Division One: Blackburn Rovers 5 Sheffield United 0 - Peter White's match verdict

BULLY boys beware -- this Blackburn Rovers side is no longer a soft touch for those First Division sides who are forced to rely on brute force in the absence of real quality.

But, then again, you wouldn't expect anything else from a team bossed by Graeme Souness, a man who never ducked a physical challenge as a player and will demand exactly the same from those who work for him.

No complaints from this quarter on that score and, judging by the sight and sound of the celebrations reverberating around the stadium at the end, none from the fans either.

In fact, they loved every minute of it given that, six months ago, or more recently at Barnsley for example, Rovers might just well have rolled over and wilted in the face of such an onslaught.

But now they are starting to win a few battles, there is genuine cause for hope that they are going to be capable of winning a war. Albeit that might have to wait until next season.

Aggression abounded at Ewood on Saturday. Apparently, it's the way most games develop when you are playing against a side managed by Neil Warnock.

But Sheffield United's unacceptable face of football -- seen on the field at Bolton recently and on the touchline by their snarling manager during the first half -- more than met its match.

Although the foul count was harsh on Rovers. Souness soon felt compelled to leave his seat in the stand and strike back -- verbally, of course.

But, if the scoreline suggests an afternoon full of free-flowing football, flair and finesse, forget it.

There were some fine goals to admire but, crucially, it was all about matching the Sheffield steel.

It was a brave team selection by Souness considering he did not choose a back-up defender in the squad.

But he reaped the reward with a huge win and some excellent individual performances.

David Dunn's superb, and unrehearsed, skills for the second goal had the manager chuckling. I suspect he was purring with delight at Damien Duff's finishing and he could afford an 'I told you so' about Egil Ostenstad's clinical third goal.

The goals really told the story of Rovers' day. For once, they maximised their chances in stark contrast to so many other games.

They were as clinical as the facts testify, starting in their first attack.

Ostenstad played a superb pass to release Duff down the left, the winger cut inside, outpacing any pursuers, and calmly struck his shot under the diving keeper.

United's raw-boned approach caused a few problems, especially with debutant keeper Alan Miller -- in for the injured Alan Kelly -- really struggling whenever the crosses piled in. They could have equalised, notably when Curtis Woodhouse's 'goal' ws chalked off for offside against another player, then when Marcus Bent's drive was blocked and the scramble ended with Ostenstad heading off the line.

Instead, at the end of a niggly, bad-tempered half Rovers grabbed a vital second.

An excellent run by Duff won a corner and Dunn took it short to the winger before getting it back and surprising a defender to cut in along the bye-line.

Dunn's low centre deflected off Lee Sandford nicely into the path of Ashley Ward who stabbed it home from a couple of yards.

Rovers began the second half brightly, though Miller finally made himself feel better with a fingertip save from Bobby Ford's 66th minute blockbuster.

A minute later, however, it was all over. Jason McAteer found Ostenstad charging down the inside-left channel, in acres of space.

The keeper rushed out rather hastily, Ostenstad rounded him and, despite a tight angle and a defender on the line, justified his manager's comments by finishing cool as you like.

United should have had a consolation either when Curtis Woodhouse struck a peach of a 25-yarder against the bar in the 73rd minute, or when Stuart Wilson's shot was brilliantly touched over by Miller a minute later.

Instead, it was Rovers who staged the grand finale, sub Matt Jansen having a big say in the closing stages when there could also have been a penalty for handling in the United box.

Jansen did really well to fight off a couple of challenges in the 82nd minute and find Garry Flitcroft, whose pass along the edge of the penalty area fell perfectly for Duff. He took a step forward before driving a precision shot through the legs of a defender -- perhaps with a slight deflection -- and in off the foot of the far post.

With a minute of normal time remaining, two subs combined brilliantly as Damien Johnson played Jansen in and the striker advanced a couple of paces before striking the ball lethally past a helpless keeper.

It was all about taking chances on an April Fool's Day when the Football League attempted to enter into the spirit by appointing combinations of officials with novel names -- Lynch, Deadman and Payne being sent to Peterborough, for example.

Unfortunately there was nothing funny about the man they sent to Ewood, or his performance.

Picture shows Matt Jansen scoring Rovers' fifth.

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