James Beattie's hopes of a triumphant return to Ewood Park ended in disappointment as Blackburn secured their first win in the league since New Year's Day.

Beattie, the leading English striker in the Barclaycard Premiership, was making a return to the club where he started his career and in the expectation of being named in Sven-Goran Eriksson's England squad tonight.

The stage was set for the 24-year-old but instead Beattie fluffed two glorious chances and left the field open for David Thompson to steal the show as Blackburn won a fine, open match by a single goal.

That provided some relief for Graeme Souness, who had seen his side lose or draw their last eight games, though it was only due to both goalkeepers that there were not more goals.

Brad Friedel set the standard, producing two excellent saves in the space of a minute to keep out Saints. First Chris Marsden was denied after Jo Tessem had played him through, then the American parried Fabrice Fernandes' stinging 25-yard daisy-cutter after Thompson had been caught in possession.

Beattie's first sight of goal came when he tried to lift a lobbed volley over Friedel but his effort comfortably cleared the crossbar, then Andy Cole drove a shot straight at Antti Niemi after cutting across the edge of the box.

Lucas Neill claimed he should have won a penalty under challenge from Danny Higginbotham, but referee Mike Riley was unimpressed. The Blackburn right-back then swung over a hopeful cross, Cole hung well in the air and planted a good header a foot too high.

Cole was denied soon afterwards only by a stunning Claus Lundekvam block before Niemi showed his class by saving in quick succession at close range from Thompson and Henning Berg.

With so many chances for both sides it was only a matter of time before someone scored, and Thompson duly obliged for Blackburn in the 26th minute.

Saints messed up a chance to clear their lines, Keith Gillespie fired over a cross and Thompson swept the ball low past Niemi into the corner from 16 yards.

Saints did come within a whisker of an equaliser when Beattie produced some trickery on the edge of the box, Matt Oakley produced a quality cross and Michael Svensson produced a header which clipped the top of the crossbar.

In first-half injury-time, Thompson tackled Fernandes, ran half the length of the pitch and found Tugay unmarked on the other side of the penalty area. The Turkish midfielder hit a stinging drive but Niemi made a tremendous block.

Soon after the break, Paul Telfer let fly with a thunderous strike from all of 35 yards but Friedel was able to pluck the ball out of the air.

Cole's sharpness earned him space to pick out Yorke who made good contact with a header but yards wide. Fernandes tried to beat Friedel with a left-footed curler from 20 yards but the Blackburn goalkeeper was untroubled, then Niemi pulled down Thompson's rising drive.

Beattie had not got much change out of Craig Short and Berg, and when he did meet Fernandes' ball in from the left he could only produce a limp header.

Friedel was relieved to see a speculative effort from Tessem just miss his top corner, then on the hour mark Garry Flitcroft played Blackburn into trouble.

The Rovers skipper attempted a backpass but instead sent Beattie galloping in on goal. The 24-year-old striker did not hesitate but struck the bouncing ball on the volley only to see it soar yards too high over the crossbar.

Beattie had another wonderful opportunity after Anders Svensson split open the Rovers defence but the striker's control was terrible and Slovakian full-back Vratislav Gresko was able to make a crucial tackle.

They were the defining moments in the game. Should Beattie get the call against Australia next week he will need to make the most of such chances.

Teams

Blackburn: Friedel, Neill, Short, Berg, Gresko, Gillespie (Ostenstad 90), Flitcroft, Tugay (Johansson 58), Thompson, Cole, Yorke (Taylor 63).

Subs Not Used: Grabbi, Kelly.

Goals: Thompson 26.

Southampton: Niemi, Telfer, Lundekvam, Michael Svensson, Higginbotham, Fernandes (Prutton 72), Oakley, Anders Svensson (Ormerod 81), Marsden, Beattie, Tessem.

Subs Not Used: Williams, Davies, Jones.

Booked: Marsden.

Att: 24,896

Ref: M Riley (W Yorkshire).