Chief Soccer Writer Gordon Sharrock reports exclusively for the web on every Wanderers match.

This is how he reported from Ewood Park:

14:50: MONDAY, APRIL 22, 2003

BARCLAYCARD PREMIERSHIP

BLACKBURN ROVERS V WANDERERS

RICARDO Gardner passed a morning fitness test to confirm his recovery from an ankle injury and was immediately restored to the left-back spot as Wanderers aimed to enhance their survival prospects in the Ewood Park derby.

Simon Charlton, who replaced Gardner in the 1-0 victory over West Ham, was left out of the squad with Sam Allardyce preferring Mike Whitlow on the subs' bench - the veteran defender's first senior call for three months following a knee ligament injury.

Rovers' boss Graeme Souness also made one change following the 3-1 defeat at Manchester United, Dwight Yorke making way for Turkish international striker Hakan Sukur - a one-time Wanderers' target.

Rovers: Friedel; Neill, Berg, Short, Gresko; Dunn, Flitcroft, Tugay, Duff; Sukur, Cole. Subs: Cole, Taylor, Ostenstad, Taylor, Kelly.

Wanderers: Jaaskelainen; N'Gotty, Laville, Bergsson, Gardner; Frandsen, Campo, Okocha; Mendy, Pedersen, Djorkaeff. Subs: Nolan, Andre, Barness, Whitlow, Poole.

Referee: Mike Dean (Merseyside).

15:49: ROVERS 0, WANDERERS 0

Half-time

WANDERERS were lucky to still be on level terms at the interval after being led a merry derby dance by Rovers' Republic of Ireland winger Damien Duff.

The jinking left-footer stole the show, launching a series of dangerous raids that had Bruno N'Gotty and his fellow defenders on the back foot.

But Rovers' finishing failed to match their build-up play with Andy Cole misses a 19th minute sitter when he headed Duff's cross embarrassingly wide and being denied two minutes later when Jussi Jaaskelainen raced out to make a vital block.

Wanderers offered little in response - Lucas Neill cutting out the only serious threat on 39 minutes when he intercepted Henrik Pedersen's cross aimed at Youri Djorkaeff.

16:59:

ROVERS 0, WANDERERS 0.

IT WAS a far from impressive performance but Wanderers picked up another valuable safety point with this Blank Holiday derby draw.

They might wonder how they did it but they claimed their fifth clean sheet in six games to take their Easter haul to 39 points.

Andy Cole missed first half chances as Damien Duff tormented the Wanderers defence but it was Duff who almost snatched it a minute from time when he got himself in a tangle in the goalmouth with the goal virtually at his mercy.

Once again Sam Allardyce had his defenders to thank - Florent Laville and Gudni Bergsson outstanding with Jussi Jaaskelainen flawless and Ivan Campo working the defensive midfield role to perfection.

The point was all the more valuable with West Ham beating Middlesbrough 1-0 at Upton Park to cut the gap to four points.

Rovers: Friedel; Neill, Berg, Short, Gresko; Dunn, Flitcroft, Tugay, Duff; Sukur, Cole. Subs: Taylor for Berg 55 mins. Not used: Yorke, Ostenstad, Grabbi, Kelly.

Wanderers: Jaaskelainen; N'Gotty, Laville, Bergsson, Gardner; Frandsen, Campo, Okocha; Mendy, Pedersen, Djorkaeff. Subs: Andre for Djorkaeff 59 mins, Nolan for Pedersen 84 mins. Not used: Barness, Whitlow, Poole.

Referee: Mike Dean (Merseyside).

Attendance: 28,862.