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.

Hughes said: “It was a difficult game, but I think we deserved the win.

“Nancy came with the view of keeping it nice and tight, and it was very difficult to get any momentum into our play because of that attitude.

“Obviously it was a worry could capitalise on the break, but their breaks were few and far between.

“We kept going and got our reward at the end – and I’m delighted for Lucas. It was a great captain’s performance.

Hughes made six changes to the side that lost to Newcastle on Saturday. Matt Derbyshire and Paul Gallagher formed a new partnership up front, with Benni McCarthy and Shabani Nonda on the bench.

Andy Todd, Jay McEveley, Aaron Mokoena and Sergio Peter were all drafted in — with Stephane Henchoz, Michael Gray, Tugay and Morten Gamst Pedersen absent.

Blackburn goalkeeper Brad Friedel was called into action after four minutes when he did well to deflect the ball to safety, with Kim homing in on goal.

There was a scare for Blackburn in the 11th minute when Frederic Biancalani rattled in a shot – but Friedel remained alert to turn it away.

Derbyshire should have put Blackburn ahead in the 23rd minute but sent his effort into the arms of the goalkeeper, after being released by Neill.

Blackburn boss Hughes was forced to make a change in the 29th minute when Republic of Ireland Under-19s international Eddie Nolan replaced Todd, who had taken a knock.

Blackburn again found themselves on the back foot three minutes later, but Friedel got a good block to Pascal Berenguer’s effort.

Friedel was certainly the busier of the two goalkeepers at this stage and made a comfortable save from Biancalani’s well struck drive in the 39th minute.

Nancy almost took the lead on the stroke of half-time when Kim skipped away from Neill only for his effort to come off the post.

Michael Chretien latched on to the rebound, but McEveley made a block.

Blackburn started the second half brightly. Peter soon swung in a searching cross which was headed away at the back post by Biancalani.

Nancy responded four minutes later with a sweeping move involving Kim, Dia and Berenguer.

Berenguer, however, scuffed a poor shot from inside the area wide of the post.

Nancy then had an appeal for a penalty rejected in the 54th minute, after Kim appeared to be tripped by McEveley.

Instead a free-kick was awarded on the edge of the area. Benjamin Gavanon took it and forced a good save from Friedel.

Bentley almost made the breakthrough in the 59th minute, with a majestic right-foot effort from the edge of the area.

But Lapeyre showed good reflexes to parry the ball and keep Nancy on level terms.

Gavanon had Friedel scrambling back in the 64th minute with a free-kick from close to the centre-circle, and the American got a vital touch at the last moment.

McCarthy and Pedersen were both introduced in the 67th minute for Peter and Gallagher, with Blackburn anxious to make the breakthrough.

Rovers got the winner two minutes into stoppage time through Neill’s emphatic finish, after he picked up a pass from Bentley.

BLACKBURN: Friedel, Neill, Todd (Nolan 28), Ooijer, McEveley, Bentley, Savage, Mokoena, Peter (Pedersen 67), Derbyshire, Gallagher (McCarthy 67).

AS NANCY: Lapeyre, Lecluse, Diakhate, Puygrenier, Chretien, Berenguer, Andre Luiz, Gavanon, Biancalani (Sauget 73), Kim (Curbelo 76), Dia (N’Guemo 64).

Referee: Gerald Lehner (Austria).