Division One: Blackburn Rovers 1 Wolverhampton Wanderers 0 - Andy Neild's match verdict

ALMOST 125 years ago to the day, a local lad named Bertwistle was the toast of the town after bagging the first ever goal in Blackburn Rovers' rich and colourful history.

At Ewood on Saturday, history turned full circle as Great Harwood-born hero David Dunn grabbed the all-important goal to save the club's 125th anniversary party from going flat.

Bertwistle's place in Rovers' folklore is already assured.

His goalscoring exploits on that December day in 1875 made the news columns of the now-defunct Blackburn Times.

'On Saturday afternoon, a football match was played at Church between members of the Rovers' club, Blackburn, and the Church club.

'The ball was kicked off by the Blackburn captain at three o'clock and after some fine playing, lasting about thirty minutes, a goal was obtained by Bertwistle of the Blackburn club.

'With hard struggling, the Church club succeeded in securing the next goal and the game resulted in a tie.'

Now Dunn is the man making the headlines.

And according to Ronnie Clayton -- perhaps the most decorated player ever to pull on a blue and white shirt -- the 20-year-old midfielder has the ability to go on and emulate his predecessors.

"David's a young man with fantastic potential and he can only improve," said Clayton.

"When he gets the ball you sit up and think 'something's going to happen.'

"With a lot of players, you don't get that feeling. "We need more people like him in football. You see a lot of good players who don't dribble these days but he does and that's what gets you excited.

"I think he'll become a very good player and go on to play for England one day."

As in that inauagral clash, Graeme Souness's men were made to struggle against a relegation-haunted Wolves side in the thick of a crisis.

But, when fans look back at the history books in years to come, they will read of a Rovers victory by one goal to nil.

With so much hype surrounding this clash, Souness's class of 2000 were always going to be left playing second fiddle to a host of famous faces from the past.

From Harry McShane to Bryan Douglas, Derek Fazackerley to Simon Garner, a procession of former Ewood legends spanning six decades took part in a pre-match parade as Rovers fans waltzed down Memory Lane.

What followed -- somewhat inevitably -- was hardly befitting of such a celebration in comparision.

Wolves, desperate for points at the foot of the table, had every intention of spoiling the party.

And, with Rovers missing the battling qualities of Garry Flitcroft in midfield, they never grabbed this contest by the scruff of the neck, even after Souness changed tactics at half time.

In truth, Dunn was far from his best on a day when Wolves were worthy of a point at least -- and maybe even three.

But his precocious skills illuminated a lacklustre first half in which Rovers wove plenty of pretty patterns without threatening much in terms of penetration.

Apart from an early Matt Jansen effort and a stinging drive from Dunn which warmed the fingertips of Michael Oakes, little was seen of the home side as an attacking force. In contrast, however, Wolves grew in confidence the longer the game wore on.

American keeper Brad Friedel -- surprisingly handed his debut at the expense of the axed John Filan -- was suddenly forced to show his mettle with a reflex stop to keep out Tony Dinning's towering header.

Then, from the resulting corner, loan-man Paul Butler met Darren Bazeley's raking centre with a thumping header which rattled the bar.

If that was a wake-up call then Rovers failed to heed the warning as Lee Naylor twice went close after the break.

In the meantime, referee Graham Frankland did his best to disrupt the flow of the game with a series of increasingly puzzling interventions.

But after an ear-bashing from Souness, he suddenly presented Rovers with the ideal birthday present out of nowhere on 62 minutes.

Stig Bjornebye's long throw found its way to Craig Hignett in the box and his attempted overhead kick struck Carl Robinson on the arm as he put his hands up to protect his face.

Frankland had little hesitation in pointing to the spot sparking angry protests and, when order was restored, up stepped Dunn -- the coolest guy in the ground -- to slam home his ninth of the season with customary aplomb.

Even then, that failed to settle Rovers' nerves and, in a nail-biting finale, Wolves missed a hatful of chances. George Ndah headed over, Adam Proudlock glanced another effort wide and the same player was then denied by Friedel who saved the day with his outstretched boot.

There was still time for Bazeley to blaze a right-foot daisycutter agonisingly wide of the far post.

But destiny seemed to be on Rovers' side and Souness breathed a huge sigh of relief before dashing off with Dunn and Jansen to switch on the town centre's Christmas lights.

"It wasn't a vintage performance by us but I'm just happy with the points," said Souness.

"I'd dreaded this week and sensed this was always going to be a very difficult day for us.

"We had to grind a result out, but that's sometimes the case over the course of a season. We'll play a lot better than that and not win games in the future. But I'm just glad it's all behind us now."

As for Dunn and Co, the future looks increasingly bright.