West Broms - 0 Blackburn Rovers - 2:FA PREMIERSHIP:Damien Duff played a central role as Blackburn Rovers defeated a determined but unimaginative West Bromwich side at the Hawthorns last night to move into eighth position in the Premiership.
How the watching Sven Goran Eriksson must wish Duff was an Englishman rather than Irish, for the mercurial midfielder would surely be the answer to his problem left wing position.
Rovers' paucity of attackers did not prevent them from having the first attempt on goal following an exhange of passes between David Thompson and Martin Taylor on the right wing.
Taylor, serving notice of his intention to get forward from his right back berth as often as possible, delivered the cross that Egil Ostenstad scooped over the bar.
Albion's response saw Darren Moore come close with a powerful header from Igor Balis's free-kick that shaved the Rovers' crossbar. It was to prove the hosts' most menacing moment of the half as Rovers continued to set the agenda, not least when Souness replaced the injured Gary Flitcroft with Cole in the 18th minute and switched to a 4-4-2 line-up.
Ostenstad's header was to prove the last meaningful involvement for the Norwegian striker: Souness, confident that Cole was showing no ill-effects from his troublesome hamstring, introduced Yorke for the second period. However, Albion looked the more dangerous and made more attempts on Brad Freidel's goal in the first 10 minutes of the second period than they had in the whole of the first.
With Albion seemingly committed to attack, a 1-0 scoreline looked increasingly likely. But not necessarily in the hosts' favour. Rovers, with defence-unhinging options on both flanks in Thompson, Duff and, from the 61st minute, Keith Gillespie, posed a threat on the counter-attack.
And it was Duff who was to prove the cause of Albion's undoing, albeit controversially.
Albion's substitute Ronnie Wallwork halted one of his runs illegally and referee Mark Halsey had no hesitation in awarding a penalty. There was a strong suspicion, however, the offence was committed outside the penalty area but Albion's incensed and vehement protests did little to upset Yorke as he put the penalty beyond the reach of Hoult.
TV replays suggested Albion had good reason to feel wronged but Duff ended any room for argument as he rounded the goalkeeper to put the result beyond doubt.
WEST BROM: Hoult, Sigurdsson (Marshall 45), Moore, Gilchrist, Balis, Johnson, Gregan, Koumas (Wallwork 45), Clement, Roberts, Taylor (Dobie 64). Subs Not Used: Murphy, James Chambers. Booked: Roberts.
BLACKBURN: Friedel, Taylor, Berg, Johansson, Neill, Thompson, Flitcroft (Cole 19), Tugay, Dunn (Gillespie 60), Duff, Ostenstad (Yorke 46). Subs Not Used: Kelly, Todd. Booked: Johansson. Goals: Yorke 72 pen, Duff 76.
Referee: M Halsey (Lancashire).
Guardian Service
