Souness 'relieved' after first win
Souness has insisted he has not felt under extra pressure despite his side's failure to win any of their first five matches. And even the emphatic victory over the 3-0 win over his former club sealed by goals from Alan Shearer, Michael Owen and Charles N'Zogbia changes nothing in relation to his long-term tenure, he believes.
"Security is not something that goes hand-in-hand with football management and that is a word I have never used and never will. We are at a big football club and we have to be in the top half of the table. We spent a lot of money this year and I have said all along I want to be judged on what happens on the pitch.
"It means I will be more pleasant around my family but the pressure starts again tomorrow when we come in for training and build up to the Manchester City game."
Souness hailed Owen, whose powerful 68th-minute header effectively sealed the points for his new side just five minutes after Shearer's rocketing free-kick blazed past Brad Friedel.
"It is great for Michael to get off the mark and he needed that 90 minutes today to be somewhere nearer where he wants to be. It was the first week we have had to train with him because of the internationals but I don't think anyone is surprised that Michael scored a goal today."
Souness conceded his side had hardly looked convincing in a dull first period in which chances for his own side were at a premium. But he believes their first three-point haul will do the Magpies' confidence the world of good and drag them closer to the right end of the Premiership table.
"I thought it was a nervy affair until we scored the first goal because it was two teams aware of the situation. Confidence plays such a big part and some people need a great deal of it and some get by with not a lot. I felt when we scored we started to play with a lot more confidence and we were passing it around."
Newcastle had to play the last 18 minutes with 10 men after Steven Taylor picked up a second yellow but N'Zogbia calmed any nerves with a strike five minutes from time.
"I will have to look at the sending-off again but I am obviously relieved to come here and get three points," said Souness, who shook hands with all the Rovers players, including Craig Bellamy, after the game.
"I don't bear grudges - I've got fond memories of being here and this club was very good for me."
Rovers boss Mark Hughes insisted the scoreline did scant justice to his side's performance and rued two free-kick misses in the first half.
"We felt we were very much in the game and more likely to win up to the point of their goal. We just needed a break at the right time and it wasn't forthcoming and then you are always likely to get nicked at the other end.
"The first goal changed the game and the size of the defeat hurts because I don't think it was ever a 3-0 defeat.
"We're scratching our heads really but if we'd had a bit more belief in some of our play I feel we'd have won the game quite comfortably - we just needed a break and if one of those free-kicks had gone in things might have been different."
Hughes singled out Bellamy for special praise as he harried the visitors' defence in his first action since the opening day of the season.
"Craig kept going and had another 90 minutes so he will be better for that, and if there are any positives to take out of it it is probably that."
: Alan Shearer has seven goals in 11 league games against Blackburn since leaving his former club.
: Blackburn have failed to score in four consecutive Premiership games for just the second time.
: Friedel, Neill, Khizanishvili, Nelsen, Gresko (Jansen 76), Savage, Mokoena (Tugay 67), Reid, Pedersen, Bentley (Kuqi 67), Bellamy.
: Given, Carr, Boumsong, Taylor, Babayaro, Faye, Bowyer, Clark, N'Zogbia, Shearer (Bramble 74), Owen.
: M Riley (W Yorkshire).
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