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More Misery For Rovers Ex-Rovers striker James Beattie fired in a free-kick to heap further misery on Rovers who were beaten 2-0 at St Mary's despite Rovers playing the negative 4-5-1 formation again. The Saints marksman who threatened to score throughout the second half as Rovers' encouraging performance before the interval evaporated alarmingly. Rovers have now lost four games on the trot and their despair was heightened by the 65th minute sending-off of Andy Cole following his participation in an unseemly brawl involving several players. In the second half, Beattie struck a 58th minute free-kick from some five yards outside the area into the bottom left corner of the net to give Brad Friedel no chance. Rovers's problems deepened seven minutes later when Cole was sent off and Leandre Griffit then wrapped up the points four minutes before time when he took full advantage of an absent Blackburn defence to pick up the ball and fire home from outside the area. (more) Match Stats Southampton : Niemi, Dodd, Lundekvam, M Svensson, Le Saux, Telfer, Delap, A Svensson, McCann, Beattie (Marsden 89), Tessem (Griffit 82). Subs not used: Jones, Fernandes, Higginbotham Rovers : Friedel, Reid, Todd, Taylor, Gresko (Baggio 78), Emerton (Gallagher 81), Flitcroft (Jansen 45), Tugay, Ferguson, Thompson, Cole. Subs Not Used: Johansson, Yelldell. Scorers : Beattie (58), Griffit (87) Booked : Todd (60) Sent Off : Cole (65) Attendance : 31,620 Referee : Steve Bennett (Orpington). Updated by Jeffrey on 27 October 2003 at 1635. Out Of Amo The Italian became the latest defender to be struck down by the Ewood injury curse when an exploratory operation revealed the full extent of his knee problem yesterday. He now faces three months on the sidelines. Qu Bo Released Rovers have released Chinese striker Qu Bo back to his club Qingdao after a trial at Ewood Park. The 22-year-old was given the chance to impress but was short of fitness. Rovers will re-assess the situation once he is in shape. Come Get Grabbi Souness will again invite offers for Italian striker Ciccio Grabbi in January. Grabbi has been impressive in reserve-team games this season, but has failed to hit the mark when called up for senior action. Souness has lost patience with the player and will attempt to offload Grabbi when the transfer window reopens. Another Defeat Hermann Hreidarsson scored his first goal for Charlton to inflict a third successive Premiership defeat on hapless Rovers. Charlton had barely contrived a decent attacking chance before their Icelandic international sent a powerful diving header past Brad Friedel on 33 minutes. Without a number of key defenders, Andy Todd was given a rare start, but the Rovers' defence looked edgy throughout and the team in general lacked confidence. Souness's decision to use Andy Cole as a lone striker in a 4-5-1 formation blunted the home side's attacking edge. Rovers' only 2 efforts in the entire game were saved brilliantly by Charlton's keeper Dean Kiely. (more) Match Stats Rovers : Friedel, Reid, Todd, Taylor, Gresko (Baggio 78), Emerton (Gallagher 81), Flitcroft (Jansen 45), Tugay, Ferguson, Thompson, Cole. Subs Not Used: Johansson, Yelldell. Charlton : Kiely, Young (Kishishev 18), Perry, Fish, Hreidarsson, Stuart, Parker, Holland, Jensen, Di Canio (Fortune 87), Johansson (Euell 69). Subs Not Used: Powell, Royce. Scorers : Hreidarsson (33) Booked : Thompson, Emerton, Cole Attendance : 19,939 Referee : Graham Barber (Hertfordshire). Updated by Jeffrey on 24 October 2003 at 2026. No European Luck Rovers were dumped out of the Uefa Cup by Turkish side Genclerbirligi despite dominating the second leg at Ewood Park. Rovers started the game brillantly with Jansen nearly scoring. But it was one of those nights for Rovers, as they could easily cantered into this Friday’s second-round draw had they not squandered a hatful of chances. Genclerbirligi were pinned back by Rovers for most of the match, but did not make the breakthrough until just after the hour mark through Jansen. But just when it looked as if the tie was set for a grandstand finish, Rovers then quickly threw away their advantage on the night, with Mustafa Ozkan capitalising on a mistake by Steven Reid. Even then, Rovers' heads refused to drop as they continued to pour forward, only to be denied by a resolute Genclerbirligi defence and the crossbar (not less than 3 times). Both Grabbi and Jasen were guilty of missing chances after chances. Rovers were clearly missing Andy Cole, who was out with a neck injury on his 32nd birthday. In the end, the 3-1 deflict from the 1st leg proved too much of a mountain to climb. (more) Match Stats Rovers (4-3-1-2) : Friedel; Reid, Todd (Taylor 77), Amoruso, Gresko (Yorke 62); Emerton, Flitcroft, Tugay, Thompson; Grabbi (Baggio 60), Jansen. Sub Not Used: Kelly, Taylor, Johansson, Gallagher, McEveley. Genclerbirligi (3-1-4-2) : Botonjic; Saka, Bozkurt, Mercimek, Baris, Tandogan, Skoko (Karaman 89), Balci, Daems; Youla (Cihan 82), Ozkan (Ozbey 75). Sub Not Used: Bora, Basturk, M'Bayo Ki Bemba, Gursel. Scorers : Jansen (65), Ozkan (66) Booked : Todd, Thompson, Emerton, Mercimek Attendance : 14,573 Referee : Eric Braamhaar (Holland) Updated by Jeffrey on 16 October 2003 at 1155. First Away Lost Rovers lost their first league game on their travels this season, but the result could have been much heavier as they slumped to a 2-1 defeat against Leeds United at Elland Road. A first half brace by Seth Johnson was all the home side had to show for a game that they totally dominated but for the last five minutes of the game when Dino Baggio gave Rovers hope with his first goal for his new club. But it will be a game that Rovers will want to forget, as they were repeatedly carved open by the Leeds attack especially in the first half when the game could have been long over as a contest. Match Stats : Leeds : Robinson, Kelly, Camara, Matteo, Olembe, Pennant (Sakho 87), Morris, Batty, Johnson, Smith, Viduka (Bridges 67). Subs Not Used: Carson, Radebe, Milner. Rovers : Friedel, Emerton, Johansson, Taylor, Gresko, Thompson, Flitcroft (Ferguson 45), Tugay (Grabbi 74), Reid (Baggio 65), Cole, Yorke. Subs Not Used: Kelly, Jansen. Booked : Seth Johnson, Matteo, Robinson, Gresko. Attendance : 35,039 Referee : U Rennie (S Yorkshire) Todd, Save Us ! News of Marcus Babbel's long term injury has forced the Rovers boss into recalling Todd, who will return to Ewood Park after Burnley's first division fixture against Walsall last Saturday. Babbel and Short are both expected to be out injured for the whole of October while Neill still has 1 game of a suspension to complete. Spurs Eyeing Souness Tottenham Hotspur is ready to test Graeme Souness' resolve to stay at Rovers after fearing Martin O'Neill may be using Spurs to get Liverpool's and Newcastle's attention. Meanwhile Spurs are willing to play a waiting game rather than making a rushed appointment, which might see caretaker-boss David Pleat being asked to remain at the helm until the end of the season. Updated by Jeffrey on 08 October 2003 at 1315.