Feisty Rovers fall short

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney stretches to scores against Blackburn during their Premier League match at Old Trafford on Saturday.Photo: AFP

Manchester United let in their first goal in the Premier League in three months, but still stretched their lead at the top of the table with a 2-1 win on Saturday against an unlucky Blackburn at Old Trafford.
United's victory means second-placed Liverpool will be eight points adrift of the English, European and world champions when they kick-off at home to Manchester City on Sunday.
England striker Wayne Rooney put United ahead in the 23rd minute.
However, after 1,337 minutes - more than 22 hours - without a dent in their goals against column, United's defence was pierced after the half-hour mark.
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, presumably with an eye on Tuesday's last 16 Champions League clash with Inter Milan, opted to play Tomasz Kuszczak in goal rather than Edwin van der Sar, who recently broke the British record for most minutes without conceding a league goal.
But Paraguay striker Roque Santa Cruz, released by Andre Ooijer's precise pass, rounded Kuszczak before finishing from a tight angle.
Rovers, belying their status as a bottom three club, nearly went ahead just before the hour mark when New Zealand defender Ryan Nelsen hit the post with a well-struck shot.
Two minutes later United's Cristiano Ronaldo, booked for diving by referee Howard Webb having escaped a yellow card for earlier kicking out, made it 2-1 with a brilliant curling free-kick from the left edge of the box.
Rovers were then denied a legitimate penalty when Morten Gamst Pedersen was pulled back in the box by United full-back Rafael da Silva.
A relieved Ferguson said: "We deserved it - just - no more than that. When you consider how we've defended over the last few weeks it was a very soft goal to give away.
"This is a great lesson. It tells us exactly what this league is like. I've said all along there is no way we can predict we are going to win the league when we get difficult games like this."
Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce was furious with Webb's refusal to award a penalty for Rafael's challenge on Pedersen.
"Sir Alex doesn't think it is a penalty, but I think it is. It has to be pretty blatant to get a penalty here at Old Trafford. We all know that. For me, it is a big disappointment because the lads put up a really good fight."
Arsenal's goalless draw at home to Sunderland left them six points off the top four and struggling to qualify for the Champions League.
This was their the Gunners' third straight goalless league draw and manager Arsene Wenger did not hide his frustration at Sunderland's approach.
"Like everybody who comes here they put one striker up front and that's it," the Frenchman said. "If everybody plays like that it will be very boring in the Premier League."
James Beattie was Stoke City's hero as they moved two points clear of the relegation zone with a 2-2 draw at home to fellow strugglers Portsmouth.
Beattie scored twice as Stoke came from behind in a match where all four goals arrived in the final 15 minutes.
Niko Kranjcar finished off a well-worked move to put Pompey in front but three minutes later Stoke were level when a penalty, controversially awarded for a handball by Glen Johnson, was converted by Beattie. Then, in the 80th minute the striker headed in from close range.
Pompey salvaged a draw that left them five points clear of the drop zone when Stoke's Ryan Shawcross put through his own net in the 90th minute
Bolton scored twice in two minutes as they beat West Ham 2-1.
Long-range specialist Matt Taylor curled in a free-kick from 22 yards before Kevin Davies made it 2-0. West Ham pulled a goal back through Scott Parker in the 66th minute.
Middlesbrough remained in the bottom three after a goalless home draw with Wigan Athletic.