THE key players and moments from the victory over Everton.

FORM GUIDE:

BRAD FRIEDEL: Rovers needed big Brad to be at his best and thankfully he was as he pulled off a string of match-winning saves...8 LUCAS NEILL: Another solid display from the tough-tackling Aussie in an unfamiliar central defensive role...7 STIG BJORNEBYE: Had something of an off-day by his usual standards conceding a penalty with a clumsy challenge...5 HENNING BERG: Held Rovers together defensively as they tried to cope with the aerial threat of Ferguson...7 GARRY FLITCROFT: Got through plenty of work in midfield as he tried to contain the industrious Gascoigne...7

JASON McATEER: Handed his first start in five months and didn't let the side down with a typically hard-working display...6

TUGAY: Showed great vision for Grabbi's goal to cap another impressive performance...7

DAMIEN DUFF: Looked a real threat with the ball at his feet before an injury cut-short his afternoon...7

DAMIAN JOHNSON: Swung over a couple of telling crosses but mainly pressed into defensive duties as Everton dominated possession...6

MATT JANSEN: A quiet afternoon by his standards rarely getting a clear sight of goal...6

* CICCIO GRABBI: If anyone deserved a goal it was him. Struck the bar with a venomous free kick before breaking the deadlock with the coolest of finishes...8

SUBS:

ALAN MAHON: Thrust into the action after Duff's injury...6

MARK HUGHES: Looked rusty when he came on...5

CRAIG HIGNETT: Given little chance to shine...6

OPPOSITE CAMP:

GERRARD: Helpless for the goal...7

STUBBS: Composed at the back...7

WEIR: An underrated defender...7

XAVIER: Star-Trek lookalike...6

ALEXANDERSSON: Busy in midfield...6

HIBBERT: Promising youngster...7

NAYSMITH: Missed a sitter...7

GRAVESEN: Strong as an ox...7

GASCOIGNE: Midfield genius...8

CAMPBELL: Snuffed out...6

FERGUSON: Couldn't finish...7

SUBS

UNSWORTH: Posed few problems...6

MOORE: Nearly bagged an equaliser...6

STATS:

Goal attempts: Rovers 11 Everton 17

Shots on target: Rovers 6 Everton 8

Woodwork: Rovers 1 Everton 1

Offsides: Rovers 5 Everton 4

Corners: Rovers 5 Everton 4

Free kicks: Rovers 15 Everton 16

REFEREE: Graham Barber (Herts)

Attendance: 27,732

YELLOW CARDS -- Rovers: Neill (foul) Everton: Alexandersson (foul), Moore (foul)

RED CARDS -- None

TIME FOR ACTION:

04 Thomas Gravesen splits the Rovers defence with a clever pass but Gary Naysmith shoots wide

10 Brad Friedel makes a brilliant reflex stop to keep out Duncan Ferguson's header then denies Kevin Campbell from the rebound

12 Ciccio Grabbi can't believe his luck as his thunderous free kick thuds against the angle of post and bar

15 Ferguson fires into the side-netting after being released by Paul Gascoigne

17 Referee Graham Barber waves away Everton penalty appeals after Damien Duff's challenge on Ferguson

18 Now it's Rovers turn to claim for penalty after Gazza trips Grabbi in the box but Barber isn't interested

28 Barber finally points to the spot when Stig Bjornebye trips Niclas Alexandersson but Friedel saves Ferguson's tame effort

35 Paul Gerrard denies Matt Jansen with a super stop from point-blank range

37 Ewood erupts as Grabbi finally opens his goal-account with the coolest of finishes

41 Skipper Garry Flitcroft heads over after more great work from Grabbi

49 Friedel foils Everton again with another sharp stop from Stubbs' free kick

56 Tony Hibbert pounces on a rare slip from Friedel but Bjornebye blocks his goal-bound shot

63 Grabbi puts a chance on a plate for Matt Jansen but Abel Xavier gets in a block

76 Ferguson heads wide of the far post with the goal at his mercy

78 Friedel saves his best until last somehow keeping out a snapshot from Joe Max Moore

TACTICS:

ROVERS boss Graeme Souness was again pressed into 3-5-2 formation due to a raft of injuries. With Duncan Ferguson dominant in the air, Henning Berg and Co concentrated on trying to win the second ball and they somehow escaped with a clean sheet

KEY MOMENT

FERGUSON'S penalty miss. Rovers seemed to grow in confidence after that whereas Everton became more and more anxious