SHAUN Wright-Phillips emerged to a hero's reception at Prenton Park but was powerless to prevent a City defeat, writes CHRIS BAILEY.

Whilst pandemonium erupted all around him last night (Friday) it was strictly business as usual for the 23-year-old England ace.

Wright-Phillips happily posed for photographs and signed autographs before the Blues opening warm up game and then dazzled on the pitch, too, showing just why Premiership champions Chelsea were willing to fork out £20m for his services.

The night's other main man, City chairman John Wardle, was not at the game but was almost equally popular among the thousand or so travelling Manchester fans, who had waited patiently for their clubs's response to a bid that they knew all along was coming.

SWP sat and admired his younger brother Bradley in the opening 45 minutes though the England Under 20 starlet saw two efforts cleared off the line, the first from a peach of a through ball from teenager Stephen Ireland, who impressed.

Bradley was foiled again in the closing moments of the first half by a terrific save from John Achterberg.

Al-Rayyan midfielder Yassa Hussain, a trialist, also made a pleasing debut playing first on the left hand side of midfield and then the right.

He was watched from the stands by his mentor Ali Benarbia who recommended him to the Blues after playing alongside the creative midfielder in Qatar.

With the score goalless, Blues boss Stuart Pearce changed things at the break using a completely different 11 containing as well as Wright-Phillips senior, skipper Sylvain Distin, Joey Barton and Danny Mills.

In the absence of Robbie Fowler, with a sore back, SWP was played as an out-and-out striker and his high price tag attracted plenty of attention from the Rovers defenders.

They twice left him rolling on the ground in the opening five minutes.

From one of the free-kicks, Barton brought another fine save out of the busy Steve Wilson, who replaced Achterberg at the interval.

The replacement was his side's saviour in the 70th minute when he kept out a Karl Bermingham effort.

But City fans day of joy was tarnished slightly 10 seconds from time when 17-year-old Steve Davies, right on cue, potted the winner.

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