Dunn shoots down Eagles

CRYSTAL Palace boss Alan Smith has demanded his players take a daily urine test for drink and drugs as part of a pre-Christmas crackdown.

But it was Ewood chief Graeme Souness who was left wondering if his player's half time cuppa had been spiked after Rovers nearly gifted Palace an early Christmas present on a bizarre night in the Capital.

Three-nil up and cruising against an Eagles side reduced to 10 men following the 10th minute sending off of Fan Zhiyi, Blackburn fans were licking their lips at the prospect of a second half goal blitz.

But plucky Palace came roaring back and nearly pulled off their own version of that festive favourite 'Escape to Victory' as the visitors were made to sweat before finally wrapping up another vital three points.

Make no mistake, this was another monumental result for Rovers, fresh from their derby heroics at Turf Moor last Sunday.

Six points from two tough away games is the perfect Christmas bonus.

Souness, however, will not rest on his laurels.

And he knows some fine-tuning could be needed before the Boxing Day showdown with Trevor Francis's Birmingham at Ewood.

"When you're 3-0 up at half time and playing against 10 men, I'd expect my team to go out and dominate the game because all our training is based on possession and passing," said Souness.

"But we didn't do that in the second half.

"When the going got tough, we didn't really have enough people willing to impose themselves on the game.

"We're a good team and, individually, we've got some very talented players.

"But that's only part of being a good player. "The other part - and it's just as important as ability - is having the balls to want the ball when you're under pressure, when you've made a bad pass or when you're team's under the cosh.

"We attempted to pass it but, if two or three people don't want to take part in it, then your whole game plan collapses.

"That's where we missed out here.

"We had two or three who didn't get fully involved in the game tonight.

"So we'll be having a quiet word in their shell on the bus home and again on Sunday morning."

In a blistering opening 45 minutes, Rovers were simply irresistible at times as some slick passing cut the Palace defence to shreds.

Once Zhiyi was red-carded for chopping down Mark Hughes as he bore down on goal, the visitors utilised their extra man to perfection with David Dunn at his mesmerising best in the centre of midfield.

But, if Palace were made to look like turkeys in the first half, then the Eagles rose like a phoenix from the flames after the break.

Fired up, no doubt, by a half-time ear-bashing from Smith, an aggressive home side belatedly showed some teeth and grabbed this contest by the scruff of the neck.

Rovers retreated deeper and deeper and, with no-one to hold the ball up front, possession was conceded far too cheaply. Goals from Mikael Forssell and Hayden Mullins suddenly put the outcome back in the melting pot. But, when there's a storm in a tea-cup, you can always count on Henning Berg to keep his head when those around him lose theirs.

The Norwegian international was a colossus at the heart of the Rovers defence as Palace went for the jugular.

Brave and assured under pressure, he kept the lid on dangerman Clinton Morrison, even suffering a painful blow to the head for his troubles.

And, thanks to his ice-cool composure, Rovers just about weathered the storm.

If this had been a boxing match, however, referee Phil Jolis would have stopped the contest by half-time.

Palace looked to be out for the count after a first half double-whammy from Dunn and a rare Martin Taylor goal knocked the stuffing out of the in-form Eagles.

Brad Friedel's monster clearance was flicked on by Marcus Bent for Hughes to race clear in the 10th minute.

The veteran striker's first touch was poor but Fan Zhiyi - desperate to get back - floored him on the edge of the box with the kind of challenge Jackie Chan would have been proud of and referee Jolis had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.

Zhiyi was then offered first use of the hot water before Dunn stepped forward to stroke home the penalty with customary aplomb.

But, if that was a dream start, then Rovers' travelling army were in a winter wonderland six minutes later.

The impressive Jason McAteer released Bent down the right, his cross caused panic in the Palace area, and as Mullins' clearance struck Tommy Black, Dunn was on hand to sweep home his 12th of the season from eight yards.

It got even better a minute before the break when Dunn's corner was only half cleared and Damien Duff lifted a clever ball over the top for Taylor to flick home a nonchalant volley - cool as you like - off the underside of the bar.

Any thoughts of a second half cakewalk were quickly dispelled, however, when Forssell pounced on a lucky ricochet off Taylor to stroke a right-foot shot past Friedel from the edge of the box on 49 minutes. With Rovers now looking increasingly ragged, worst was to follow 14 minutes later when Mullins headed home from close range after McAteer had made a hash of clearing Neil Ruddock's goal-bound header.

Yet, as Palace continued to probe for an equaliser, the visitors twice came close to a fourth in rare forays forward.

First, a delicate chip from McAteer was hacked off the line by Dean Austin.

Then, a thunderbolt from Bent bounced down off the bar Geoff Hurst-style following a clever back-heel from Matt Jansen.

It was all academic, though, as Rovers edged home - but only just!