Upbeat Ince relies on the Cruz control to earn Blackburn point

Roque Santa Cruz should have been celebrating in style at Hull after signing a new four-year contract with Blackburn.

But just a day after he ended the uncertainly over his immediate future, he produced only the odd flash of goalscoring intent and otherwise looked as if his mind was still elsewhere.

Opener: Jason Roberts puts Blackburn ahead.

Maybe the implications of shunning the interest of Manchester United, Manchester City and Tottenham were sinking in properly, or the unrelenting battle against Hull was not to his liking.

Whatever the reason, Santa Cruz was outshone by tireless partner Jason Roberts and outworked by almost every one of his hungry opponents in a bruising encounter.

If Paul Ince was concerned, he did not show it. Instead, he insisted the Paraguayan's commitment signalled the beginning of the end of the transitional period his appointment has ushered in.

He said: 'If Santa Cruz wasn't happy he would not have signed a contract. I am delighted the saga is over. It's been unsettling for everyone, including Roque.

'The players are delighted because he is a talisman for all of us. Now we can concentrate on the Premier League.'

Santa Cruz may have felt he owed Blackburn after they rescued him from the shadows at Bayern Munich last summer, but on the pitch yesterday it took him until the 67th minute to show it.

First, he had a penalty appeal for handball turned down when a fierce shot was blocked by Michael Turner, then his powerful effort flew over the bar after a neat turn eight minutes later.

It was a quality cameo in a game that was crying out for a moment of magic as both sides huffed and puffed with little cutting edge.

Rovers had taken the lead in the 38th minute when Roberts latched on to a Steven Reid through ball and ran in coolly from the edge of the Hull penalty area to score.

Turner had played him onside as Hull's back four made a mess of attempting to hold a high line, but there was no lengthy inquest.

Instead, Hull went up the other end two minutes later to equalise.

Richard Garcia peeled away from the Blackburn defence with perfect timing and sent a looping header beyond Paul Robinson from Craig Fagan's deep cross.

Blackburn's opening-day win at Everton and Hull's Premier League debut victory against Fulham will live longer in the fans' memories than yesterday's war of attrition, but both teams scored maximum points for effort and their managers were satisfied.

Ince said: 'I am not disappointed. It was probably a fair result. 'Hull, physically and fitnesswise, are better than a lot of Premier League sides. They will not be easy to beat.'

Hull manager Phil Brown said: 'We could have gone on to win the game, but I am ecstatic with the point. If we continue with that passion and drive we will be okay.

'It comes down to that bit of quality in the final third, but that costs a lot of money.'

Rovers, in hanging on to Santa Cruz, know that only too well. Now it is just a case of getting him to show again he was worth it.

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