Garry glitters

BLACKBURN Rovers fans could be forgiven for checking the small-print on the club's pre-season pledge of 'the play-offs or your money back' in the aftermath of Sunday's morale-sapping defeat at Fulham.

But those who've already mentally spent their fifty quid had better start thinking again because Rovers' promotion prospects are not dead just yet!

Without an away win since March, Wimbledon are one of the last teams you would choose to face while suffering from a dodgy dose of travel sickness.

But Rovers found a remedy for their away-day blues after Garry Flitcroft's thumping volley sent the Crazy Gang crashing to their first home defeat of the season.

And revenge was sweet indeed for the skipper after his mistake had led to Fulham's winner at Craven Cottage three days earlier.

"That's probably one of the best goals I've ever scored but, though it's always nice to score, I'm just pleased we've won," said Flitcroft.

"The lads were down after Sunday but, to be fair to the gaffer, he's been brilliant, he's kept us on our toes, and he still believes in us.

"We've still had a laugh in training, he's not been downbeat, and, when a manager is like that, it keeps us all going.

"The belief is still there. I thought we knocked the ball around a lot better than we have been doing over the last few games.

"But we've got to move on from here now.

"We've got Grimsby and Tranmere coming up at home and, if we get six points from those two games, then we can get ourselves right back up there."

Rovers' confidence started evaporating the moment Matt Jansen got injured in the 4-3 home defeat against Watford, resulting in a dismal run of five games without a win.

But, in a steely show of character, they bravely hauled themselves off the canvas in a way Rocky Balboa would have been proud at a place which has hardly been the happiest of hunting grounds over the years.

"What do you do when things are not going well for you?

"As in life, you roll up your sleeves and get on with it -- and that's what my players did here," said Ewood chief Graeme Souness.

"We enjoyed a bit of luck with that first goal but, up until now, we haven't really had any of that at all.

"But I'm just happy we managed to get the three points because we needed that. "We're not going to win this league but I still believe we can get into the play-offs."

Rovers were unrecognisable from the team who were so comprehensively played off the park in the first half at Craven Cottage on Sunday.

Central defensive duo Craig Short and Henning Berg were pillars of strength at the back, comfortably snuffing out the threat of podgy predator John Hartson.

Apart from one golden chance which he screwed wide of the post in the second half, the burly Welsh striker might as well have sat next to me.

But it was the performance of Craig Hignett which had the Rovers contingent drooling in the Selhurst rain.

The former Barnsley man was a revelation up front, continually dropping into the hole behind strike-partner Egil Ostenstad.

His clever positional play made him difficult to detect and he revelled in the responsibility, constantly dropping grenades over enemy lines.

But, to a man, Rovers were quick to close people down and when they had the ball themselves, they used it intelligently, utilising the width provided by the Damiens, Duff and Johnson.

And, for once, Lady Luck also seemed to be smiling kindly on them, too.

There was certainly an element of fortune about their opener on 22 minutes.

Stig Inge Bjornebye whipped over a dangerous free-kick from the right, Ostenstad flicked it on with his head and the hapless Chris Wilmott deflected it past his own keeper under pressure from Short.

The Dons' reply was instant as Jonathan Hunt wriggled free of a defender inside the box only for John Filan to pull off a reflex save of Gordon Banks' proportions to keep out his snap-shot.

Filan's opposite number, Kelvin Davis, remained the busier of the two, however, palming a Bjornebye blockbuster around the post before frantically backpedaling to cling onto a Hignett chip.

But it would have taken three keepers to keep out Rovers' second of the night in first half injury time.

There appeared to be little danger when Darren Holloway headed clear a David Dunn centre but the ball dropped invitingly for Flitcroft just outside the box and his screaming volley ripped past Davis via the underside of the bar.

Not bad for a man who says his left-foot is only there for standing on!

After the break, Hignett stole the show with a couple of flashes of magic.

In one mesmerising raid from the centre circle he danced past two defenders only to be denied by Davis's fingertips.

Then, in another break, he completely outfoxed two defenders inside the area but Davis was again equal to his shot.

Wimbledon's only real chance of the half fell to Hartson but he dragged his shot agonisingly wide of the far post after latching onto a Michael Thomas through ball.

So Rovers have finally ended an away-day jinx stretching back six months.

Now they intend to launch the kind of run which hopefully won't come with a money-back guarantee.