BLACKBURN ROVERS boss Mark Hughes hailed his captain marvel Lucas Neill after the defender silenced his critics in dramatic style.

A small minority of Rovers fans booed the Australian international during Saturday's defeat to Newcastle as they vented their anger over his refusal to sign a new contract.

However, those jeers turned to cheers last night when Neill grabbed a 92nd minute winner as Rovers beat AS Nancy 1-0 to finish top of UEFA Cup group E.

That result means Hughes' side will now avoid one of the fancied teams from the Champions League when the draw for the last 32 takes place in Nice tomorrow.

Feeling vindicated for sticking with Neill as his captain, a delighted Hughes said: "The reason he's got the captain's armband is because I gave it him a number of weeks ago and he hasn't done anything to make me take it off him.

"I thought he came out tonight once again with the right attitude and kept going right to the end, and it was a great finish, I have to say.

"He really created it himself, he was determined to get a shot off, and I was pleased for him when it went in."

Neill celebrated his dramatic last-gasp strike by cupping his ear in the direction of the Blackburn End before punching the air in wild delight - an outward sign, perhaps, to those fans who had previously booed him.

"Obviously, he was a little bit frustrated at the end, maybe because he heard a few comments from the crowd - there will always be certain individuals who make their feelings known," said Hughes.

"As I said earlier this week, at the moment he's a little bit of an easy target.

"But I thought he played well tonight."

"I think he showed how he feels in his celebration.

"He's very attached to this club, he's been a great servant, and, as I've said before, he's just keeping his options open.

"If Lucas ends up leaving then I'll shake his hand because he's been a great servant here."