JASON McAteer was Rovers' 'Matchman of the Month' for March in the ratings awarded by Match magazine. The £4 million capture from Liverpool averaged 7.66 for the three Premiership games during the month.

That was the same as Stephane Henchoz but McAteer had a star rating to put him in first place at Ewood.

Three Rovers players were in Match magazine's Premiership top 20 for March. McAteer was joint fifth, Henchoz ninth and Jason Wilcox (7.33) joint 11th.

Ex-Rover Tim Sherwood, now with Spurs, shared the overall March prize with Arsenal's Tony Adams.

ROVERS are attempting to minimise infiltration of home areas at the Manchester United home game on Wednesday, May 12 (8pm), by putting tickets on sale to holders of stubs from certain previous home games.

Seats go on sale next Wednesday but only to holders of a match ticket stub from one of the following home games: Leeds (Jan 9), Tottenham (Jan 30), Wimbledon (March 20).

It is expected that the game will be a sellout to fans holding stubs and tickets will be sold on a first come, first served basis.

Schools' promotion tickets will not be accepted.

It is a category A fixture and prices are £22-28, with concessions, where available, £10.

SIMON Colosimo, who had Ewood trials last year, was in the Australian side beaten by the Republic of Ireland in the World Youth Championships in Nigeria.

Damien Duff was on the scoresheet for the Irish, who have now returned home after losing to the hosts on penalties in the knockout stages.

SEATS for next Saturday's Premiership home game against Liverpool (3pm) are currently on sale. It is a category A game with prices raised to £22-25 but concessions, where applicable, remain at £10.

ROVERS Reserves are in action on Monday night, when they travel to non-League Newcastle Town's ground to take on Stoke City in the Pontin's League Premier Division (7pm).

The other remaining Pontin's League fixtures are: Stoke (home), Monday April 26; Nottingham Forest (away), Wednesday, April 28; Aston Villa (away), Tuesday, May 4. All kick-off times are 7pm.

TICKETS for the penultimate home Premiership clash with relegation rivals Nottingham Forest on Saturday, May 8 (3pm), are on sale at category B prices - £18-25 adults, £10 concessions, where applicable.

GIVEN the limited allocation of seats for visitors at The Dell, Rovers were expecting a reasonable crowd to attend this afternoon's 'live' beamback to Ewood of the vital relegation battle at Southampton.

The high quality pictures of Ewood's jumbo TV screen is a major asset for games such as this one when so many more fans want to see the match.

Admission for season-ticket holders was free, on production of voucher 'S', while the charge for other supporters was set at £5 and tickets went on sale today at the Ewood ticket office.

The Jack Walker Stand (unreserved seating) was being used and free car parking was also made available at the stadium, subject to availability.

EVEN apart from the relegation struggle, Rovers' season is now heading for a spectacular finish.

Following Manchester United's semi-final replay victory over Arsenal, Rovers will now meet the two FA Cup finalists in their final two matches of the campaign.

United visit Ewood on Wednesday, May 12 - a game which had to be re-arranged because of the semi-finals - and then Rovers visit Newcastle four days later.

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