Busy Duff provides key strike

Blackburn secured a choice FA Cup fourth-round trip to Liverpool last night - but only after they had been made to fight all the way in a tense replay with West Brom at Ewood Park.

Battling Albion, crippled with problems on and off the pitch, had an inspired goalkeeper in Alan Miller, and Blackburn - despite their dominance - had to wait until extra-time for the breakthrough.

It was fitting that their most dangerous player, winger Damien Duff, should provide the route to goal with a rather lucky opener in the 94th minute.

Duff made space tight against the touchline and saw his shot-cum-cross deflected past Miller by Daniel Gabbidon.

Albion were broken, and it was no surprise when Blackburn added a second 10 minutes later.

Again Duff was in the thick of it - as he burst in on goal he was brought down by Adam Oliver. The resulting penalty was expertly converted by Lee Carsley to give the Blackburn captain his seventh goal of the season.

Blackburn had totally dominated normal time but could find no way past the magnificent Miller until overtime was upon them. The hosts had 20 attempts at goal, but Miller stood firm until the final extra 30 minutes took their toll.

Nathan Blake was twice denied by Miller in the opening five minutes, while Ashley Ward, Carsley and Per Frandsen also suffered at the hands of the visiting goalkeeper.

It was Rovers versus Miller, with Albion struggling to get out of their own half.

Highly-rated striker Lee Hughes tried hard to make an impact and was within inches of a surprise goal late in normal time when Blackburn goalkeeper Alan Kelly made a smart save.

In the end, though, justice was done with not even the most staunch West Brom supporter able to begrudge Blackburn a richly merited trip to Anfield.

Blackburn: Kelly, Kenna, Dailly, Taylor, Davidson, McAteer (Johnson 113), Frandsen, Carsley, Duff, Ward, Blake (Ostenstad 113). Subs Not Used: Broomes, Harkness, Fettis. Goals: Duff 94, Carsley 114 pen.

West Brom: Miller, Van Blerk, Carbon, Sneekes, Evans (Richards 113), Raven, Angel, Oliver, Gabbidon, De Freitas (McDermott 90), Hughes. Subs Not Used: J Chambers, A Chambers, Morris. Booked: De Freitas, McDermott, Oliver.

Referee: R Styles (Waterlooville).