Middlesbrough - 1 Blackburn Rovers - 3English FA Premiership: Steve McClaren would not be human if he did not wish that Damien Duff had some English blood in his body. As Sven-Goran Eriksson's trusted lieutenant, the Middlesbrough manager knows better than most how much England crave a player of Duff's talent to fill the void on the left-hand side of the national team.
Duff instead will play in the green and white of the Republic of Ireland during the World Cup. And if he shines as many of his admirers believe he will, he promises to return to Blackburn a star of the brightest magnitude.
It is no surprise that Liverpool and Leeds covet the 23-year-old winger - or that his manager Graeme Souness is ready to beat them off.
Souness is aware of the talent he possesses in Duff and now he wants the Ballyboden-born attacker to become even better by modelling himself on a former great, the Liverpool, Arsenal and England forward Ray Kennedy.
Kennedy, who suffers from Parkinson's disease, was a guest at this game and Souness, who played alongside him at Anfield 25 years ago, did not waste the opportunity to draw comparisons.
"Ray Kennedy was arguably the best wide man I ever played with. He was guaranteed a dozen goals a season but he still got up and down the line, defending and building up attacks," he said.
"Damien is learning that art. He does things that excite people and he can turn a game with a bit of brilliance." One hypnotic run confirmed that as Duff wove through a handful of Middlesbrough defenders before laying on the simplest of openers for Spanish striker Yordi after 33 minutes.
A similar assist was wastefully squandered by Andy Cole eight minutes later, but a corner from Duff provided Cole with a 74th-minute second chance, which he gratefully accepted to put Blackburn 2-0 ahead and well on the road to Premiership safety.
"I just hope I don't peak too early," said Duff with the World Cup in mind. "But Blackburn pay my wages and right now that is the important thing."
There was still time for David Dunn to add a third from the penalty spot after being brought down by Franck Queudrue, who was sent off three minutes from time for a scything challenge on the midfielder. It completed a bad day at the office for the beaten FA Cup semi-finalists, even though Szilard Nemeth bagged a consolation with the last kick of the match.
Souness, who watched from the stand because of a touchline ban, wants his players to secure their top-flight status by beating Newcastle at Ewood Park tomorrow. McClaren, believes this reverse will bring his players back to earth. "Let's hope it's a kick up the backside for everybody," he said.
Guardian Service
MIDDLESBROUGH: Schwarzer, Stockdale, Southgate, Festa, Queudrue, Wilkshire (Debeve 45), Mustoe (Nemeth 75), Ince, Johnston (Marinelli 45), Carbone, Windass. Subs Not Used: Crossley, Cooper. Sent Off: Queudrue (88). Booked: Wilkshire, Mustoe, Festa. Goal: Nemeth 90.
BLACKBURN: Friedel, Bjornebye, Berg, Short, Neill, Gillespie (Flitcroft 56), Tugay, Dunn, Duff, Cole, Yordi (Hughes 67). Subs Not Used: Johansson, Unsal, Kelly. Booked: Berg, Flitcroft, Cole. Goals: Yordi 33, Cole 74, Dunn 83 pen.
Referee: N Barry (Scunthorpe).
