SWANSEA 1

ROVERS 4

WHAT a week it has been for Blackburn Rovers' young striker Matt Derbyshire.

Nine days ago, the 19-year-old was in the doldrums after he got sent off for the first time in his professional career during Rovers' 1-1 friendly draw with 1860 Munich.

It was a bitter blow for the former Great Harwood starlet, who was desperately trying to impress Mark Hughes during Rovers' pre-season tour of Germany.

Some weaker individuals might have caved in after suffering such a setback, but not Derbyshire, who is clearly made of sterner stuff, as he bounced back with a vengeance here to grab his first senior goal, which put the gloss on this comprehensive win.

The teenager's late header might have given the scoreline a rather flattering look, but it capped a lively half hour cameo from a player determined to make the grade at first team level.

"I thought young Matty did well when he came on," said Hughes.

"His movement was good, he's desperate to do well, he's got a lot of enthusiasm, he has an eye for a goal, and it's always pleasing when you get your first senior goal."

Derbyshire's performance was one of several positives to come out of this Welsh excursion as Rovers finally overpowered a gritty Swansea side in their plush new home.

For long periods of the first half, Kenny Jackett's newly-promoted Coca Cola League One hopefuls proved more than a match for their Premier League visitors and only poor finishing prevented them from being a couple of goals to the good.

With Ryan Nelsen absent through injury at the back, Rovers looked jittery defensively and they struggled to string two passes together on a pitch that was hardly conducive for free-flowing football.

However, the introduction of Tugay at the beginning of the second half proved pivotal as Rovers finally found another gear to run out comfortable winners in the end, even without Craig Bellamy, Paul Dickov and Matt Jansen.

The goals were shared around with Derbyshire, Morten Gamst Pedersen, Steven Reid and Michael Gray all getting their names on the score-sheet.

Reid, in particular, looked impressive again in the centre of midfield, especially once he paired up with Tugay at the beginning of the second half.

Robbie Savage also got his first taste of action after undergoing a groin operation at the beginning of the summer but, understandably, he looked a touch off the pace in the opening 45 minutes.

And Vratty Gresko made a similar comeback following nine months out with a serious knee injury, supplying the cross for Derbyshire's goal.

Swansea asked some searching questions in the opening quarter of an hour and, with a little a more composure in front of goal, they might have taken the lead.

Brad Friedel made his first save after just 50 seconds when Marc Goodfellow let fly from 15 yards out, then Adrian Forbes headed over from Lee Trundle's inviting centre, and Friedel had to perform further heroics to keep out Kris O'Leary's point-blank header.

Rovers looked far from convincing at the back and Trundle raced clear again only to see his shot saved by the ever-alert Friedel.

In contrast, there was little cohesion about Rovers going forward and their solitary chance in the opening half hour was a Brett Emerton header that sailed harmlessly wide.

They finally got their act together in the 35th minute when Paul Gallagher delivered a deep cross to the far post for Pedersen, who planted a firm downward header past Willy Gueret.

Reid then grabbed his second goal in five days in the 65th minute when he stooped to head home Emerton's cross.

And Gray made it 3-0 in the 85th minute, following up from six yards out after Alan Tate had bizarrely headed the ball against his own post.

Swansea pinched a late consolation when Andy Robinson's free kick deceived Friedel at his near post.

But it was Derbyshire who had the last laugh, converting Gresko's cross at the back post.

ROVERS: Friedel; Neill, Todd, Mokoena, Matteo; Emerton, Reid, Savage, Pedersen; Kuqi, Gallagher. Subs: Tugay (for Savage, 46), Flitcroft (for Pedersen, 63), Derbyshire (for Kuqi, 63), Gray (for Gallagher, 71), Gresko (for Matteo, 71), Douglas (for Emerton, 77), McEveley (for Mokoena, 78), Taylor (for Reid, 80)

SWANSEA: Gueret, Ricketts, Austin, Monk, Martinez, Britton, O'Leary, Trundle, Forbes, Goodfellow, Iriekpen. Subs: Tate (for Austin, 46), McLeod (for Goodfellow, 46), Tudor Jones (for Monk, 64), Murphy (for Gueret, 79), Robinson (for Martinez, 79), Anderson (for Ricketts, 79)

Attendance: 12,255