Deadly Duff destroys Saints

Davies, who eventually made a cut-price return south as Blackburn headed for relegation, was jeered when he touched the ball - and ironically it was the eager striker's clanger that turned a game

Rovers had to win with matches running out.

He was handed the perfect chance to ram the chants of 'what a waste of money' back down the fans' throats, but as he bore down on Brad Friedel - with Fabrice Fernandes awaiting the cut-back - Davies' touch let him down and the Rovers goalkeeper was able to gather comfortably.

The moment proved to be pivotal, for within a minute Duff had gained possession on the left touchline, cut in with a devastating burst of speed and cracked a great low shot across Paul Jones into the far corner for his third goal in five games.

Worse was to come for the Southampton defence as Duff's unerring cross barely a minute later saw Spanish striker Yordi rise magnificently to head Blackburn's second before the initial euphoria had died down.

It was his first goal since arriving on loan from Real Zaragoza, and a testament to the courage of a centre forward playing with nine stitches in a forehead wound but unable to stand down with former England striker Andy Cole completing a three-match ban.

There is still a genuine threat that Worthington Cup winners Rovers could find next season's glamorous UEFA Cup ties sandwiched between games against the likes of Gillingham and Watford, and this result was a necessity for manager Souness with a tough run-in to come.

On a night when safety rather than old feuds should have been paramount, Rovers' unforgiving fans booed the hapless Davies off the pitch when Saints boss Gordon Strachan went for a double substitution before the hour.

But another old boy almost came back to haunt them when Brett Ormerod, rejected by Rovers as a teenager before reaching the Premiership via Accrington Stanley and Blackpool, was presented with Saints' best chance of recovery but steered Jo Tessem's raking cross wide of the far post.