Vrat's the way to hit the winner

Blackburn fans, reacting to the news that Paul Gallagher was to make his first start in the Premiership, backed the 19-year-old in their droves to score the game's opening goal.

Call it a romantic gesture if you like but the general feeling was it was all set up for the Academy starlet to become an instant hero on the Blackburn End.

Rovers were desperate for a spark of inspiration and young Gallagher was being tipped as the man to provide it following an impressive cameo at Old Trafford last weekend.

For 'Roy of the Rovers' read 'Paul of the Rovers'.

But as the afternoon unfolded, it later transpired that the smart money was on Vratislav Gresko as the Slovakian international - a 33/1 shot with the bookies - assumed the role of 'Vrat the Destroyer'.

Until now, Gresko had had a season to forget, often looking a pale shadow of the player who had wooed fans with some water-tight displays during the latter stages of last season.

A series of defensive blunders, the most glaring of which led to Rovers' recent demise at Leicester, prompted some fans to call for Jay McEveley to be reinstated at left-back.

However, Souness decided to stick by his man and that show of faith was finally rewarded as the 26-year-old not only scored a priceless winner but also made a telling contribution to what was Rovers' first clean sheet of the season.

Few would have identified Gresko as the match-winner before the game, especially as the defender had never previously found the net in 26 appearances.

But it later emerged that his English teacher had had a premonition late last week after which he told his star pupil that he would net the winner.

"I'm learning English and my teacher said to me on Friday 'you will score tomorrow'," revealed the Slovakian.

"He must come to watch me every game now. I really enjoyed that goal. It was very important for me, the team, the club, and the fans.

"I saw Gallagher and we were maybe two against one but I tried to shoot and I was perhaps a little lucky."

Luck might have played a part in the winner as Gresko's strike took a wicked deflection off Stephen Carr on its way past Kasey Keller.

But it's about time Rovers enjoyed a slice of good fortune and few could deny they worthy of the win on the day.

It was a victory that owed more to perspiration than an inspiration but right now its results rather than performances that matter and this was a vital three points, make no mistake about it.

At times it was frustrating, and no-one felt that frustration more than Souness himself who once again fell foul of officialdom.

Four minutes into the second half, referee Graham Poll made his umpteenth baffling decision of the day when he blew for a foul after Steven Reid had challenged Stephen Carr right in front of the dug-outs.

Souness was livid and leapt off his seat to remonstrate, questioning Mr Poll's allegiance under his breath.

Suddenly, the Hertfordshire official took exception to the comment and sent Souness to the directors' box.

It was an unnecessary act and the punishment hardly fit the crime but in a perverse way, it seemed to spurs Rovers into life and no-one did more to grab the game by the throat than young Gallagher, who was a source of constant inspiration in the second half.

The Scottish Under 21 international was a breath of fresh air up front, where his vision and willingness to work the line caused the Spurs defence no end of problems.

For a man so young, his awareness of space is quite exceptional.

When it became too congested in the centre, he popped up on both flanks from where he delivered a series of mouth-watering crosses that were reminiscent of a certain Alan Shearer.

And the pleasing thing was, when the pressure was on his team-mates didn't have to seek Gallagher out because he was always hunting for the ball.

Perhaps the biggest plus of the afternoon, though, was a first clean sheet of the season for Brad Friedel at the 17th attempt.

Craig Short and Andy Todd were both magnificent at the back as they comfortably snuffed out the threat of Robbie Keane and Helder Postiga, who were limited to just one chance apiece during the whole 90 minutes.

Todd has been Rovers' most consistent performer during the last two months and his partnership with Short could well form the foundation of a winter revival.

Defences were certainly on top during an uneventful opening 45 minutes in which Rovers were often guilty of trying to over-complicate things going forward.

The home side's only real chance fell to Dwight Yorke but his header from a Brett Emerton cross was comfortably dealt with by Keller.

Then Todd missed a golden opportunity when he failed to get any proper contact on an Emerton corner with the goal at his mercy.

Spurs' only threat of the half came from Stephane Dalmat but he dragged his shot woefully wide after pouncing on a lay-off from Postiga.

Souness decided to inject more urgency by replacing the ineffective Nissa Johansson with Steven Reid at half-time and the switch paid immediate dividends as Rovers emerged with more purpose after the break.

Emerton headed into the side-netting, Postiga denied Yorke on the goal-line following a sweeping move involving Tugay and Emerton, then Keller somehow clawed away a Yorke header at the far post.

In between times, Spurs threatened on a couple of occasions at the other end when Postiga volleyed over at full stretch, then Keane blasted over following a driving run by Carr.

But just when it looked like both sides may have to be content with a point, up popped Gresko with a timely winner.

There were 12 minutes left on the watch when he received a square pass from Yorke 20 yards inside the Tottenham half.

As he strode forward there appeared to be options to his left and right but he took aim and unleashed a shot from fully 25 yards which took a wicked deflection off Carr and looped past a stunned Keller into the far corner.

It was a remarkable end to an unremarkable game. Maybe, just maybe, Rovers have turned the corner.

ROVERS 1

Gresko 78

SPURS 0