DAVID Batty's superb strike stole even some of Alan Shearer's thunder at Ewood last night.

But as the England striker moved menacingly to within just one step of a "full house" - a century of League goals for Blackburn Rovers - and Batty revelled in the understandable euphoria of his very first for the club, another key figure was forced to put personal celebrations on hold.

Stuart Ripley's turn in the limelight, however, surely cannot be far away.

Ewood would have exploded in pandemonium if "Rippers" had joined Batty on the scoresheet last night - and he won't come much closer.

The scoring drought shared by these two has been something like a long-running soap opera.

Batty finally broke his duck in spectacular fashion to seal victory over a game Manchester City side and prompt a cacophony of sound from the packed stands.

It was a tremendous strike from fully 25 yards, leaving City keeper Eike Immel helpless.

And, if there had been any justice, Ripley too would have notched his first goal since April 1994.

Inches wide with an opportunist effort on the turn in the first half, the winger struck a post with a superb second half shot after cutting inside.

But, happily, the returning wide man was still able to make a fine contribution to Rovers' latest home victory, even though his frustration in front of goal continued.

Ripley, back from a bout of flu, was, in fact, a key figure as Rovers made it seven successive League victories in front of their own supporters.

This latest success wasn't anything like as convincing as some of the others, but it needed different qualities and they found them when required. It must be of some concern that the left hand side of midfield still hasn't been properly solved.

David Batty has been operating there and that's where he started but was soon switched, with Lars Bohinen doing a turn there for a while before skipper Tim Sherwood took on the job.

It is, really, a tribute to the quality of those three players that Rovers have continued to overcome the handicap that has existed since Jason Wilcox was injured.

Kevin Gallacher, when he is available again, could fill the role but that, given Lars Bohinen's effect on the team, would presumably mean leaving out either Batty or Sherwood.

And both have been key contributors. A thorny problem but one which, at home at least, has not been insurmountable.

When football managers talk about the rub of the green, the bounce of the ball or a bit of plain old-fashioned luck, it's easy to be dismissive. Some people reckon they are simply making excuses.

But there's something in it.

Last night, for example, the turning point in this entertaining game on a pitch that played well despite the falling temperatures, may well have been witnessed as early as the 14th minute.

Rovers had just taken the lead through another Shearer special when City, bright and imaginative until they eventually went two goals behind, saw Niall Quinn strike a post from half a dozen yards.

Their luck was out, they never again had quite as good an opportunity of equalising and Rovers went on to wrap things up just five minutes into the second half with Batty's wonder goal.

Rovers certainly weren't as fluent as they have been in many other home games against a team who came to attack, got both their full backs forward when they could and helped to make it an open free-flowing game. But they still had the exciting runs of Bohinen, the right wing charges of Ripley and, when it was needed, the discipline to batten down the hatches and tell City - if you want something from this game, come and get it.

If Shearer had been in the opposition ranks, perhaps they might well have conjured up something to cause much more concern for Rovers, who became a little careless at times with their passing.

Having said that, the better chances fell to the champions and, while some of the close range openings went to waste, you won't see finer finishing at any level than the two goals.

Rovers had already threatened before they took the lead in splendid fashion. Bohinen and Batty were involved on the left, Mike Newell timed and placed his square pass to perfection and there was Shearer, just outside the "D" of the penalty area.

The striker had found just enough space to matter, dragged the ball into position, cocked his right foot and pulled the trigger. The result, really, was inevitable as Immel dived in vain to his left and the net billowed.

City handed out one or two scares, with Georgi Kinkladze looking as though he could be a danger and Garry Flitcroft a real midfield presence.

But Rovers also could have scored again, with Batty and Ripley both going desperately close in the same attack!

Batty's shot was touched onto a post by the keeper and, when Sherwood headed the ball back in, Ripley's effort must have grazed the same piece of woodwork. The second goal duly arrived and it was one that will have grandchildren of the future asking: "Grand-dad, where were you when David Batty scored for Rovers?" It was a cracker too. Picking up a ball from Shearer, Batty strode on a couple of yards before letting fly an unstoppable shot that screamed past the keeper's despairing dive, high into his top right-hand corner.

A special moment and, while Quinn might have put City back into the game, their first half sparkle had clearly dimmed and it was Rovers who looked more capable of adding to the scoresheet. Sherwood, with a header, and Ripley, with a left-foot drive against a post, came closest.

Against a City side whose attacking approach play belied their miserable scoring record, the scoreline looks comfortable but it was more a competent Rovers performance than a convincing one.

But there's nothing wrong with that and Ewood eagerly awaits the next instalment in the great goal saga - hopefully featuring Messrs Shearer AND Ripley.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.