Blackburn top their group

Lucas Neill turned the jeers to cheers as he scored a dramatic late winner for Blackburn in tonight's vital UEFA Cup match.

The Australia defender came under fire from a section of the home support at the weekend in the defeat by Newcastle. Neill, widely tipped to join Liverpool next month, had the last laugh with a fine goal two minutes into stoppage time.

It means Blackburn go forward as Group E winners and will face a third-placed side in Friday's draw.

Blackburn goalkeeper Brad Friedel was called into action after four minutes when he did well to deflect the ball to safety, with Kim homing in on goal.

Gallagher then showed good skill down the left, and Robbie Savage headed his cross on only for David Bentley to stray into an offside position.

There was a scare for Blackburn in the 11th minute when Frederic Biancalani rattled in a shot — but Friedel remained alert to turn it away. Derbyshire should have put Blackburn ahead in the 23rd minute but sent his effort into the arms of the goalkeeper, after being released by Neill.

Blackburn boss Hughes was forced to make a change in the 29th minute when Republic of Ireland Under-19s international Eddie Nolan replaced Todd, who had taken a knock.

Blackburn again found themselves on the back foot three minutes later, but Friedel got a good block to Pascal Berenguer's effort.

Friedel was certainly the busier of the two goalkeepers at this stage and made a comfortable save from Biancalani's well struck drive in the 39th minute.

Nancy almost took the lead on the stroke of half-time when Kim skipped away from Neill only for his effort to come off the post. Michael Chretien latched on to the rebound, but McEveley made a good block.

Blackburn started the second half brightly. Peter soon swung in a searching cross which was headed away at the back post by Biancalani.

Nancy responded four minutes later with a sweeping move involving Kim, Dia and Berenguer. Berenguer, however, scuffed a poor shot from inside the area wide of the post.

Nancy then had an appeal for a penalty rejected in the 54th minute, after Kim appeared to be tripped by McEveley. Instead a free-kick was awarded on the edge of the area.

Benjamin Gavanon took it and forced a good save from Friedel.

Bentley almost made the breakthrough in the 59th minute, with a majestic right-foot effort from the edge of the area. But Lapeyre showed good reflexes to parry the ball and keep Nancy on level terms.

Gavanon had Friedel scrambling back in the 64th minute with a free-kick from close to the centre-circle, and the American got a vital touch at the last moment.

McCarthy and Pedersen were both introduced in the 67th minute for Peter and Gallagher, with Blackburn anxious to make the breakthrough.

Rovers got the winner two minutes into stoppage time through Neill's emphatic finish, after he picked up a pass from Bentley.