VB Winners and Losers

Happy Monday lunchtime boys and girls! Just popping in with the usual edition of weekends winners and losers for aour beloved Rovers.

Wasn't exactly an inspiring game was it at the weekend? However, there was enough on show for me to pick the three winners and three losers that comprise the weekly column!

Here goes...

WINNERS

PAUL ROBINSON - After having very little to do against Bolton and having a strangely poor game against Fulham, Robbo needed a good game to get back on track. He duly produced!

In the second half he didn't have a load to do other than watch Dean whitehead mis-kick and James Beattie sky one but in the first half is where he earnt his pay.

A terrific stop in a one on one with Liam Lawrence and a super stop from close range after a scramble kept the abject Rovers in it after a poor start in the outfield.

He was actually 'out-saved' by Tomas Sorenson down the other end of the pitch but he did what was required of him with no fuss and maximum competency.

Great stuff.

RYAN NELSEN - Despite being shown up for pace by Ricky Fuller, the New Zealander had his usual text book game marshalling the back four.

Cut out at least three decent attacking threats from Stoke and kept everyone in order.

Just as Blackburn were starting to look shaky in the second half as well, he cut that in the bud and gave everyone a good rollicking!

Thats what we like to see from the captain, just like Robbo, he will have been pleased with the clean sheet.

STEVEN N'ZONZI - It is getting to the point now where Sam and his backroom gang cannot cart out the 'we didn't expect this much from him so soon' line they always do.

From where I am sat The Zonz looks made for Premier League football. At times he kept Rovers in the midfield battle by using his height to win the aerial battle and came closest to scoring out of anyone when he hit the post in the second half using his weaker foot.

I at present have him as my personal favourite of the new signings and he is now in a position where it seems realy harsh to drop him from the side - Macca did that at Fulham and we lost 3-0, go figure.

LOSERS

GAEL GIVET - An off colour week from the usually excellent Frenchman. He let his marker by him at least twice and looked a little slow off the mark getting into position at times.

He did have the usual commitment but nothing seemed to fall for him and nearly cost us a goal when Fuller burst by him to the byline in the second half.

Having said that I fully expect him to not be in this position in the column next week - he is too good for that.

FRANCO DI SANTO - Now not all of this is his fault. He struggled on his own against Stoke's massive defenders with limited support as anyone would.

Furthermore he DIDNT MISS his one on one chance, it was a great save from Sorenson to deny him.

The reason he is still in the 'losers' section is because he still hasn't managed to force that much needed second goal in yet... come on Franco!!!

KEITH ANDREWS - He actually did a lot better this week. But the problem he has now is that Vince Grella is back.

And Vince did much better than Keith did in the first half doing the same job.

A winter on the bench seems to await.

Thats all for this week folks...