Frandsen repays manager's faith

PANTO mania is coming to a theatre near you in the next couple of weeks.

But forget Widow Twanky and Co - if you want real entertainment, then swap the panto dame for a panting Dane.

Rovers fans have rarely seen the best of Danish international Per Frandsen since his £1.75 million move from Bolton earlier in the season.

Hailed as hero at the Reebok, he's looked more like a million pound misfit at Ewood since Tony Parkes decided to axe him from his first two games in charge.

But he was restored to the starting line up on Saturday, and he repaid his manager's faith with a man-of-the-match performance which simply blew away Andy Kilner's bargain basement battlers.

It was Frandsen's goal just before half-time which set the ball rolling.

But his general energy and intelligence in midfield left Stockport chasing shadows and had Parkes purring with satisfaction after the game.

"I thought Per was excellent. He had an outstanding game," said Parkes.

"But then we know he's a very good attacking midfield player.

"He's a good passer and he's always capable of chipping in with a few goals from the middle of the park.

"I didn't think David Dunn had played particularly well in the last two games and I had always been looking to bring Per in so we could have a look at him, once we'd got a couple of results under our belt.

"And I thought he responded very well."

The result was never in danger once Frandsen put Rovers in front a minute before the break.

Parkes's men were far superior in every department against a Stockport side full of guts and determination, but sadly lacking in genuine class. To their credit, County did not come to Ewood to defend which made for a fairly open contest. Yet despite the ease with which Rovers wrapped up the points, they still need to solve their problems in front of goal if they want to become a major force.

Ashley Ward is currently going through one of those nightmare spells when you wonder where his next goal is coming from.

That's not a problem for Egil Otenstad at the minute who helped himself to another typical striker's goal.

But the Norwegian was guilty of being caught out by the offside trap on far too many occasions - much to the frustration of the Ewood faithful who were baying for Rovers to go for the jugular.

Fortunately, though, Damien Duff is on fire at the minute and, as long as he continues to work his magic down the left, then Rovers are always going to create chances.

And with Frandsen now restored to the side, they are not short of attacking options going forward.

It was Duff who nearly served up a stunning opener after just 26 seconds.

Jason McAteer fed the Irish international with a raking ball out on the left and his pinpoint cross was met by Ostenstad at the far post but the header flew inches wide.

The visitors then carved out an early chance of their own but Ian Moore fired over from a narrow angle.

However, an early injury to full back Sean Connelly didn't help County's cause. And, as Rovers got on top, central defensive duo Mike Flynn and Jim Gannon looked decidedly edgy as Ward and Ostenstad tried to bulldoze their way through.

Duff had strong claims for a penalty waved away when Karim Fradin handled his cross in the box. And Ward nearly capitalised on a through ball from McAteer but was penalised for a foul on the keeper.

In a rare breakaway at the other end, Alan Kelly tipped a shot from Alan Bailey around his post after the ball fell kindly to the County man in the area.

But, as the half wore on, the game desperately needed a goal to liven things up.

That nearly arrived when Simon Grayson swopped passes with Frandsen before hitting a rasping drive straight at Carlo Nash.

But just as the half looked set to end in stalemate, Rovers struck.

McAteer was the architect, whipping over a deep cross from the right and, as Ward challenged defender Colin Woodthorpe, the ball dropped into the path of Frandsen on the penalty spot who steered a low drive beyond Nash.

Rovers stepped up the tempo after the break and it took a last-ditch tackle from Flynn to prevent Ward from making it two.

Ward nearly scored again with an acrobatic effort from a McAteer cross but his shot hit Fynn inside the six-yard box. Rovers survived a scare, though, when a Gannon centre somehow flashed across the face of goal, avoiding a posse of players on the way, before Aaron Wilbraham blasted wildly over.

But, after another Ward effort flew just wide of the far post, Rovers killed the game off with a classic strike on 67 minutes.

Duff - who else? - teased and tormented Kevin Cooper on the left before delivering a delightful cross for Ostenstad to head home emphatically from six yards.

County did have a couple of late half chances to grab a consolation.

But by that stage, the points were firmy in the bag as the resurgence under Parkes gathers pace.

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