Lethal Duff is smiles better

IT would be facile to claim that lingering frustration over Paris, Thierry and all that was behind Damien Duff’s frenzied celebrations here on Saturday.

An equaliser in a humdrum Premier League game against Bolton is hardly likely to atone for the biggest single disappointment of Duff’s illustrious career, but at least the Ireland winger can afford to smile again now, albeit through gritted teeth.

Duff’s magnificent goal – struck with venom through a forest of legs late on – certainly appeared to have been hit in anger but it earned a glowing reference from his manager, Roy Hodgson, who first saw Duff’s enormous potential while in charge at Blackburn.