Football: Venables wins battle of the old England bosses against

IRISH ace Damien Duff ran Sunderland ragged - but Blackburn boss Graeme Souness was in no mood to talk up his brightest prospect.

Quite simply, Duff had a field day as he skinned his marker Stephen Wright time and time again.

And if Wright, a new signing from Liverpool, is worth pounds 3million to Peter Reid, what price Duff now?

Souey must have been drooling as his 23-year-old World Cup star turned in a performance that had "scintillating" stamped all over it.

He hardly put a foot wrong throughout, particularly in a dazzling second-half in which he did everything but score.

Duff took a time to get going, but when he did there was no stopping him and he twice put Sunderland's creaky defence under the cosh at the end of the first half.

He showed his full array of talent - power, pace and passion - after being set up on the left flank by Nils Eric Johansson.

Sunderland's Danish keeper Thomas Sorensen rushed out of his goal, only for Duff to flick the ball past him. But a goal-line clearance from Joachim Bjorklund saved the day for the Wearsiders.

Seconds later came the Great Escape, Mark II - again inspired by Duff. He cut in from the left and saw his shot deflect off Wright to leave poor Sorensen completely wrong-footed.

But somehow the great Dane corrected himself at the last minute and pulled off a stunning save.

This was just a sign of things to come from Blackburn as Souness's side got the bit between their teeth after the break.

Soon after the restart, the lively David Dunn set up Dwight Yorke whose close-range shot was well held by Sorensen.

But Duff was causing mayhem on the left flank as he tormented Wright, whose main contribution was to get booked after only 33 seconds of the game.

Duff began his second-half onslaught by sending over a super cross which was just too high for Dunn.

Then Duff left Wright in his wake and tried his own luck with a shot which was saved by Sorensen.

Inspired by the roaring Ewood Park fans, Duff drifted into the centre and tried a long-range dipping shot which flew just over.

Back out on the wing, the Irishman put over yet another telling cross which defender Lucas Neill headed goalwards, only for keeper Sorensen to claim the ball.

Duff found himself in acres of space again moments later and this time hit a rising shot which was desperately punched clear by Sorensen.

Sunderland rarely threatened the home goal, although Kevin Phillips tested Brad Friedel with a shot in the dying minutes.

All of the talk afterwards was of whether Blackburn would be able to ward off interest from Manchester United and Liverpool in the brilliant Duff.

But crafty Souness refused to discuss the Irishman's future, instead focussing on his new attacking partnership.

The Blackburn boss said: "Cole and Yorke will get goals, no problems. I can't think of another two in the Premiership I would want to swap them for.

"On another day, I thought we would have won comfortably. If we play as we did in the second half we'll cause problems."

MAN OF THE MATCH DAMIEN DUFF

Another super display with pace, purpose and passion.

BLACKBURN: Friedel 7; Neill 7, Taylor 7, Short 7, Johansson 6, Gillespie 6, Dunn 8, Tugay 6, DUFF 9, York 6, Cole 7.

SUNDERLAND: Sorensen 7; Wright 6, Bjorklund 6, Babb 6, Gray 7, Kilbane 6, McAteer 7, Reyna 8, McCann 6, Butler 7, Phillips 7.

MANAGER RATINGS: Souness 7, Reid 6.

REFEREE: D Elleray 7.

ATTENDANCE: 27,122

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