BLACKBURN ROVERS 3
NEWCASTLE UNITED 1
Premier League
Ewood Park
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Kick-off 3pm

MATCH REPORT

NEWCASTLE United will count themselves extremely unlucky to leave Ewood Park empty-handed as Blackburn Rovers snatched all three points in a game which came to life in the second period.

A dull first-half saw Roque Santa Cruz go closest for the home side as his chip drifted just wide of the United target after being played in on goal by strike partner Benni McCarthy.

But it was the Geordies who took a deserved lead, Oba Martins (47) glancing home Geremi's wicked set-piece delivery for his sixth of the season.

The hosts were back on level terms withing six minutes as David Bentley clipped a delightful 20-yard free-kick above the United wall and into Shay Given's top corner.

The black and whites pressed for a second and Martins saw his header land just the wrong side of the crossbar after Christopher Samba had made a mess of James Milner's return into the area.

And within sixty seconds of that opening Rovers were in front, Bentley (68) grabbing his second of the afternoon with a low drive from outside the area which found its way into the black and white net via the upright.

Morten Gamst Pedersen went close with a header on 84 minutes before an injury-time strike from Turkish midfielder Tugay sealed the points for Mark Hughes' men.

The Magpies were applauded from the field by the 6,000 travelling Geordies and will count themselves extremely unlucky to leave Ewood Park with nothing to show for a spirited display.

SECOND HALF ACTION (click refresh for latest)

90+2min - BLACKBURN GOAL (3-1): It's all over as the Magpies are caught on the break - Jason Roberts runs at the Toon backline and tries to work an angle for a shot wide of Rozehnal, the Czech defender manages to nick away from his toe but the ball runs free for TUGAY just inside the area and he finishes low past Given - it's harsh on the Geordies who certainly deserved something from the game.

There will be four minutes added time.

88min - Newcastle have a free-kick in the same position from which Martins scored, again Geremi delivers a wicked cross which is begging to be finished, but it's Friedel who is the grateful recipient as the ball bounces through to the safety of the keeper's arms.

84min - It could've been all over as Tugay's clever throughball picks out the run of Pedersen who has got in-behind Geremi, the winger heads past the on-rushing Given but the ball bounces the wrong side of the post - it's a real let-off for the Magpies.

81min - At the other end the Geordies are pressing for a leveller buoyed by the support of the Toon Army behind the goal. Joey Barton has a go from 20 yards after being teed-up by Nicky Butt, unfortunately for United his strike draws wide of Friedel's target.

80min - Jason Roberts darts in-between the challenges of Beye and Geremi on the left channel before rifling a right-footed strike at goal, Given is equal to the powerful drive however and fists clear.

75min - Martins forces a corner off the shins of Warnock and N'Zogbia comes across to the right flank to deliver. The flag-kick is too easy for Friedel and he gathers before immediately springing Bentley clear on the right, the two-goal forward runs at a beckpedalling Rozehnal and slips a pass wide for the overlapping Roberts who takes aim for Given's far corner, the shot beats the Irishman but not the woodwork and rebounds into a crowded penalty area where first Steven Reid and then Santa Cruz try to force the ball home - there's a mass scramble inside the box before Nicky Butt steps in to hack clear.

72min - Stephen Carr makes way for Mark Viduka with Geremi switching to right-back.

70min - Tugay is booked as he kicks the ball away following a foul on Alan Smith.

68min - BLACKBURN GOAL (2-1):  Santa Cruz runs at the United backline and Stephen Carr recovers to nick the ball away from the toe of the Rovers striker, it runs free for DAVID BENTLEY on the right-hand side of the box and he sends a sweet, right-footed drive skidding across the Ewood Park turf and into Given's goal via the far post.

66min - Blackburn fail to clear Geremi's long-throw and Milner heads back into the area, it looks an easy one for Samba to hack away but he makes a complete mess of it and Martins pounces, the Nigerian heads over the on-rushing Friedel but unfortunately the ball lands the wrong side of the crossbar and on top of the Rovers net.

64min - Geremi has a dig from 35 yards out but the ball clears Friedel's crossbar by a good couple of feet.

62min - Bentley's obviously in the mood for it after his strike and has a go from all of 40 yards, it's not a bad effort and has Shay Given scampering across his goal with the ball skidding just inches wide of the left-hand upright.

61min - Rovers make a second substitution as Jason Roberts comes on for Benni McCarthy.

59min - Morten Gamst Pedersen replaces David Dunn.

56min - Blackburn try to clear inside the area but the ball ricochets off Samba and drops for Barton six yards from goal, the United midfielder is surrounded by Rovers shirts but manages to get a snap shot away, Friedel somehow saves from point blank range but again the ball runs free, Barton and Milner try to force it home but Friedel recovers to pounce and Blackburn survive - it's real end-to-end stuff now after what was a dull opening period.

