o Division One: Fulham 2 Blackburn Rovers 2 - Peter White's match verdict

KEITH Gillespie emerged spectacularly from an afternoon of personal anonymity to give Blackburn Rovers' goal-shy strikers a master class in the art of finishing.

A perfect moment for the Northern Ireland winger four minutes from time handed Graeme Souness the satisfaction of a creditable draw in his first game as Rovers boss and was a strike straight out of Quality Street.

Souness admitted later that, seconds before the goal, he had mentioned on the bench that Rovers had struggled to get Gillespie into the game.

His one crucial contribution, however, was enough even to deflect some attention away from two contrasting goalkeeping displays -- one of par excellence by Alan Kelly, the other way below par by Maik Taylor.

The Fulham keeper's biggest blunder heralded David Dunn's first equaliser, his second was more credit to Gillespie for the precise finishing touch of a craftsman.

As Taylor flapped at an up-and-under near the edge of the box, he succeeded only in knocking the ball as far as the winger, some 25-30 yards from goal with players in the way.

Cool as you like, he steadied himself and executed the perfect chip over the stranded keeper. Lanky defender Andy Melville was on the line but helpless too as the ball clipped the underside of the bar on its way in -- perfection.

It was the final straw for Taylor who could only have envied the form of the magnificent Kelly at the other end.

He would certainly have impressed Souness who didn't waste any time in making his own mark on the team, with a switch to a 4-5-1 formation; dropping three players, Matt Jansen, Callum Davidson and Christia Dailly to the subs bench. Marlon Broomes and Ashley Ward were injured. The result suggests the shake-up worked but there were good and bad parts.

Rovers defending, especially down the middle, was very slack at times, costing them two goals and a penalty brilliantly saved by Kelly.

But Souness was right to stress that, when they did get the ball down and play, Rovers caused problems.

It's more of that kind of football the fans, and no doubt the manager, want to see.

Taunted by cries of "dodgy keeper", Taylor denied Damien Duff a first-half goal, almost gifted another one to Dunn with a poor kicked clearance and breathed a sigh of relief as Egil Ostenstad put the best chance of the game a fraction wide.

Those chances underlined that, for all Fulham's apparent superiority, they did not have a monopoly on decent scoring opportunities.

Having said that, Kelly kept Rovers' hopes alive -- no doubt about it.

Perhaps his first save, in only the fourth minute, was the best. Steve Harkness was at fault with a poor header to let in Kevin Ball for a blockbuster shot which Kelly somehow touched to saftey.

Eight minutes later, after Darren Peacock was judged to have fouled Karlheinz Riedle, who folded like a deck chair, Kelly flung himself full length low to his left to stop Riedle's spot kick.

The Republic of Ireland keeper was rapidly acquiring hero status. But, after Duff had wasted a good chance when put through by Dunn, Fulham took a 19th-minute lead and there wasn't a thing Kelly could do about this one.

Rovers were lax in defence as Barry Hayles cut back inside Peacock rather easily and, before Craig Short could get across to block, hit a real screamer high into the net from an angle.

It had been a storming start by the home side yet that was their last serious assault of the half on Kelly's goal.

Instead, Rovers started to claw their way back.

A free kick from Duff almost surprised Taylor, then Dunn prouced a spectacular 27th-minute volley which flew just wide with the keeper helpless.

Per Frandsen was impressive as he put Duff in the clear but the youngster's first effort was blocked by the keeper, his second by a defender and an equaliser looked elusive.

But then came a helping hand from Taylor in the 39th minute.

The referee played a good advantage, even though Harkness was fouled, and Dunn tried his luck from long range.

Taylor, diving low to his left, seemed to have the ball covered but it squirmed embarrassingly under his arms, like a bar of soap. If he had gone down as decisively as the spectacular Riedle to clinch the penalty, he might have saved it!

There's usually a turning point in a game and it came early in the second half when excellent football between Simon Grayson, Gillespie and, crucially, Frandsen put Ostenstad in the clear.

A goal would have done wonders for Rovers but, though he beat the keeper, the Norwegian shot a fraction wide.

It inspired Fulham to pick up their game and Kelly made a wonderful save to push Steve Hayward's header over the bar.

But, in the 75th minute, more poor defending saw Riedle dart to the near post before either of the central defenders to head Bjarne Goldbaek's right-wing cross past the keeper.

Then to Gillespie went the glory, to Taylor the grief.

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