Wanderers 2, ROVERS 2: The curse of the late goal struck as Rovers snatched a dramatic injury time equaliser at the Reebok for the second successive season to deny Wanderers a winning start to their home Premiership campaign.

Dwight Yorke headed home Corrado Grabbi's cross in the fourth minute of overtime with Rovers, down to 10 men after the dismissal of Steven Reid, refusing to accept defeat.

Memories of Criag Short's injury time equaliser in last season's fixture came flooding back as once again Sam Allardyce's men squandered a winning position in froint of a new Reebok record crowd of 27,423

Wanderers led 2-0 at half-time after Youri Djorkaeff's third minute penalty had given them a flier and Kevin Davies had confirmed their first half superiority with a 25th minute strike.

But the second half was only five minutes old when Matt Jansen converted David Thompson's cross for an equaliser that made a game of it.

Jussi Jaaskelainen had a busier second 45 with saves from Dwight Yorke and Garry Flitcroft but Wanderers had their chances too with Davies outstanding.

It seemed to be advantage Wanderers two minutes from normal time when Reid - who had only been on the field 12 minutes - was sent off for a rash tackle on Stelios. But Rovers and Yorke in particular, never gave up.

Wanderers: Jaaskelainen; Hunt, N'Gotty, Laville, Gardner; Nolan, Campo, Okocha; Djorkaeff, Davies, Pedersen. Subs: Frandsen for Nolan 65 mins, Barness for Pedersen 76 mins, Stelios for Okocha 84 mins. Not used: Poole, Jardel.

Rovers: Friedel; Neill, Taylor, Amoruso, Gresko; Emerton, Flitcroft, Tugay, Thompson; Yorke, Jansen. Subs: Cole for Jansen 62 mins, Grabbi for Flitcroft 76 mins, Reid for Gresko 76 mins. Not used: Kelly, Johansson.

Referee: Andy D'Urso (Essex).

Attendance: 27,423 (New stadium record).