53min - BLACKBURN GOAL (1-1): N'Zogbia impedes Santa Cruz 25 yards out and Rovers have a free-kick in a dangerous position. DAVID BENTLEY measures up and clips a delightful effort into Shay Given's top corner to level the scores.

51min - Rovers are pressing for an equaliser and Habib Beye has to hack behind for a corner after Bentley's left-wing cross was nodded down by McCarthy. It is Bentley who swaps flanks to take and Samba heads for goal but the effort is weak and bounces wide.

48min - Joey Barton is booked straight from the restart for a late challenge on Bentley.

47min - NEWCASTLE GOAL (0-1): Milner is tugged back by Emerton on the left wing and United have a free-kick. Skipper Geremi goes over to take and delivers a fantastic, whipped set-piece right onto the head of OBA MARTINS who glances home past the despairing dive of Friedel for his sixth of the season.

The Magpies get the second period underway with neither side having made any changes during the interval.

FIRST HALF ACTION

It's goalless at half-time at Ewood Park with both sides having had decent chances to open the scoring.

45+1min - It's a real let-off for the Magpies as David Rozehnal turns into trouble 40 yards out after receivng a pass from Shay Given, the Irishman is still stranded as David Bentley takes aim for the gaping net, luckily for United his strike is wayward and bounces a couple of yards wide of the visiting goal.

There will be two minutes added time.

40min - Joey Barton switches play with a driven crossfield pass for Martins, the Nigerian has just Warnock between himself and the Rovers goal and manages to work an angle for a shot before being crowded out by the recovering Ooijer and Samba and Blackburn clear.

36min - Tugay is caught in possession midway inside Rovers half as Nicky Butt steams in to steal from the Turk, Brad Friedel is on his penalty spot and Butt tries to catch out the American stopper with a delicate chip but the effort draws wide of the upright and the hosts survive as Tugay gets an ear-bashing from his Blackburn team-mates.

30min - The Geordies are starting to enjoy a period of attacking possession and a series of passes in and around the Rovers penalty area results in Martins scooping an outrageous pass in-behind the backline for Alan Smith to run onto, the Toon striker decides to shoot first time rather than take a touch but the effort loops over the crossbar much to the relief of the home crowd - that was a real opening for the visitors.

29min - It's the Magpies best chance of the half as Barton plays a clever ball in-behind Emerton for Martins to scamper after, the Nigerian retrieves and drills a low ball across goal which Blackburn fail to deal with, it eventually spins loose for Geremi who's shot is blocked by Samba, still the ball is not cleared and Barton is next to have a crack but he scuffs his right-footed effort into the ground and Friedel saves.

26min - Emerton drives Rovers forward and rather than play in McCarthy or Santa Cruz the Aussie defender chooses to shoot but his effort is always rising and doesn't trouble Shay Given.

25min - Faye is not able to return and is replaced by Stephen Carr.

22min - Newcastle are down to ten men with Faye receving treatment for a knock to his ankle. Rovers take advantage of the numerical advantage and spring an attack down the right with Bentley, the England winger decides to cross early looking for the run of McCarthy at the far post but Habib Beye reads the delivery and does well to head clear under pressure from the South African.

16min - Tugay zips a pass into the feet of McCarthy 30 yards out, the South African then flicks the ball into the path of the forward running Santa Cruz and the Paraguay striker is clean through with only Given to beat, the Irishman rushes from his line to narrow the angle and luckily for the Magpies Santa Cruz's chipped effort drifts wide of the upright and away for a goal kick.

14min - Milner has possession the left flank and slips a neat ball inside for Smith who has his back to goal 20 yards out, the striker tries to spin away from the challenge of Ooijer but the Dutchman tugs on his shirt and United have a free-kick in a dangerous position. Milner and Geremi stand over the ball and it's the young winger who has a crack but the effort lacks height and strikes the Rovers wall before being hacked clear.

9min - David Dunn nicks the ball past the sliding challenge of Nicky Butt 20 yards from goal and is caught by the United midfielder - Martin Atkinson shows no hesitation and shows Butt a yellow card. Bentley takes the resulting free-kick but Given saves comfortably in the middle of the goal.

7min - Samba comes through the back of Alan Smith on the right-hand touchline and United have a free-kick. N'Zogbia delivers and it's Smith who climbs highest to flick on, Oba Martins gives chase but Friedel is alert and races from his line to gather.

4min - Given has to show a steady pair of hands to gather David Dunn's low, driven delivery from the left with McCarthy lurking inside the six-yard area.

3min - Given gets Milner away down the left with Blackburn having commited men forward, the young winger has space to attack but tries to pick out Oba Martins hurtling into the right-hand side of the area but Milner's ball lacks direction and drifts away for a goal kick.

Blackburn get the game underway attacking the end where the magnificent Toon Army are housed.

TEAM NEWS

SAM Allardyce welcomes back Joey Barton, James Milner and Abdoulaye Faye to the Magpies starting XI for Saturday's trip to Blackburn.

