Old boys delight Hughes

Blackburn manager Mark Hughes paid tribute to a pair of veteran campaigners as his side moved closer to the knockout stages of the UEFA Cup.

Inspirational playmaker Tugay, 36, sparked a 3-0 victory against Basle at Ewood Park with a wonder goal while goalkeeper Brad Friedel, 35, made a string of superb saves.

Francis Jeffers scored his first goal for the club from the penalty spot with a minute to go while Benni McCarthy added a third in stoppage time.

On the down side Robbie Savage suffered a recurrence of a thigh problem and will miss the league match at Aston Villa on Sunday.

The applause was all for Tugay – whose 30-yard thunderbolt is contender for goal of the season – and Friedel.

Hughes said: “Tugay continues to defy his advancing years.

“I know how difficult it is to stop yourself feeling old but he is playing with a smile on his face and having an influence on every game he plays.

“The goal came at just the right time for us as well.

“We needed to get our noses in front and from that point on I felt the game was won.”

On Friedel, who was making his 100th successive appearance for the club, Hughes said: “Brad produced the goods.

“That’s why he is my number one because he is able to stop shots and headers of good quality.”

Blackburn struggled to break Basle down and Hughes said: “We had to show patience.

“Basle are a good team and have a lot of European experience.

“They were organised and it was difficult to draw them out. They were also a threat on the break.

“But in the second half there was more tempo to our play and we were not to be denied.”

Basle coach Christian Gross thought the result did not do his team justice.

“It was a good performance and to lose 3-0 is not fair, “ he said.

“We started well and should have taken the lead. Blackburn have to thank Friedel because he made some excellent saves.

“We came under pressure in the second half but I do not think it was a penalty. Now we have to win our last two games to stay in the competition.”