Whatever his future, whether it be with Blackburn Rovers or eventually at Tottenham, Tim Sherwood will not easily forget either his own role or this night of frustration.

Sherwood, the captain, was disciplined and composed in midfield against the young French team whose early-season form has taken them into second place in their league. But his side subsided four minutes from time when Lyon's Jacek Bak volleyed in from almost 30 yards to make the return a formidable task.

The French do not like their goalkeepers to be unduly harassed and hence the potential flare-up after only three minutes following a header by Chris Sutton.

The row was soon over, but the Blackburn pressure continued. Florent Laville almost sliced a low cross by Kevin Davies into his own goal and then the striker narrowly failed to score with an acrobatic overhead kick.

It was an early test of French resolve and Rovers's patience. Gregory Coupet saved a shot by Garry Flitcroft that might have produced the breakthrough as Blackburn looked in vain for the required poise and purpose; too often attacks failed in the target zone where the French defended ably against Sutton and Davies.

Davies was the central figure in another clash with Coupet. The goalkeeper raced from his line and barged into Davies six yards outside the corner of his area. A yellow card from the Danish referee for Coupet was followed by free-kick, which was wasted. A reminder to the Blackburn strike force came three minutes from half-time when Patrice Carteron broke threateningly down the left. The tackle by Stephane Henchoz was perfectly timed.

Vikash Dhorasoo missed the chance of punishing Blackburn a minute from the interval when he succeeded in missing an unguarded goal from six yards. The ball brushed off the head of Tim Flowers, leaving Dhorasoo holding his head in his hands.

Easily Blackburn's most fluent attack ended with a shot by Sebastien Perez hitting an upright after a one-two with Sutton.

Blackburn Rovers (4-4-2): Flowers; Dailly, Henchoz, Peacock, Davidson; Perez, Sherwood, Flitcroft, Wilcox; Sutton, Davies.

Lyon (4-3-1-2): Coupet; Carteron, Laville, Fournier, Delmotte; Bassila, Violeau, Bak; Dhorasoo; Grassi, Caveglia.

Referee: K Fisker (Denmark).