Jansen scores his second goal of the season

ROVERS showed true grit and determination to come back from 3-1 to earn their fourth point in a row in a thoroughly entertaining match at Ewood Park this afternoon.

Matt Jansen had given Rovers the best of starts, firing home from the edge of the area after just three minutes. But goals from Anderton, Savage and old boy David Dunn left Rovers with a mountain to climb at half time.

But a first goal in a blue and white shirt from Steven Reid and then the equaliser from Paul Gallagher in a barnstorming second half performance, meant their revival continues, but leaves Mark Hughes' side still searching for that elusive win that would see Rovers climb the table.

Before the game to a man the experts all predicted a dull 0-0 draw, but this match was nothing of the sort, as once again the entertainment level was high, both sides playing an open exciting game.

With just the one change from the team that started against Manchester City, Rovers started brightly, their quick pressing and passing left Birmingham chasing shadows, and just three minutes were on the  clock when Rovers took the lead.

A sublime Tugay pass from midfield found Steven Reid on the right, the Irishman charged into the area, Paul Dickov stepped over the ball wrong-footing the City defence and Matt Jansen turned and shot past Maik Taylor.

The opening minutes were excellent from Rovers, forcing errors from the visitors, but all that good work was undone on 17 minutes.

Clinton Morrison collected the ball on the edge of the area, he in turn found Gronkjaer who's centre catches Rovers out and from a host of red shirts, Darren Anderton poked the ball home from inside the six yard box.

This knocked the wind out of Rovers sails, unable find the sort of football that was so impressive in the opening exchanges. Instead it was Steve Bruce's side who dominated the remainder of the first half, Rovers struggling with Birmingham's five man midfield.

After a series of corners and free kicks which Rovers struggled to deal with, it was former Chelsea man Mario Melchiot who had a hand in both goals from the visitors. The Dutchman had the beating of Jay McEveley, his centre wasn't cleared by the Rovers defence and Robbie Savage made no mistake from six yards.

The third goal was a carbon copy, Rovers were asleep when a City free kick was taken quickly, Melchiot skipped past Reid and his centre was dispatched by former Ewood hero David Dunn.

Birmingham goalkeeper Maik Taylor was rarely troubled, Brett Emerton's long range effort was comfortable, whilst Nils-Eric Johansson's powerful header from a corner was dealt with equal ease. Leaving Mark Hughes plenty to ponder over the half time break.

The response from the home side was excellent as they blew Birmingham away with a scintilating second half performance.

Paul Gallagher was brought on to replace Jansen at the start of the second half, and the young Scot almost made an immediate impression. Lucas Neill fed Gallagher who inturn found Ferguson with a sublime pass, but Maik Taylor tipped over the Rovers captains' shot.

Steven Reid blasts in the second

The second substitution from Mark Hughes had an ever greater impact. David Thompson came on for Tugay, who can feel aggrieved as he was one of the better players in blue and white halves in an otherwise poor first half. Thompson fed Steven Reid out wide, he beat Julian Gray to the ball and his shot from the edge of the area took a deflection of Upson and into the back of the net, to offer a glimmer of hope for the home side.

This sparked Rovers into life, and just five minutes later the scores were level.

A long ball over the top saw Paul Dickov giving chase, he got to the ball ahead of the Birmingham defenders, his shot squirmed underneath Taylor, and with the ball rolling slowly towards the goals at the Blackburn End, Paul Gallagher was first to the ball to slide it into the back of the net.

Gallagher forces the ball home

For all their forward play, Rovers still looked suspect at the back, Robbie Savage seeing an acrobatic shot coming back off a post.

Roared on by the Ewood faithful, Rovers went in search for the winner, David Thompson's volley from the edge of the area was straight at Taylor, and Orange Man of the Match Steven Reid saw a header flash inches wide.

Reid almost got his second goal of the game when his thunderbolt from the edge of the area couldn't be held by a diving Maik Taylor, but there was no man in a blue and white shirt to pounce on the rebound.

Two differing receptions were offered for former Rovers players Dwight Yorke and David Dunn. Yorke was roundly booed by the home fans when he came on as a second half substitute, whilst David Dunn was given a standing ovation when he was replaced by Clemence.

As the two teams tired, the spaces opened up, Brad Friedel had to dive to his left to push a deflected Gronkjaer centre behind as a nerves started to show.

But in time added on, Rovers could and should have walked away with all three points, Barry Ferguson's pinpoint pass found Dickov bearing down on goal, but Maik Taylor stopped the shot with his legs and the chance was gone.

The manager will be delighted with his side's forward play, but the defensive frailties are still causing concerns.

ROVERS: Friedel, Neill, Todd, Johansson, McEveley, Reid, Tugay (sub Thompson 57 mins), Ferguson, Emerton, Dickov, Jansen (sub Gallagher 46 mins). Subs: Enckelman, Pedersen, Matteo.

BIRMINGHAM: Taylor, Melchiot, Cunningham, Upson, Gray, Anderton (sub Yorke 73 mins), Savage, Johnson, Morrison (sub Clapham 67 mins), Dunn (sub Clemence 81 mins), Gronkjaer. Subs: Vaesen, Taylor.

Attendance: 20,290.

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