LYON 2ROVERS2

Perez 26, Flitcroft 57

Stade de Gerland, Tuesday, September 29, 1998

Att: 24,558

Ref: R Temming (Holland) 5

LYON (4-3-1-2)

Coupet

Carteron, Fournier, Laville, Delmotte

Bak, Violeau, Linares

Dhorasoo

Grassi, Caveglia

Subs: Cocard (for Caveglia 27 mins), Bassila (for Grassi 68 mins), not used Brechet, Malbranque, Job, Uras, Borelli (gk)

ROVERS (4-5-1)

Flowers

Dailly, Henchoz, Peacock, Kenna

Perez, Flitcroft, McKinlay, Sherwood, Duff

Wilcox

Subs: Davidson (for Kenna 68 mins), Johnson (for Perez HT), Taylor (for McKinlay 84 mins), not used Andersson, Croft, Dunn, Filan (gk)

GOAL ATTEMPTS: Lyon 9 Rovers 12

ON TARGET: Lyon 6, Rovers 5

OFFSIDES: Lyon 7, Rovers 7

CORNERS: Lyon 2, Rovers 5

FREE KICKS CONCEDED: Lyon 24, Rovers 19

YELLOW CARDS: Carteron, Grassi, Bak (Lyon), McKinlay, Kenna, Henchoz, Flitcroft, Wilcox (2), Peacock (Rovers)

RED CARDS: Wilcox MATCH REPORT

THIS time there was no disgrace, no need to slip quietly back into the country with heads bowed and a feeling of shame.

True, the result is still the same as it was at Trelleborgs -- or in the Champions' League for that matter -- as Blackburn Rovers made their now-customary early exit from Europe.

But, if there was any justice at all, a UEFA Cup tie which was quite simply 'Magnifique' would have had deserving English winners.

For the same adjective applies to a Rovers side who should have been devastated at losing their entire strike force, distraught at conceding a goal inside three minutes and downright depressed when Jason Wilcox -- undeservedly -- became their third player sent off in three successive matches.

But, instead of feeling sorry for themselves, Rovers responded to the backing of their fans packed into a corner of the impressive Stade de Gerland with English flags all around them.

And Olympique Lyonnais, unbeaten in their seven French League games so far, were almost destroyed by Hurricane St George!

Rovers can be proud of the way they dragged themselves up by the bootlaces at half time to produce a performance that oozed character, commitment and no little skill.

The real measure of it was reflected by the fans who had suffered in Sweden, been rocked in Russia and tormented in Trondheim.

They roared them on throughout a gripping second half, cheered them for their efforts at the end and even applauded the players one by one onto the plane back home at Lyon airport.

Supporters know when a cause has been truly fought for -- and their players did not let them down.

There was to be no European glory but, at last, there was pride and I felt for both fans and players at the end of a dramatic encounter. They deserved more, yet suffered in the end through two set pieces.

When manager Roy Hodgson was left without a single senior striker in his squad there were many who feared another debacle.

He had to come up with a game plan, not only to cope with Lyon but also to score at least two goals.

Two goals without a striker looked to be an order of monstrous proportions.

Yet they got them -- and deserved more.

Unfortunately, Lyon also got two and we were left to reflect on the fact that the tie was probably decided by that strike in a million back at Ewood.

Twice behind on the night, Rovers -- inspired by Tim Sherwood and Garry Flitcroft -- fought back to equalise in an enthralling game which also had more controversial refereeing.

The dismissal of Wilcox, handed the unenviable task of playing as a solo front-runner, left Rovers justifiably aggrieved.

A player has a right to complain if he is regularly being battered from the back.

And he also had a right to go for the ball which led to a tangle in the Lyon box and a second yellow card.

Hodgson was also bitter about both Lyon goals, disputing the award of a free kick and then a penalty.

His anger was no doubt sustained by the fact that he knows no matter how well his seriously depleted squad rose to the occasion the performance will soon be forgotten while the result stands for ever.

With no reprieve for any of the injured strikers, Hodgson caught the French cold with his tactics, yet Lyon still took what looked a disastrous -- for Rovers -- early lead.

From around 25 yards, Alain Caveglia joined Gianfranco Zola and Andy Hinchcliffe in curling a superbly-taken free kick just inside Tim Flowers' post.

Whether the keeper's position is poor, or he is lining up the wall wrongly, it is a situation that needs to be addressed.

Flowers, however, then made a brilliant save from Marco Grassi moments before Rovers levelled.

Sebastien Perez soared at the far post to head home Damien Duff's left wing cross for a satisfying goal on his return to France and the Lyon region where his family still live.

Before half time, however, Jeff Kenna pushed Bak ever so slightly and a penalty was awarded. There was some debate as to whether it was in the box but it was a hasty challenge and Grassi buried the spot kick.

Yet it was Rovers who proved the more Lyon-hearted. After another fine Flowers save, Flitcroft raced through from Christian Dailly's excellent pass to slide in a second equaliser.

They took the game to Lyon with style and courage and, as the yellow cards and free kicks flowed, Sherwood was so close to winning it on away goals.

One header was cleared off the line, another superb volley at full stretch just cleared the bar and it was clearly not going to be Rovers' night.

Even when Wilcox was booked in the 80th minute and sent off two minutes later Rovers wouldn't throw in the towel.

Their substitutions were good, especially Damien Johnson's introduction at the interval, yet their heart-warming efforts went unrewarded.

They might have conceded a third on the break as they pushed forward in numbers but that would have been too harsh.

Another European tie was lost in France, but this team gained respect.

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