ROVERS: Points win prizes

"THERE'S no such thing as a bad win, even if it's a little bit scruffy," summarised one former League manager as he left Ewood on a balmy autumn afternoon.

This result in itself was adequate cause for satisfaction. Just look at the table.

They were wise words and it wasn't only flat beer for the fans. Manager Roy Hodgson pointed to the fact that there were a few champagne moments too, as Blackburn Rovers achieved what was required against stubborn Southampton.

Three points were the bottom line for Rovers to confirm their continuing transformation.

Hodgson was acutely aware of that, so too were his players. None more so than Stephane Henchoz, a newcomer to English football but clearly a quick learner.

Four clean sheets in the last five Premiership matches owe much to the pairing of Henchoz and Colin Hendry in the centre of defence and have been a crucial factor in helping Rovers consolidate their position among the pacemakers.

It's just as important to be tight at the back at home, as it is away - sometimes more so in an era when teams revel in a counter-attacking policy.

And Henchoz, whose English is now starting to become as fluent as his football, has already seen the damage that can be caused by failing to see off the so-called lesser lights. "It was a very important game to win. We must beat teams like Southampton at home. We knew we just had to get three points," said the Swiss international with an obvious reference to the previous Ewood game which had ended goalless against Coventry.

The source of victory might have been a little unlikely - Tim Sherwood's left foot! - but it was a well-deserved goal not only for the skipper, whose intelligent forward running was a highlight, but also the team who benefited from those firm foundations at the back.

It wasn't always pretty - in fact there were periods when the game deteriorated into carelessness - but Rovers would have been dreadfully unlucky to lose or even draw it.

And if they had claimed that elusive second goal, as they should have done, Saints could really have been under the hammer.

Hodgson struck the right note with his summary of "workmanlike" but with things to savour.

They weren't all in attack either, but you always had the impression that, one nervy period excepted, Rovers were in control.

The lead being so slender, however, caused a certain amount of tension.

Not that Southampton, a side whose ambitions seemed limited, never piled on the pressure.

But, with a hard-working duo in promising youngster Kevin Davies and new £2 million record signing David Hirst, they were always capable of providing a threat on the break.

Fortunately, Rovers know that the less you give away at the back, the greater the chance of achieving something.

And, defensively, they are starting to look impressive. Tim Flowers provided a couple of those magic moments when he saved, almost contemptuously, a cheeky chip from Hirst in the first half - one-handed! Then the keeper pounced on a fine strike on the turn by the former Sheffield Wednesday attacker shortly after the break.

Colin Hendry also pulled off a wonderful tackle on Davies as he homed in on goal after 40 minutes, while Jeff Kenna had another excellent game against his old club - going close to a goal himself with a thundering strike.

Saints didn't do a lot of attacking. Their raids were only sporadic and, in the main, handled with comfort.

Rovers, on the other hand, would be disappointed they didn't turn occasional excellent approach play into more goals.

They too played in fits and starts for long periods but, when they did click into gear, they looked good.

It was encouraging to see Stuart Ripley back in action and the game will do him the world of good as he fine tunes his delivery to the front men.

Chris Sutton had a lot of goal attempts and led the line impeccably until, understandably after a tough two hours at Chelsea in midweek, he tired in the later stages.

And Damien Duff, gaining in confidence, demonstrated that he has what it takes.

The left-side combination of Duff and Gary Croft has shown possibilities, and, with Jason Wilcox available again soon, Hodgson will be heartened by the potential competition for places.

Rovers, in contrast to their opponents, fielded what looked a very attack-minded line-up and that meant the midfield duo of Sherwood and Lars Bohinen had to play responsibly, which they did. But the usual slick passing was taken over by a longer ball behind defenders until Rovers went ahead.

Sutton, who could have had a first-half hat-trick, flicked on yet another ball, Gallacher battled for possession with a Southampton defender with the result that Sherwood was set up just inside the penalty area.

The skipper stabbed an instant shot, which the keeper couldn't have seen, and it went in off the far post for Sherwood's first goal of the season.

It prompted Rovers' most fluent spell and it was just a pity they couldn't cash in with a second.

While Southampton occasionally threatened to upset things through the hard work of the front two, who were given little creative support from midfield, Rovers really weren't in too much trouble.

And they were well worth the win against a side whose manager seemed to be suffering from potentially-dangerous complacency, as David Jones felt Saints were Rovers' equals.

On this evidence, they are more than one star - Matt Le Tissier - short of a survival package.

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