Another Friday night at Tolka Park and once again it's all change at the top of the premier division. A couple of weeks ago Cork City came to Drumcondra and surrendered their lead at the top of the table to Shelbourne, last night it was Rovers who were hauled back into the pack as a result of a match which they never looked like winning but scarcely deserved to lose.

In the end, though, the home side had precious little to do with deciding the outcome. Referee Hughie Byrne looked after that end of things, depriving the Hoops of what appeared a clearcut penalty after a quarter of an hour and gifting Pat Dolan's side a free 10 minutes before the break from which they scored a slightly comical goal.

Rovers looked the sharper for much of the first half, quicker to get the boot in and more determined in the tackle. Up front for the Saints, Ian Gilzean failed to win much ball, while what little of it came Trevor Molloy's way was generally directed firmly into the advertising hoardings.

In midfield, where Marc Kenny slotted into the space normally occupied by Gino Brazil in front of the central defence, the hosts won plenty of ball but, for once, Tony Cousins looked lost up front where he caused plenty of problems but suffered a predictable defeat in the numbers game.

Nevertheless, it was the former Chelsea player who should have received a penalty early on. Receiving the ball deep inside the box on the left hand side, he turned neatly and looked set to leave Colin Hawkins for dead until an outstretched leg prevented him from closing in on goal.

Remarkably, play was waved on and a few moments later at the other end Hawkins came close to adding insult to injury when, from Eddie Gormley's floated free-kick, his header hopped just inches the wrong side of the right-hand post.

By then Trevor Wood had kept his side level with a fine stop from a long range drive by Mark O'Neill and afterwards, Kenny might have done better from close range, when Cousins headed down into his path.

If everything at that stage seemed to point to a Rovers goal, however, the visitors had other ideas.

Twice, early on, Gormley had driven frees straight into the wall and so when Tommy Dunne was penalised for a harmless looking challenge on Molloy, a less direct approach seemed likely. Sure enough the midfielder floated a curler into the area and as Gilzean drew Paul whelan across its path the ball bounced untouched between them and past the unmoving Robert Forde.

It was a bad moment for the 24year-old and one for which he only partially made amends in a second period dominated by the visitors. Jason Colwell might have had the first chance of the period, his shot from the edge of the area was just over, but Forde was the goalkeeper with far more to do during the closing stages.

Molloy tested him from 20 yards out and he did well to push Keith Long's free over the bar when it looked set to dip in behind him.

Still, he was a little fortunate to survive when Molloy drove straight at him but Whelan was first to the loose ball and hooked it away to safety.

A hectic game throughout, too much so really to produce that much by way of good football. The pace quickened even more through the dying minutes, during which Rovers looked to steal something on the break. But they still lacked the presence up front to pose a serious threat.

Cousins, to his credit, continued to chase everything sent his way but, as they head into a run of games against the division's stronger sides, it seems they may yet have to depart from a system that had, up to this game, served them well.

The return from injury of Paul Stokes or Sean Francis would, of course, greatly improve their options in that department and both should be back within the fortnight. And who will be leading the table by then? On the strength of what's gone on so far, who knows?

Aston Villa manager Brian Little has opened talks with defender Steve Staunton aimed at persuading the Republic of Ireland player to sign a new contract.

Staunton's current deal is up at the end of the season and under the Bosman ruling he would become a free agent and could move to another club on a free transfer.

Staunton, who has been in fine form this season, has often been linked with a return to Anfield but has remained loyal to Villa.