NICK SMITH reports. . .

WITH the grey skies and endless rain of the past three months, it's as if summer never happened.

But if you still weren't convinced, a visit to Ewood Park would have made this outlook much clearer on Saturday.

Craig Short, a man firmly in the autumn of his career, brightened things up when he rescued a point for Rovers but for the most part, this low-key curtain raiser was trapped in a time warp.

It was called season 2003-04.

All the evidence was there. Rovers players struggling to inspire their own fans, manager Graeme Souness, admittedly with very good reason, berating the officials, and a general air of despair and frustration circulating the arena.

There were plenty of decent penalty appeals turned down too, just to confirm that sense of nostalgia.

And with a home defeat, those things Blackburn suffered 10 times in the Premiership last year, on the cards for most of the game, it really was like being stuck in last season.

After all, Rovers still appear to be embroiled in another struggle to stay up.

That might seem like a horribly negative attitude following the first day of the season, but Souness has admitted that his initial target for the campaign is to get to 40 points as quickly as possible - and that makes a game against the likes of new boys West Brom almost a must-win.

But there's still 37 games left to reach that points haul and Rovers have to be happy with one on the board after admirably fighting back against a team that was sitting on its lead to the point of squashing it.

And while we're looking for positives, there did seem to be some aspects of this season that will be different to last. Dwight Yorke playing well for one.

He has emerged from the shadows to effectively become a new signing and he certainly played like a new man keen to impress.

Yorke took on two differing roles, a more orthodox striking role alongside Jonathan Stead giving way to a more creative berth after the break, when he sat in behind two centre forwards, Stead and Paul Dickov.

He was effective with both, coming close with two first half headers that were his side's only real chances before the break.

The 32-year-old then dropped deep in a position that gave the team far more attacking options and, with his touch and close control razor-sharp, Yorke made a case for this being a permanent slot for him to fill.

Having three forwards on the pitch also helped to work the visiting defence that bit harder, as Dickov announced his arrival at Ewood with his trademark eagerness, pulling the opposition all over the place.

But it was when Jonathan Stead drifted wide to the left in the 70th minute that results were reaped as his searching right-footed cross was met by the lunging Short, who glanced in the equaliser.

At 36, there might not be many goals left for the defender to celebrate so it was no surprise to hear him claiming it despite the final touch skimming off the head of Albion defender Paul Robinson.

"I got the first touch on it so I'm claiming it," said Short. "It did get a deflection, but so did their goal and Neil Clement will be claiming that, so it's definitely mine. I don't get many."

However, Clement owes far more to his deflection than Short. In fact, when his free kick found the corner of Brad Friedel's net he might have been better joining the members of the Blackburn wall for his celebratory hug than his own team-mates.

The left back's strike from 30 yards was powerful, but should have been harmless as it was straight into the line of blue and white shirts 10 yards in front of him.

But it somehow sneaked through and bounced past Friedel to create a scoreline all too familiar to the Ewood faithful.

Although there were 10 minutes of the first half left when Clement struck, it was apparent long before this that changes would have to be made for the second period, and it wasn't until this point that Rovers' season really kicked off.

Before then, the story had been one of wasted crosses and too many attacks grinding to a halt because of a distinct lack of support from midfield.

Dominic Matteo, despite volleying over a good chance just after West Brom scored, prefers the defensive aspect of the game and, alongside a man who is usually a left back anyway, Vratislav Gresko, there simply wasn't enough happening going forward.

Dickov's debut couldn't come quickly enough, his nuisance value being in stark contrast to the fellow debutant he replaced, the skilful yet subdued Spaniard Javier De Pedro.

The transformation was complete when Gresko made way for the more attack-minded Tugay and, while clear cut chances were still at a premium, an equaliser looked inevitable.

Brett Emerton, moving forward from right back, scooped a shot inches wide, but Friedel then made a timely tackle on Kanu after Lorenzo Amoruso's sloppy back pass let him in.

The former Arsenal man still has the mesmerising trickery and his sheer audacity provided some much-needed light relief on a day when the seriousness of Premiership survival - even this early - threatened to outweigh any chance of entertainment.

Even after Short scored, Gary Megson simply threw on giant Darren Moore to preserve a score draw - a result 10 other Premiership sides settled for on the opening day.

Attendance: 23,475.

Scorers: 1-0, Clement 34; 1-1 Short 70.

WBA: Hoult, Haas, Scimeca, Robinson, Gaardsoe, Purse, Clement (Moore 75), Greening, Johnson (Gera 87), Horsfield (Dobie 75), Kanu. Not used: Kuszak, O'Connor.

Referee: Chris Foy (Lancashire). Too picky - Rating: 5

Bookings: Matteo 65