Blackburn Rovers 3 West Ham United 0 - Peter white's big match verdict

THE odds on a white Christmas - some chance - are shorter than those you will get for Blackburn Rovers to win the Premiership and the bookies aren't often wrong.

But surely it must be worth a couple of quid each-way on Roy Hodgson's side who seem to find an answer to virtually every challenge that comes their way.

For all the heart-warming sights of the last Saturday before Christmas, there was one thing which underlined what a compelling performance they gave against West Ham United.

And that was the sight of leading scorer Chris Sutton sitting in the stand.

The striker who has become the talisman of the team for the way in which he has finally helped Rovers dispel the shadow of Alan Shearer was a mere bystander as Rovers simply overwhelmed West Ham.

But such is the team ethic these days that the suspended Sutton would have enjoyed as much as anyone the sight of Damien Duff wreaking havoc among his elders and 'biggers'.

He would have revelled in Stuart Ripley scoring the goal that Ewood has willed him to get for so long and, not least, Sutton would have appreciated how well the reputation built by John Hartson and Paul Kitson was reduced to rubble.

Hodgson was understandably delighted that he had been able to surprise West Ham with his team selection.

But the Hammers should perhaps have read Friday night's Lancashire Evening Telegraph a little more closely, as the possibility that Rovers might move Duff into a more central role was also mooted. The success of the switch was down to the fact that Duff is one of those potential talents that come along once in a lifetime - if you are lucky.

Most people's abiding memory of last Saturday will understandably be Ripley's goal. After such a wait there wasn't a soul among the home fans who didn't rejoice.

But, while enjoying his strike as much as anyone, mine will be of the day the boy Duff again showed he's a man in football terms.

The three giants West Ham employed at the back, ex-Rover Ian Pearce - given a warm welcome - Rio Ferdinand and David Unsworth were completely bamboozled by the movement, passing and clever inter-play led by Kevin Gallacher and Duff but complemented by the rest of the team.

Barring the controversy over a Hammers penalty claim and the subsequent dismissal of Steve Lomas, this was a one-way ticket to happiness for Ewood fans.

How Rovers only had one goal to show for their first-half dominance is a mystery but it was a strike that sent home fans ballistic.

And why not? It was a goal every Rovers fan wanted to celebrate and poetic justice.

Ferdinand body-checked Duff on his way to goal. It looked a penalty but Rovers were awarded an indirect free kick.

Hodgson admitted afterwards that the credit for what ensued belonged to the players. "We don't have a set pattern for indirect free kicks," he laughed. "You only get one every 15 years in your career."

Duff tapped the ball to Tim Sherwood and the skipper chipped in an exquisite cross for Ripley, who had somehow evaded the attentions of three tall centre backs to find space.

The firm downward header into Craig Forrest's bottom left-hand corner was the finish of a man who scores regularly, certainly not once every three or four years.

His joy was understandable and well deserved.

On the stroke of half time Duff's superb cutback left Gallacher looking a certain scorer a couple of yards out.

But a freak bounce deceived the striker and allowed the keeper to save.

It took only five minutes of the second half for the scoreline to show a truer look.

Forrest, whose kicking was dodgy throughout, just about found Andy Impey under pressure facing his own goal. The wing-back's header, back towards goal, was suicidal and Duff was in for the kill.

With the temperament of a veteran, the young Irish star controlled the ball, advanced and fired it low into the net.

Just eight minutes after the crucial second came the tantrums.

Paul Kitson wriggled through, Colin Hendry lunged in with his only ill-judged challenge of the game and his opponent plunged to the floor. It looked a clear-cut penalty to me but, for a second time, Gerald Ashby - yes that referee - ignored it. Lomas, however, was already taking matters into his own hands and his protests to the official were so over the top as to earn him a red card for "violent conduct".

Yet again, Rovers had a 2-0 lead against opponents reduced to 10 men but there were no scares this time.

No doubt either over their right to win, whatever the merits of the Kitson case.

West Ham were so inferior it was always a one-horse race. They had never looked capable of handling Rovers and were lucky to get away with only conceding one more.

It came on 72 minutes from the irrepressible Duff.

Ripley produced some magic on the right and cut the ball back low from the bye-line. Ricochets and confusion reigned before Duff, sweetly with his right foot, swept the ball high into the net.

Before that a glorious move saw Gallacher head fractionally over from Jason Wilcox's cross and the winger himself, whose incredible work rate was in the fervent bracket, could easily have had a goal with a little more composure.

Hodgson had the luxury of using all three substitutes as West Ham failed to hit an on-target strike until the 87th minute when Frank Lampard's drive was excellently saved by the grossly under-employed Tim Flowers.

Christmas lunch will be easily digested by anyone with Ewood connections, knowing that, whatever pain the odd result might bring, the future grows increasingly bright.

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