DAMIEN Duff underlined exactly why he's the most wanted man in the Premiership with a mesmerising display of wing-wizardry to lead Blackburn back into Europe.

The inspirational Irishman was simply irresistible as Rovers secured a UEFA Cup spot at Spurs' expense for the second successive season.

Glenn Hoddle's sorry side had no answer as Duff scored once and had a hand in two others to ensure the season reached a magnificent conclusion.

It was the kind of performance which could send Gerard Houllier and Sir Alex Ferguson scrambling for their cheque books during the summer months.

But whatever figure either man comes up with they can double it and then double it again because even that won't come close to reflecting the true value of Duff to this Rovers team.

For when it comes to opening up defences, there's simply no-one better at it in the Premiership than the Republic of Ireland international on top note.

Rovers fans belted out a rousing rendition of the old Joy Division classic 'Duff will tear you apart' in honour of their hero and how Spurs should have heeded the warning.

Instead, Hoddle's tactics played right into the Dubliner's hands and he revelled in putting the Londoners to the sword.

It was a display befitting of a genuine world class player but the big worry for Souness now is how much longer can he keep hold of his star man?

The vultures have been circling for some time, waiting for the slightest encouragement to prompt a bid.

But maybe, just maybe, the incentive of another UEFA Cup campaign may just hold some sway if any offers come rolling in.

If Duff is ambitious then he'll want to showcase his talents in the Champions League at some point but the way things are going it's not inconceivable that he could do that with Rovers.

They might have done it this year had they fared a little bit better against the teams at the bottom of the table.

But no-one can deny it's still been another truly remarkable campaign and as long as Souness can hold on to his leading lights such as Duff then the future looks rosy.

"Damien is a big player and you all saw what he was about today," said Souness.

"He's a top player, he's beginning to realise himself what a top player he is, and he'll want to play in the Champions League one day.

"But we are in a situation where he's got three years left on his contract and it would have to be an absolutely ridiculous offer to prize him away and that applies to other players at the club as well."

Rovers had started the day in the knowledge they had to win and then hope that Manchester United could do them a favour at Goodison but little did they know that Spurs were going to make it so easy.

The Londoners are currently going through a rough time and Tim Sherwood's pre-match comments about the manager merely heightened the tension.

Even Teddy Sheringham's farewell appearance failed to lift the home side and they finished up well beaten in the end, although they will point to the sending off of Gus Poyet as the major turning point in the game.

That certainly did little to help their cause but Rovers were far superior in every department on the day as they stroked the ball about with supreme confidence on an immaculate surface.

Spurs never got to grips with Duff in particular who seemed to pop up all over the place, wreaking havoc wherever he went.

But some of the link-up play between Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke was also reminiscent of their days together at Old Trafford and the Tottenham defence simply couldn't cope.

Only Robbie Keane emerged from the game with any credit as far as the home fans were concerned but, with Brad Friedel in unbeatable form, he was fighting a losing battle.

Ironically, Spurs had the game's first real chance when Keane tricked his way past a defender and forced Friedel into a fine near post save.

But that proved to be a false dawn as Rovers then broke the deadlock in the fifth minute with a goal of the highest quality.

Duff -- who else? -- fed a clever ball in to Cole who in turn found Yorke with a clever flick and the former Manchester United man steadied himself before sliding a cool finish inside Keller's left-hand post.

That knocked Spurs out of their stride and it took them a while to regain their composure.

Chris Perry headed over, a Poyet shot was deflected for a corner, then Sheringham went close to marking his farewell appearance with a goal only to see his header from a corner narrowly miss the target.

However, the defining moment came in the 31st minute when Poyet suddenly had a rush of blood and scythed Flitcroft down with a nasty two-footed lunge.

Referee Andy D'Urso had no option but to reach for his top pocket while Flitcroft was left with a leg wound which required five stitches and ultimately cut short his afternoon.

Things then went from bad to worse for Hoddle as Rovers struck another major psychological blow on the stroke of half-time.

Perry's poor defensive header dropped kindly for Hignett on the edge of the box and the veteran schemer dispatched the sweetest of volleys past Keller into the far corner.

By now Spurs were dead and buried but the visitors were in no mood to show mercy.

Duff made it 3-0 on 48 minutes with a slide-rule finish after the ball broke loose following a collision between Yorke and a defender.

In a rare moment of danger at the opposite end, Keane got in on the right but his shot was expertly palmed aside by the impeccable Friedel.

That failed to turn the tide, though, as a rampant Rovers added a fourth two minutes later.

Duff turned provider this time as he tricked his way past Perry and then rounded Keller before having the presence of mind to cut the ball back for Cole to bundle it home.

Some home fans had seen enough and promptly threw their season tickets onto the pitch in disgust.

Chants of 'Hoddle out' even emanated from one corner of the ground and the Spurs boss twitched with anxiety in the technical area.

His embarrassment might have become even more acute had Yorke not passed up the opportunity to make it five.

The Trinidad and Tobago international left Perry looking red-faced again before he bore down on goal but Keller did wonderfully well to keep out his shot.

All that was left was to check on the Everton result and as news filtered through that Ruud Van Nistelrooy had converted a late penalty for United the celebrations started. Europe here we come!

Barclaycard Premiership:

SPURS 0

ROVERS 4

Yorke 5, Hignett 45, Duff 48, Cole 60