The Geordies are likely to start with a 4-3-3 formation with Milner, Oba Martins and Alan Smith forming a three-pronged attack.

Faye (hamstring) returns to the defence at the expense of Jose Enrique, while Barton replaces Emre in the United midfield with Mark Viduka also dropping down to the bench.

Habib Beye reverts to the right full-back slot with Charles N'Zogbia operating on the opposite side of the Toon backline.

TEAMS

BRFC: Brad Friedel, Andre Ooijer, Christopher Samba, Stephen Warnock, Tugay, Brett Emerton, Aaron Mokoena, David Bentley, David Dunn, Benni McCarthy, Roque Santa Cruz
Subs: Jason Brown, Robbie Savage, Morten Gamst Pedersen, Steven Reid, Jason Roberts

NUFC: Shay Given, Habib Beye, Charles N'Zogbia, David Rozehnal, Abdoulaye Faye, Nicky Butt, Joey Barton, Geremi, Alan Smith, Oba Martins, James Milner
Subs: Steve Harper, Mark Viduka, Emre, Jose Enrique, Stephen Carr

Referee: Martin Atkinson
Attendance: 27, 477

FACTS AND FIGURES

Newcastle @ Ewood Park - Premiership Years

2006/07: 3-1 Martins 2, Taylor
2005/06: 3-0 Shearer, Owen, N'Zogbia
2004/05: 2-2 Dyer, Robert
2003/04: 1-1 Bellamy
2002/03: 2-5 Shearer 2
2001/02: 2-2 Shearer 2
1999/00: 2-1 Shearer 2 (FAC)
1998/99: 1-0 Saha (FAC)
1998/99: 0-0
1997/98: 0-1
1996/97: 0-1
1995/96: 1-2 Batty
1994/95: 0-1
1993/94: 2-1 Hottiger, Clark (FAC)
1993/94: 0-1

Newcastle;

Highest achievable after Saturday's matches: 10th
Lowest could fall: 11th

1. Pressing for a first win in five Premier League games.

2. Claimed one point out of the last available 12 from a 1-1 draw at Sunderland, since the 3-1 home win over Tottenham on 22 October.

3. Completed nine league games since a clean sheet; 1-0, home to Wigan on 1 September - only their second shut-out of this league campaign.

4. Without an away league maximum in five, claiming two points from a possible 15 on the road since a 1-3 victory at Bolton on the opening day of the season, 11 August.

5. The maximum at the Reebok was their only win in nine away Premier League matches.

6. Won two of 14 away matches in all competitions since last February.

7. Pursuing a 75th victory in their 277th Premier League fixture on the road.

8. Won the last two at Ewood Park

9. Two home fixtures follow this, against Arsenal on Wednesday and Birmingham on Saturday. Then pre-Christmas matches away to Fulham, and home to Derby.

Blackburn;

Highest achievable after Saturday's matches: 8th
Lowest could fall: 9th

1. Picked up two points from a last possible 12 since beating Spurs at White Hart Lane on 28 October.

2. The current tally of 23 points after 14 games is their best start since 27 points were accrued to this corresponding stage in 1997-98, when they went on to finish sixth.

3. Had four players sent-off in Premier League competition this season; more than any other club.

4. The loss to Villa on Wednesday, ended a five-game undefeated sequence in league and cup at Ewood Park.

5. Used fewer players in Premier League competition than any other club this season; only fielded 19.

6. Picked up eight Premier League points from losing positions, beating Middlesbrough (a) and Tottenham (a) and drawing with Arsenal (h) and Fulham (a). Only Arsenal have also won two and drawn two matches in which they were in arrears.

7. Unbeaten against lowly half clubs this season, winning five and drawing one of six fixtures against clubs currently in the bottom 10.

8. Won their last four Premier League fixtures against north-east clubs.

9. Already beaten by Portsmouth and Aston Villa in home league games this term.

10. This is the second of three consecutive home league fixtures. West Ham visit Ewood Park next weekend, before a trip to Wigan, a home Carling Cup quarter-final against Arsenal and a pre-Christmas league clash, home to Chelsea.

TICKET NEWS

Tickets can be bought on the day from the Darwen End Ticket Office from 1pm. £20 (adults), £10 (senior citizens), £7 (juniors - under 16). Please note that anyone wishing to buy a concessionary ticket must show proof of age before purchase.

REF WATCH

Martin Atkinson - Third time in charge of Magpies this season following 3-2 home win over Everton and 1-1 derby draw at Sunderland.

Remember, if you cannot make Blackburn on Saturday we'll have live radio commentary from Ewood Park followed by video highlights and reaction from all the key men in the Magpie camp.

Before that we will be bringing you preview interviews with Sam Allardyce and Alan Smith, as well as Damien Duff as he gives us the latest on his injury comeback.

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