Duff too hot for West Brom

West Brom 0 Blackburn 2

West Brom 0 Blackburn

Damien Duff lit up a gloomy night at The Hawthorns with a clinical piece of finishing to send Blackburn off on their UEFA Cup adventure in style.

But Rovers’ delight was tempered when Dwight Yorke, who had come off the bench at half-time to put them ahead from the spot , limped off five minutes from time.

The former Manchester United striker had only just come back after a hamstring injury and this latest setback puts his appearance on Thursday night in Sofia in grave doubt.

Duff‘s finish at least gave the home crowd something to remember. The Republic of Ireland international was put clear by Yorke in the 76th minute and coolly rounded keeper Russell Hoult before making sure of the three points for Souness’ men.

Yorke had given them the lead only five minutes earlier in rather controversial circumstances.

Ronnie Wallwork pulled back Duff and although television replays suggested the initial contact was outside the Albion box the referee pointed to the spot and Yorke name no mistake with his lofted spot-kick.

Until the late setback of Yorke‘s injury it was a good night for Souness’ substitutes with Keith Gillespie also adding an extra dimension to the visitors’ attack after his introduction in the 65th minute.

Before he and Yorke got it together a dour match that had looked like it might remain in a stalemate.

Albion boss Gary Megson had given 35-year-old Bob Taylor his first start of the season but his side, while typically solid at the back, showed no teeth up front.

Their best chance fell to central defender Darren Moore in the 15th minute but he headed over the bar and for the rest of the match Jason Roberts was left to plough an increasingly lonely furrow up front.

When Scott Dobie failed to finish from 12 yards after Martin Taylor got a leg in the way, and then Gillespie cleared off the line in a goalmouth scramble, the points were in Blackburn’s bag.

Lucas Neill had had their first chances in a grim first period but saw two low shots blocked by the legs of Moore.

After Moore’s miss from Igor Balis’ set-piece Souness introduced Cole – like Yorke returning form injury – for the injured Flitcroft and the tide began to turn.

He set up a chance for Ostenstad which Moore blocked and then Duff had a fine opportunity but booted his shot wide.

Tugay almost fashioned a wonder goal out of nowhere when he volleyed Neill’s throw-in inches wide of Hoult’s right-hand post from 30 yards.

Then Ostenstad missed a great chance in first half injury time when he ran right into Duff’s cross from deep on the left and headed the ball wide from six yards.

Albion made a more lively start to the second half and Balis forced a stretching save from Friedel before Gillespie’s introduction coincided with the spell of dominance which provided the deserved three points for Rovers in an otherwise utterly forgettable match.