Lillestrom 1 Blackburn Rovers 5 - Peter White reports

DAMIEN Duff's deadly first-half double left Champions' League hopefuls Lillestrom feeling more like InterToto Cup also-rans at the Arasen Stadium in Norway last night.

The young Irishman, who seems to have cast off the jaded look he wore at times towards the end of last season, was in devastating mood to put out one of the leading lights of the Norwegian League in what turned into a surprisingly one-sided encounter.

Duff probably needed a decent close-season break more than any of the Blackburn Rovers players in action in last night's second game of their Scandinavian tour.

For he has had to endure a punishing schedule at both international and club level over the past couple of years.

But there was certainly a spring in his stride last night and a second-half double for Kevin Davies, plus a goal for Kevin Gallacher on his first appearance of the new campaign, provided plenty of reason for optimism.

Lillestrom are no mugs but, by the end of 90 minutes, they must have felt they had been hit by a Lille-storm.

With major league games to play later this week, the Norwegians, as expected, made wholesale changes at half time.

But they had started with their strongest side and still lost both halves convincingly to a Rovers team who increased in confidence as the game went on.

Their possession play improved dramatically and, long before the end, the Norwegians were chasing shadows.

The game underlined not only how the squad's fitness programme seemed to be benefiting them but also how many individuals they have with a trick or two up their sleeves. And some of the locals found it hard to believe that the side Rovers fielded was missing as many as eight or nine players for various reasons.

It certainly came as something of a shock. For Lillestrom were expected to provide the toughest challenge of the Scandinavian tour.

Still in the hunt for a Champions' League place in their domestic competition, which is about halfway through, they could easily have caught Rovers on the hop so soon into Brian Kidd's preparations.

But, clearly, someone is doing something right with the way Rovers gradually took hold of the game and then totally dominated it.

They had a few hairy moments at the back in the opening 25 minutes and there were some worried looks when the referee displayed two early yellow cards to Lee Carsley and Marlon Broomes.

But things soon settled down and Duff's precision finishing set Rovers up for a very convincing and thoroughly deserved win.

It was still only a pre-season game but nothing builds confidence like winning, especially winning well and scoring a few goals - just ask Davies.

With their mounting problems, Rovers opted for a 4-3-3 formation and took time to settle on a bobbly surface.

But David Dunn soon started to make an impression and, after they had survived Lillestrom's best effort - a shot just wide from Arild Sundgot - they snatched the lead on 26 minutes. It was a cracking goal too, a lovely flowing move involving Davies, the impressive midfield anchorman Carsley and, eventually, Gary Croft.

The full back's cross towards the far post was superbly volleyed home from around 10 yards by Duff.

Eleven minutes later, Davies seemed to have lost possession but battled to win it back and forced his way through two challenges before slipping the ball perfectly through to Duff.

The winger needed no other invitation and rounded the keeper to knock the ball over the line.

Lillestrom fielded virtually a new team after the break but they fared no better than the old one, while Rovers' only change was to swap one talented young player, Damien Johnson, for another in Dunn.

Four minutes into the second half, it was 3-0 when Duff's cross found the keeper flapping and the mix-up enabled Davies to get off the mark as he looped the loose ball home from close range.

Lillestrom briefly threatened a fightback on 65 minutes when a brilliant header from Kenneth Nysaether left Alan Fettis with no chance.

But that was an isolated incident as Rovers continued to dominate.

With 13 minutes left, Davies grabbed his second, with much to admire in the build-up which included Duff, Carsley, Callum Davidson and Gallacher.

A neat back flick by Gallacher when he seemed to have run out of room on the bye-line gave Carsley the chance to cross for Davies to fire home from close range.

Really buzzing now, Rovers added a fifth when man-of-the-match Duff's cross produced a looping header from Davies. The ball struck the woodwork but there was Gallacher, still with plenty of running, diving in to head the last goal from the rebound.

It was a splendid way to finish the game and there was no doubting the enjoyment of those fans who had travelled from England, as well as dozens of members of the Scandinavian branches.

LILLESTROM (4-4-2): Misund, Werni (sub Sogard HT), Bjarmann (sub Nysaether HT), Berntsen (sub Bjornsen HT), Gjerde, Smerud, Wiss (sub Thomassen HT), Kristinsson (sub Hauge HT), Normann (sub Stakkeland 7 mins), Helguson (sub Faanes HT), Sundgot (sub Diallo HT).

ROVERS (4-3-3): Fettis, Croft (sub 78 mins McNamee), Dailly, Broomes (sub Taylor 59 mins), Davidson, Dunn (sub Johnson HT), Carsley, Wilcox, Gallacher, Davies, Duff.

REFEREE: J Sjaervold (Fet Il).

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