Flitcroft puts Rovers in front

ROVERS FELL victim to a last-gasp winner at Ewood Park as a game of swings and roundabouts eventually went Chelsea's way.

Garry Flitcroft handed Rovers the perfect start with a close-range finish on three minutes before a double from Frank Lampard turned the score on its head before the break.

Substitute Paul Gallagher thought he'd equalised on 65 minutes only for his "goal" to be ruled out by the offside flag. Undeterred the Rovers starlet turned home a legal goal with just three minutes left.

But, less than 60 seconds after levelling, Rovers were behind once more as Glen Johnson fired home a screaming clincher for the visitors.

Rovers handed an instant debut to new signing Michael Gray on the left hand side of a defence that also included Andy Todd, back after his recent suspension. Jon Douglas retained his place ahead of fit-again Alan Mahon.

Chelsea included new £10 million man Scott Parker in their starting line-up whilst ex-Ewood favourite Damien Duff was prevented from a return to Blackburn by an Achilles injury.

And, as has been so often the case this season the Rovers fans were treated to an early goal, indeed the seventh time in eleven Premiership home matches that a goal has been scored in the first ten minutes.

Chelsea were given a warning as early as the second minute when Brett Emerton whipped in a tremendous cross from the right hand side. Douglas met his cross from no more than three yards but Carlo Cudicini pulled off an unbelievable save.

However, the Italian was to stand no chance seconds later as the ball was worked out to Gray on the left, his cross was headed down by Markus Babbel and there was Flitcroft to notch his second in two games.

The visitors could have levelled the scoreline on seven minutes, Adrian Mutu breezing past Lucas Neill before squaring to Claude Makelele but he scooped well over the top.

Rovers almost capitalised on an error by Cudicini shortly afterwards, Dwight Yorke charging down the keeper's clearance and the ball rebounding to Emerton. The Australian put in another centre and a diving Andy Cole slid the ball wide.

But, Emmanuel Petit and Lampard began to get a stranglehold in midfield and they were rewarded with an equaliser on 24 minutes.

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink escaped the attentions of the Rovers defenders on the right before intelligently laying the ball back for the arriving Lampard to sweep a shot beyond Brad Friedel via a post.

Soon after, Cole was denied by an excellent block from John Terry as he looked to get away his shot on the Chelsea goal before Hasselbaink showed dramatic signs of frustration as he planted a free header over Friedel's crossbar.

It was not to matter though as Rovers habit of carelessly giving away possession came back to haunt them. Tugay cheaply squandered the ball to Petit midway through the Rovers half and the Frenchman instantly sent Lampard through to slot his second of the game.

Cole looked to immediately get his side back in the game, driving a devilishly low cross into the six-yard box. Cudicini fumbled but Yorke was not sharp enough to convert.

After the break, Mutu went close twice in quick succession, first with an ambitious scissors kick that flashed wide before a magical piece of skill set him up for an attempted lob, the ball dropping wide.

Souness replaced duo Yorke and Douglas on 55 minutes and his two substitutes Alan Mahon and Gallagher combined to seemingly put Rovers level ten minutes later. Unfortunately for Rovers, the assistant referee's flag curtailed their celebrations.

Friedel had to make a save from a Mutu free kick before Emerton took much too long when presented with a chance inside the box and was tackled.

Rovers big American goalkeeper had to be at his unbelievable best with ten minutes to go as Lampard sniffed his hat-trick. Chelsea sub Jesper Gronkjaer clipped over a cross that Lampard headed powerfully but Friedel sprawled across his line to claw away the ball.

Gallagher's first goal at Ewood Park was only delayed by twenty minutes. Tugay swung in a hopeful ball from the left, it bounced over Cole and Terry and there was Gallagher to fire a tremendous finish from a tight angle.

Gallagher gets Rovers back on level terms

That seemed to be that but Rovers somehow managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of a point.

Chelsea raced down the other end, won a corner and from the delivery the ball broke to Johnson who beat two players impressively before whistling a shot into the top corner of Friedel's goal.

It was Rovers seventh league defeat of the season at Ewood Park whilst a victory in 2004 still proves elusive. A good performance and a positive result at Middlesbrough next week has become ever more crucial.

Rovers: Friedel, Neill, Babbel, Todd, Gray, Emerton, Flitcroft, Tugay, Douglas (Mahon 55), Yorke (Gallagher 55), Cole. Subs not used: Enckelman, Johansson, Jansen.

Chelsea: Cudicini, Johnson, Makelele, Mutu (Gudjohnsen 90), Lampard, Hasselbaink, Gallas, Petit (Melchiot 80), Bridge, Parker (Gronkjaer 68), Terry. Subs not used: Sullivan, Nicolas.