Division One: Blackburn Rovers 2 Walsall 0 - Peter White's verdict

WHEN this campaign ultimately reaches its conclusion next May, a modest 2-0 win over Walsall in a ridiculously one-sided game will probably scarcely rate a mention.

Yet anyone with Blackburn Rovers' interests at heart could surely sense something in the air at Ewood on Saturday.

In terms of the bigger picture, I detected a distinct feeling that a corner has been turned - and a bandwagon could be starting to roll.

It might have been the outstanding debut of Per Frandsen, arguably the final piece of Brian Kidd's jigsaw, which prompted the optimism.

Or, if it wasn't the Dane's arrival, Per-haps it was the rebirth of a favourite Blue - Kevin Gallacher answering a late SOS call to play a lively role in the demise of woeful Walsall.

Maybe the prospects of a central midfield link-up between Frandsen and goalscorer Lee Carsley have whetted the appetite after waiting so long for re-inforcements in that crucial area.

Or was it another excellent display of the centre forward's art by Ashley Ward which had everyone smiling despite the fact that Rovers should have at least trebled their goals tally?

The truth of the matter is that Walsall were the sort of weakling First Division side who are going to get sand kicked in their faces every other Saturday.

Like everyone else, they came to Ewood unashamedly to defend in the hope of a point yet their impressive, straight-talking manager Ray Graydon - as direct in the Press conference as he once was on the right wing with Aston Villa - almost apologised for that. He said: "I would have had a go for it if I had had more players fit. It was a case of me trying to utilise what we had." Personally, I reckon Walsall were fortunate they decided to defend in depth. For, if this contest had opened up, Rovers really might have run riot.

They controlled the game from start to finish and that underlined what a difference having another senior, established midfielder can make.

Frandsen made the kind of debut anyone would relish. He looked like he was going through a training routine, showed vision, strength, awareness and the kind of trick or flick near goal which delights the fans.

He hardly gave the ball away and his presence certainly helped Carsley to blossom.

With that kind of midfield influence, Rovers were strong right down the spine of the team and never looked in any danger.

In fact, the biggest surprise, apart from the closeness of the final scoreline, was that it took them so long to break the deadlock.

As an attacking force in the first half, Walsall were simply non-existent.

They did not manage a single attempt at goal and won just one corner.

So, with massed ranks of opposing players blocking the way to goal once again, Rovers had to be patient.

When the opener finally arrived in the 34th minute, it was simplicity itself. But successful football is often about doing the simple things well. Gallacher played a precise pass inside the full back, Jason Wilcox charged down the left flank and crossed perfectly towards the far post.

There was still plenty to do but Ward towered above two defenders to stick his header just inside the angle of post and bar from just outside the six-yard box. Ten minutes later, it was the turn of the new-look midfield to celebrate with the second.

Rovers were threatening every few minutes and when Ward, Carsley and Frandsen linked up quickly, it was too much for Walsall.

The visitors' defence was split wide open as Frandsen played the ball through for Carsley to slip it past the on-rushing keeper with his right foot from 10 yards.

It looked very easy for Rovers though Walsall changed things round at half time to go with two up front and at least they strayed into home territory.

Almost an hour had passed before they managed a shot on target - an easy save for John Filan - and Rovers could have doubled their score by then. Frandsen suddenly unleashed a spectacular power drive from just outside the penalty area in the 53rd minute and a crucial deflection off a defender's head meant it struck the bar instead of going in.

Within a minute, the Dane found Wilcox who forced one of several outstanding saves from Walsall keeper James Walker.

Wilcox and Ward carved open the Walsall defence again, then Damien Duff had a shot cleared off the line as Rovers could have trebled their goal tally.

Indeed, in the last 20 minutes, Gallacher could so easily have had a hat-trick.

First he took a pass from Wilcox and chipped against the outside of a post with the keeper beaten. Then he was just wide with a volley and, five minutes from time, the keeper stuck out a foot to thwart him again.

Walsall weren't really at the races. But, even if they had been, Rovers gave the impression of being able to up the pace if they really needed to do so.

And that is the sign of a team taking control of its own destiny.

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