

In one six-minute spell in the second half, Rovers had four glorious opportunities to take what would surely have been a decisive lead.

With Saints desperate for points to haul themselves away from yet another relegation battle and Rovers far from impressive in so many of their away fixtures this season, the game lived up - or should that be down - to its expectations.

It was an uninspiring affair, yet one that could have pushed Rovers into real contention for a European spot if they had claimed the victory that they should have had, despite not reaching a peak.

The most frustrating factor was that they seemed comfortable for so long during the match, rarely in danger of conceding a goal, despite a large number of corners which Southampton seemed to win in waves.

But the home team were not about to pass up an "assist" when Chris Coleman was caught red-handed in the penalty area, guilty of foul.

With Garry Flitcroft linking up well with Tim Sherwood in midfield and Rovers defending solidly, they had a platform to build a successful start to what promised to be an intriguing Easter double. But the chances fell largely to players not in the recent habit of scoring - and it showed.

Jeff Kenna was the unluckiest man on the pitch. Making his first return to The Dell since his transfer to Ewood just over a year ago, Kenna was denied a breath-taking goal by the thickness of a post after an incredible run which saw him out-twinkle Le Tissier.

That was bad luck, so too was Shearer's second half effort when Francis Benali brilliantly blocked the striker's volley.

You could not be as charitable, however, about the other misses.

Rovers, with Kevin Gallacher on the right instead of Stuart Ripley and Shearer back from a groin strain, began well enough in what ultimately developed into a fairly uneventful first half.

Kenna produced easily the best effort when he set off on a run down the left, cut inside past four faltering defenders until he could see the whites of Bruce Grobbelaar's eyes and hit the ball past him.

Unfortunately for the Irishman, it struck the foot of the keeper's right-hand post and came out.

Even then, Shearer looked favourite to score but dragged his shot wide with the aid of a deflection.

With Saints forced into several changes, for various reasons, it looked good for Rovers. But they failed to capitalise.

The home team, understandably, were disjointed but were prepared to battle to survive and they went close towards half time.

Few of their many corners really worried Rovers but when Neil Shipperley headed one down, it was lucky that Mike Newell managed to get in a brave block on Benali's overhead kick.

Then Gordon Watson was just wide on the turn.

The second half saw a great chance for Jason Wilcox, from Shearer's set-up, but he spooned it high over the bar.

Saints threatened twice, but only briefly, with Le Tissier at the heart of things but Rovers were now starting to take a grip on the game and the home team were clearly rattled.

A lightning counter-attack brought a low, hard cross from Gallacher and Flitcroft looked certain to score almost on the line. But the ball somehow flew by him without making it contact. It might even have gone through his legs.

It was Nicky Marker's turn to miss next after more pressure and a pass by Newell and, in the 61st minute - just seven minutes after the Wilcox chance - Rovers' frustration was complete as Benali denied Shearer.

Rovers still looked the more likely team to win it, especially with Grobbelaar having a nightmare with his kicking after taking an early knock.

But their chance/s had been and gone.

Benali sounded a warning with a flashing header and, with nine minutes left, came the decisive moment.

A neat flick through the middle by Le Tissier saw Shipperley charge in pursuit between the two central defenders.

The ball was too far ahead of the striker and heading for the hands of Tim Flowers but Coleman decided to take a hand, tugged him back and was spotted by the referee who immediately awarded a spot kick.

Few arguments and even fewer doubts about the outcome.

Le Tissier took the responsibility, planted it low and hard past Flowers, who went the wrong way, and Rovers were left empty-handed.

They have only themselves to blame for that, as Le Tissier proved that charity begins at home with a Matt finish.

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