Derbyshire Staying Patient in Pursuit of a Regular Role

Four seasons after making his Blackburn debut in this fixture, the final home game of the 2004-05 season, the striker Matt Derbyshire is still trying to establish himself as a first-team regular. A late winner 10 minutes after coming on as a substitute on Saturday has done his cause no harm but having been tipped for the England squad after four goals in 12 games for the Under-21s, he still needs to convince the manager, Paul Ince, that he can become a home-town hero.

Derbyshire, 22, who came off the bench 19 times last season, starting only four games, said: "I just keep biding my time. If I were playing every week I would be wanting to get into double figures this season. But I have to grab whatever opportunity I can." The signing of Robbie Fowler may restrict those chances further but Derbyshire said: "I can learn a lot off him. He is a legend and is someone I always looked up to as a kid."

Derbyshire's left-foot strike six minutes from time after Roque Santa Cruz headed down a cross from another substitute, the Chilean Carlos Villanueva, gave Ince his first Premier League win at Ewood Park. But Paul Robinson, who has replaced Brad Friedel in the Rovers goal, ought to be awarded an assist for two astonishing saves from Andy Johnson.

Derbyshire said: "Brad was a fantastic keeper for us. But Robbo has come in and done brilliantly. He can get his England place back if he keeps playing like that." On both occasions, the first in the opening minutes and the second on the hour, Johnson must have thought his well-struck shots had opened his Fulham account.

Fulham's manager, Roy Hodgson, took a philosophical view, saying: "He is a proven scorer and if he gets the opportunities, I am sure he will score plenty of goals. It will take time for he and Bobby [Zamora] to get their relationship right but I am sure they will."

Hodgson is at least hopeful that his team, who were unlucky to lose here, will not need a last-minute escape from relegation, as they performed last season. He said: "We've got a bit more quality now and I hope that will be enough to keep us in the division."

Ince, still learning the ropes as a Premier League manager, hopes he has more firepower in Fowler and Villanueva, on a season's loan from Audax Italiano. Having scored 49 goals in 99 games in Chile, he also scored 18 minutes into his debut against Grimsby in the Carling Cup.

Ince also has Derbyshire, who hopes he will not be forgotten. He said: "I'm always ready to start but it's up to the manager." Proving that he is ready to toe the party line, he added: "This was not about me getting the goal. It was about getting three points at home and winning a Premier League game." To Ince, who is already fluent in manager-speak, it was "about keeping a clean sheet after not doing so before this season.

"Because of where he's come from people will always look at Paul conceding goals," said Ince. " But today you saw what a world-class keeper he is."

Derbyshire's goal might help to kick-start his career for club and country. Having made history by scoring for the Under-21s in the first match at the new Wembley, he does not want that to remain the highlight of his international career. With England not exactly blessed with top strikers, a good run at Ewood Park could help him catch Fabio Capello's eye.

Man of the match Keith Andrews (Blackburn)