Blackburn secure vital win

Duff scored with a top quality finish

Blackburn Rovers 2-0 Southampton
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A Damien Duff-inspired Blackburn Rovers picked up three vital points to lift themselves out of the relegation zone with victory over Southampton at Ewood Park.

Irish international Duff was in superb form for Rovers, acting as creator and finisher of both Blackburn goals in a devastating two-minute spell midway through the first half.

He scored the home side's first with a clinical finish on the edge of the area, and provided the cross for Yordi to double the advantage.

Southampton, who battled bravely, were ultimately undone by Duff's individual brillance and were lucky not to be punished further by the equally excellent Matt Jansen.

  Key incidents

27 mins: Damien Duff scores for Blackburn with a clinical finish

29 mins: Yordi heads home Blackburn's second

The game began at a frantic pace, with Southampton looking to benefit from any nervousness in the Blackburn ranks given the importance of the game.

Paul Telfer's first-time volley whistled just over Brad Friedel's crossbar on 10 minutes after Blackburn had failed to clear their lines.

Fabrice Fernandes combined well with Kevin Davies, who initially proved a handful for Rovers' Henning Berg and Craig Short.

But for all Blackburn's defensive shortcomings, they were excellent going forward.

Keith Gillespie on the right and Duff on the left ran Southampton ragged.

The pair provided cross after cross for their team-mates to latch onto.

I thought we did enough in the first half to win the game - they were two really good goals

Blackburn boss Graeme Souness

Yet there was no-one to add the finishing touch to all their good work.

So Duff took it upon himself to get the ball rolling into the back of the Southampton net.

He collected a clearance from Paul Jones - forced by Gillespie's cross - and cut inside two Southampton defenders to place the ball past the Saints keeper.

An exquisite piece of skill by Jansen on the half-way line then released Duff, who steamed forward and crossed beautifully for Yordi to head in Blackburn's second.

Prior to Rovers' brace, former Blackburn man Davies had an excellent opportunity to put the Saints ahead.

But his touch completely deserted him when one-on-one with Friedel.

We have not played well in the last couple of games

Gordon Strachan
Southampton boss

Davies' miss proved even more glaring given the events that followed.

After the break, Blackburn pressed on in search of another goal to kill off the game.

And but for some inadequate refereeing, the hosts would probably have added a third.

Jansen was manhandled but had come away with the ball, with Duff or Yordi ready to surge forward unmarked.

But referee Clive Wilkes blew for the initial foul to the disgust of the Blackburn players and the home fans.

Brett Ormerod went close to reducing the deficit on 58 minutes after an inviting cross from Jo Tessem.

But the Saints striker could not apply the finishing touch and Rovers held out for a deserved win.

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Blackburn: Friedel, Neill, Short, Berg, Bjornebye, Gillespie (Hignett 80), Dunn (Flitcroft 53), Tugay, Duff, Yordi (Hughes 71), Jansen.
Subs Not Used: Unsal, Miller.

Southampton: Jones, Dodd, Williams, Lundekvam, Bridge, Telfer, Oakley, Delap, Fernandes (Tessem 58), Ormerod, Davies (Pahars 58).
Subs Not Used: Svensson, Monk, Moss.
Booked: Dodd.

Att: 28,851

Referee: C Wilkes (Gloucester).