BLACKBURN ROVERS hero Jason Brown admitted he was daunted at the prospect of filling Brad Friedel's boots on his Premiership debut against Wigan yesterday.

But the Welsh international proved to be a more than able deputy as he saved a penalty to help Rovers to a 2-1 win over their near neighbours.

Brown, signed from Gillingham in the summer, was pressed into action at half-time after Friedel went off with a groin strain at half-time.

But Brown saved Svetoslav Todorov's spot-kick and then kept out the follow-up to cap a dream debut as Rovers went up to 10th in the table after Benni McCarthy's late goal won the day.

He told the Telegraph: "I was a bit nervous. I was coming on for one of the best keepers in the world, the game was tight at 1-1 and it could have gone either way.

"But once I got on the pitch I just told myself to enjoy it. Brad just wished me good luck and told me to have a good game and it worked out alright. It's not a bad debut but the best thing is we got the three points, we worked hard and we keep climbing up the league.

He added: "Brad's the best goalkeeper in this league. He's been the best goalkeeper in this league for a while now and working with him day in day out you get to see that all the time. It's an honour to work with him. It's an honour to work with Kevin Hitchcock as well and the rest of the players.

TURN TO PAGE 39 FROM BACK PAGE "The gaffer's brought me in to try and push the lads and that's all I can do. If my opportunity comes around I've got to take it like I did today.

"I still say Brad's firmly number one. He's been performing well for this club for some time now. It's great to have a debut like that and hopefully I can keep my place on the bench and make the most of it and do the best for the club."

Brown was playing for Gillingham last year in the Carling Cup when the Bulgarian stood up and slotted his spot kick wide of the target.

And Brown revealed he even joked with referee Howard Webb before the kick was taken.

He said: "At first I said to Howard, please, this is my debut mate' and he laughed. I played against Todorov last year in the Carling Cup and he went to the right side of me and missed that one. I just thought to myself I'm going to go that way. I did and I ended up saving it and then he shanked the next one and the rest is history."

Manager Mark Hughes worked with the keeper at Wales under-21 level where he spotted his potential.

And the Rovers manager said Brown chose to sign on at Ewood Park ahead of guaranteed first team football at clubs in lower divisions.

He said: "Jason came in and did exceptionally well. Obviously there was the penalty save, but not only that I thought he was strong and assured, his kicking was good and for a debut I thought it was great.

"I worked with him in the under-21s and I saw he had potential. He wants to work hard, he wants to listen and learn.

"It was a big decision for him to come here because he had offers to be first choice elsewhere at a lower level, but he's got great confidence in his own ability and feels he can make it at the top level and you wouldn't argue with that on today's performance."