Neill winner earns Rovers top spot

LUCAS NEILL turned the jeers to cheers as he scored a dramatic late winner for Blackburn in last night’s vital UEFA Cup match. The Australia defender came under fire from a section of the home support at the weekend in the defeat by Newcastle.

Neill, widely tipped to join Liverpool next month, had the last laugh with a fine goal two minutes into stoppage time. It means Blackburn go forward as Group E winners and will face a third-placed side in Friday’s draw.

Blackburn manager Mark Hughes believes his team merited the win which took them top.