Duff is the destroyer

Duff had spent the entire weekend tucked up in bed complaining of 'flu symptoms after returning from international duty with the Republic of Ireland in a state of 'physical exhaustion' last week.

But pumped up on a heady cocktail of paracetamol and adrenaline, he somehow managed to summon up the strength to mastermind Rovers' most important victory of the season so far.

This win -- Rovers' third in a row at home -- felt like an anaesthetic after Easter Saturday's demoralising defeat against Leicester at Filbert Street.

And there was no doubt who the Messiah was on the night after Duff dazzled once again, making one and scoring one in a truly scintillating first half performance.

"I still feel awful, to be honest, and I only got out of bed earlier today," said Duff, as he reflected on another excellent night's work.

"I've been on a drip all weekend because I felt so rotten but I didn't feel too bad out there. "It was probably all the travelling catching up with me, going to Dubai and then Ireland.

"But I've got eight days until the next game now so that should give me plenty of time to recover."

When the heat is on, no-one seems to rise to the challenge more than the inspirational Irishman, surely Souness's most influential player.

In each of the last three home games, the pressure has gradually increased on Rovers to get a result but Duff has responded each time with a goal.

And each one seems even better than last in what is fast developing into his own personal goal of the season competition.

Last night, there appeared to be little danger when he picked up possession over by the left-hand touchline in the 27th minute where he was immediately confronted by two defenders.

However, a quick dab on the accelerator and he had suddenly left them for dead as he cut inside before 'passing' a sublime finish with his wrong foot into the far corner of Paul Jones's net.

Cue wild celebrations as he ripped off his shirt and sprinted half the length of the pitch to blow a kiss in the direction of his mum, Mary, who was sitting proudly in the Jack Walker stand.

And if that wasn't enough, he then regained his composure to tee-up a second for Spanish hit-man Yordi with another thrusting run and cross two minutes later.

"We were really worried about Damien because he hasn't been good at all over the last couple of days," said Souness.

"He came back from Ireland feeling terrible and hasn't trained at all with us so we've had to wrap him up in cotton wool and build him up on Guinness!

"I thought he showed real character to keep on going right through the match."

After Saturday's debacle at Filbert Street, Souness rang the changes in the knowledge that another defeat could signal the deathknell in terms of his side's survival hopes.

Henning Berg resumed his partnership with Craig Short at the back in place of Nissa Johansson and David Dunn replaced Garry Flitcroft in midfield, who has been tormented by matters off the pitch over the last three days.

But it was the return of Duff and Keith Gillespie who were back in tandem on the flanks which ultimately proved decisive in transforming Rovers' fortunes.

Earlier in the season, their partnership was one of the most potent in the Premiership until the whole team lost its way and Souness decided that he couldn't afford the luxury of playing with two out-and-out wingers.

I, personally, believe you must always play to your strengths and there's no doubt that Rovers are a better attacking side than a defensive one.

Few teams in the top-flight can live with the deadly duo when they are on song and working in harness together.

Southampton certainly had no answer as they burst forward at every opportunity in a thrilling first half.

And with the magical Matt Jansen at his mesmerising best up front, there was a rapier-like quality to some of Rovers' work in the final third in that opening 45 minutes.

"I thought Matt was immense tonight -- that's the best game of football I've ever seen him play," oozed Souness.

"I know people will say how cute and clever he was in the build up to our second goal but I would point to the amount of work he put in -- I thought he was outstanding."

Jansen nearly conjured up the goal his selfless performance deserved when the game's first real chance fell to him in the 25th minute but his instinctive shot was booted off the line by Wayne Bridge.

However, the game's real turning point arrived two minutes later.

The whole of Ewood held its breath as former Rovers striker Kevin Davies suddenly sprung the offside trap and bore down on goal but the £7.25 million flop somehow made a complete mess of the chance, so much so that he ended up shepherding the ball safely back to Brad Friedel like a top-class defender, much to the amusement of the entire Blackburn End.

It was to prove costly as Rovers then struck themselves with a minute at the other end as Duff showed his former team-mate how it should be done with another breathtaking strike of sublime quality.

That settled the nerves and Duff was again instrumental when Rovers doubled their advantage two minutes later.

Jansen pirouetted on the halfway, superbly outwitting three defenders with an outrageous dragback and turn, before slipping a ball out to the Irishman on the left and his pin-point centre was met emphatically by Yordi who brilliantly attacked the space to plant a bullet header past Jones for his first goal since signing from Real Zaragoza on loan.

Southampton made a fight of it in the second half following the introduction of Marian Pahars and Jo Tessem from the subs bench.

But there was no doubting it was was Rovers' night.

ROVERS...2

Scorers: Duff 27, Yordi 29

SOUTHAMPTON...0

Attendance...28,851

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