A Duff is enough as Rovers set up Anfield showdown

THERE has been much debate on the Ewood Park terraces over the pros and cons of selling Jason Wilcox.

One camp argues that the £3.7million received from Leeds was good business for a player who was perhaps past his best.

Their opponents counter that Wilcox was the last remaining real link with the championship-winning side and that Rovers have finally cut their ties with those glory days by selling their club captain and most obvious blue and white stalwart.

One issue is beyond doubt, though.

That Wilcox would not have stood a cat in hell's chance of regaining a regular place on the left side as long as Damien Duff continues to captivate and mesmerise like he did last night in Rovers' FA Cup replay victory over West Brom.

Duff struggled to get a look in at the start of the season and, it's fair to assume, was one of the players most relieved to see the back of Brian Kidd.

For, under Parkes, he has rediscovered the trickery, the swagger and the devilry that helped make his burst onto the Premiership scene so spectacular.

He has also added another string to his bow. Duff's work-rate is now excellent and the Republic of Ireland international gets through more than his fair share of defensive duties. Ironically, that side of his game now more closely resembles the type of lung-busting commitment that was typical of Wilcox and Stuart Ripley during that championship season. "Damien has got stronger. There were times in the past when I looked at him after 10 minutes and thought about sitting him by my side on the bench.

"He's a bit like Chris Waddle at times. He always looks knackered, huffing and puffing with his hands on his side, then the ball goes to his feet and he's off.

"Damien's a skilful lad and played well again. But so did some other players as well," was manager Tony Parkes' summary.

On a night when Rovers' greatest failing was a poor final ball, it was perhaps fitting that Duff's intentions for the goal were debatable.

Many believed that, faced with precious little option on the by-line and the route to his colleagues obscured, the Irishman tried some jiggery-pokery and deliberately tried to hit it in off the defender's legs at the near post.

But Alan Miller actually had the near post covered and I am convinced Duff had spotted a way through to Jason McAteer, who was arriving late into the six yard box.

No-one could argue with the outcome, though, as the ball bobbled off the shins of Daniel Gabbidon and past Miller, who had been wrong-footed.

And, in any case, there would have been no more joy or relief had he lashed one in from 30 yards.

For Rovers fully deserved the lead and should have booked their fourth round trip to Liverpool long before extra time was forced. They started like a house on fire and, for 10 minutes, threatened to turn on a display as convincing as the previous home game against Bolton.

Nathan Blake was in the thick of the early action, heading over and dragging a shot just wide after pushing the ball into space behind the West Brom line.

Per Frandsen brought a fine one-handed save from Miller and McAteer was furious to see an unchallenged header loop onto the roof of the goal.

Duff shot narrowly wide after skinning two West Brom defenders and, when Matt Carbon gifted the ball to Blake, Miller was again called on for heroics to block Blake's stretching shot.

West Brom tried to play a passing game but had little to offer in the form of penetration.

And, although the midfield duo of Frandsen and Lee Carsley did not manage to grab the game by the scruff of the neck, Rovers were always the likelier of the two sides to break the deadlock.

They only had themselves to blame, though, for the continued frustration. While Blake and Ashley Ward were never short of ideas, genuine second half chances were quite rare.

It was Duff who came closest for Rovers, a back post header from a McAteer cross forcing another fine one-handed tip wide by Miller.

West Brom's best chance resulted from hesitancy in the Blackburn defence and Lee Hughes missed a volley before Jeff Kenna mopped up.

The final quarter of the game was played out in the West Brom half as the visitors' ambitions shrunk as extra-time loomed. But Rovers looked unlikely to find a way through and the prospects of penalties loomed large.

Then, after just four minutes of extra-time, Ward's industry paid off when he chased down a Blake knock-on into the box before being bundled over by two Albion defenders.

Duff picked up the loose ball on the by-line and, by good luck or management, opened the scoring with an assist from Gabbidon.

And the win was wrapped up five minutes from the end when Duff was hauled down in the area by Adam Oliver.

Carsley stepped up to blast the spot kick high to Miller's right in now characteristic style.

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