All you need is Duff!

But here at Ewood it was the performance of another man with star quality which prompted the Blackburn End to belt out an old Beatles favourite in his honour.

For Damien Duff underlined exactly why he's currently the most wanted man in the Premiership with another dazzling display to boost Rovers' quest for Europe.

And if he carries on performing like this then Rovers are going to be inundated with offers for his services when the transfer window re-opens again this summer.

Duff, resplendent in his gleaming white boots, was the difference between these two sides after providing the fancy footwork to go with his fancy new footwear.

So it's no wonder Rovers fans greeted his match-winning strike with a rousing rendition of the new Lennon and McCartney classic 'All you need is Duff' in a touching show of appreciation for their star turn.

His 34th minute clincher was his fifth in five games since returning from a hamstring injury, which is some comeback from a player with a reputation for being a creator rather than a scorer of goals.

But the inspirational Irishman looks like a man eager to make up for lost time and his latest goal was another corker to add to a growing collection.

There appeared to be little danger when Brad Friedel launched a huge clearance down the centre of the field but Hakan Sukur flicked it on and what happened next was pure poetry from a player who's currently waxing lyrical.

He tamed the ball with his first touch before changing feet with an impish flick which completely bamboozled Luke Young, and the next thing the Charlton defender knew was his side were trailing 1-0.

For a brief moment, Ewood was gripped by Beatlemania.

But when calm was restored there was to be no such respite for the Addicks as the 24-year-old wideman continued his torture before running himself to a standstill.

"Damien was the difference today," purred Souness, as he basked in the glow of Rovers' sixth win in seven Premiership outings.

"It makes you think your results would have been even better if he'd played more this season.

"He's a super player and he's certainly earned his money this week because he came off the pitch exhausted at the end.

"He gets you on the edge of your seat -- everyone likes to see dribblers."

In fairness, Duff's contribution illuminated what was an otherwise drab affair between two teams competing for a place in Europe next season.

Charlton, who were drubbed 6-1 by Leeds on their previous outing, were determined not to be as charitable again so they came with the intention of being hard to beat.

And so it proved as Rovers struggled to hit the kind of heights they reached during the second half at Fulham a week ago.

Tugay was strangely subdued in midfield while his compatriot, Sukur, struggled to shrug off the close attentions of Richard Rufus and Jon Fortune.

But the home side always carried a threat down the flanks where Vratislav Gresko had another outstanding game.

It's no coincidence that Duff is currently sparkling after striking up a formidable partnership with the Slovakian international.

Earlier in the season, the Irishman was having to do too much tracking back in order to compensate for the lack of a recognised left-back.

However, now that hole has been plugged and Rovers' most potent attacking force is free to concentrate on what he does best, namely terrorising defences.

But Gresko has started to prove that he's more than just a capable defender, too.

On a number of occasions he ventured forward and peppered the Charlton box with a stream of inviting crosses, one of which should have produced a goal for Andy Cole.

Ultimately, though, it's Rovers new-found defensive resolve which is behind their recent resurgence.

Five clean sheets in the last seven games tells its own story and Gresko's arrival has been a telling factor in that, along with the reunification of the Craig Short and Henning Berg partnership.

Apart from a late spell of pressure in which Friedel was called on to make a crucial tip over, Charlton looked impotent in attack and rarely threatened to breach the home side's defences.

It was one of those days when it was always going to take something special to break the deadlock but thankfully Duff had the means to rise above the mediocrity.

The first half took time to catch fire as play was constantly interrupted by the referee's whistle.

But as the game settled down, Lucas Neill and Short were both called upon to make timely interceptions in the area as the Addicks threatened Friedel's goal.

Rovers remained patient, however, and as the half wore on they slowly began to turn the screw.

Gresko showed the way with a teasing left foot cross but Cole's header drifted wide of the far post.

Then Cole went even closer with a twisting header from a Duff corner which landed on the roof of the net.

Eventually, something had to give and it finally did in the 34th minute.

Friedel's long punt down the centre was flicked on by Sukur and Duff completely out-foxed Young with a clever flick before firing past his Republic of Ireland team-mate Dean Kiely.

Duff continued in his role as tormentor-in-chief after the break, shooting wide of the far post after a neat exchange with Cole.

In a rare scare at the opposite end, Friedel had to react smartly to beat out a wicked effort from Paul Konchesky.

But for all their huffing and puffing, the visitors never seriously threatened an equaliser until late on.

Rovers had further chances to buy themselves some breathing space.

Dwight Yorke, on as a late sub, saw an audacious flick blocked by Kiely on the line following more clever prompting from Duff.

In the dying seconds, though, a momentary lapse of concentration could have proved costly but Friedel responded with typical assertiveness by palming an acrobatic effort from Scott Parker over the bar.

ROVERS 1

Duff 34

CHARLTON ATHLETIC 0