DERBY COUNTY 2 ROVERS 5

DERBY COUNTY (1)2

Riggott 3, Eranio 70

BLACKBURN (0)5

Flitcroft 48, Bent 56, 71, Dunn (p) 64, Jansen 77

EYAL Berkovic looked slightly bewildered last night as he boarded the team bus after watching rampant Rovers destroy Derby with a stunning second half goal blitz.

The former West Ham schemer was under the impression he was coming to the aid of a side who were struggling to score goals when he answered an SOS from Graeme Souness earlier this week.

But now the Israeli international must be thinking he's been lured from Scotland under false pretences after his new team-mates went goal-crazy on a sensational night at Pride Park to leave Jim Smith in a state of shock.

After two games without a goal, rampaging Rovers suddenly conjured up five in the space of 29 spellbinding second half minutes to turn this fourth round replay completely on its head.

And there was no doubting who was the star of the show as Marcus Bent led the Derby defence a merry dance, inspiring an amazing fightback with a deadly double salvo and two vital assists.

"I'd let the boys down in the first half because it was my man who scored their goal," said Bent.

"But, in the second half, we came out with all guns blazing, I stepped my game up and we came away with a result, so everyone's thrilled."

The choreographed jigs of delight which greeted each of those second half strikes had barely looked possible after Chris Riggott's third minute header had put Derby firmly in the driving seat.

But whatever Graeme Souness said to his side at half-time, it had a staggering effect as the Rams were mercilessly taken apart by some devastating approach play after the break.

"I didn't have to say very much," said Souness, modestly playing down his own role in a remarkable revival.

"They knew they hadn't performed, they knew what they weren't doing correctly, and the players put it right themselves.

"But I'm absolutely delighted with this result.

"This is a difficult place to come and win, as has been proved in the past.

"Derby might not be as high up in the Premiership as they'd want to be but I think only Liverpool and Manchester United have won here, so that tells you how good a performance it was.

"But I'm not getting carried away with it -- I think we've still got a lot more to give."

Rovers should have finished the job off in the original tie at Ewood 12 days ago but few would have predicted the fireworks here.

Amazingly, it could have been over as a contest inside the opening 20 minutes as the visitors' overworked defence creaked under some relentless pressure from a lively Derby forward line.

Once Riggott had capitalised on some hesitant defending to head home a Craig Burley freekick after just two minutes and 42 seconds, the Rams started to dictate the tempo in midfield, repeatedly ripping Rovers apart down the right.

Brad Friedel foiled Malcolm Christie twice and the dangerous Deon Burton blazed another effort wide of the post in an electrifying start.

But, desperate for stability, Souness suddenly abandoned his 3-5-2 formation with Alan Mahon slotting into a back four as an orthodox left-back.

And it turned out to be a masterstroke as Rovers weathered the storm before disappearing down the tunnel to regroup at half-time.

What followed was Roy of the Rovers stuff.

Skipper Garry Flitcroft set the ball rolling, leaping to head home the equaliser on 48 minutes after Bent had cleverly flicked Jason McAteer's right-wing corner into his path.

And Rovers suddenly found themselves infront eight minutes later after carving out a goal of breath-taking quality.

David Dunn danced past four challenges on the right before flicking the ball out to McAteer and his arching cross was met powerfully by Bent who thundered a header into the bottom corner from eight yards out.

It got even better for Rovers' loyal band of travelling fans on 64 minutes as Riggott sent Mahon tumbling in the box and up stepped Dunn to stroke home his 13th of the season from the penalty spot.

Clearly shellshocked, Rams boss Smith threw on Lee Morris in a desperate attempt to pull something out of the fire and it paid instant dividends as the substitute crossed for Stefano Eranio to make it 3-2 at the far post.

Game on, we thought.

But, virtually straight from the kick-off, Rovers extinguished any hopes of a comeback when Bent gleefully gobbled up Duff's low centre to restore their two goal advantage.

It was then left to Matt Jansen to complete the rout with 13 minutes left as he raced onto a Bent through ball before tucking a neat finish under the on-rushing Andy Oakes.

"We have some very good young players and I think they proved that last night," said Souness.

"But the Premier League is our priority. We want to get back among the big boys.

"All the glamour's with the Premier League and all the hype.

"And, if you've got anything about you, then you want to be playing there."

On this evidence, they wouldn't look out of place.