Blackburn steal victory from Magpies

Newcastle 0 Blackburn 1

Newcastle’s Champions League credentials were ripped up by teenager Paul Gallagher as Blackburn snatched all three points at St James’ Park.

The 19-year-old struck 18 minutes from time with a scrappy goal which he bundled home with his hand to settle a game which might have gone either way.

Rovers worked hard throughout to stifle a lacklustre Newcastle, who could not break down the visitors.

They had chances with Blackburn goalkeeper Brad Friedel making a series of good saves but Newcastle’s St James’ Park dominance of old now seems a distant memory.

Having taken two points from their last two games at Charlton and Leicester Newcastle needed a victory to enhance their Champions League hopes.

With Craig Bellamy, Shola Ameobi and Carl Cort injured, Lomana LuaLua struggling at Leicester and potential auxiliary striker Kieron Dyer still out with a bug, Robson decided the time was right to give Michael Chopra his chance.

Chopra, who celebrated his 20th birthday on December 23, was selected to line up alongside Alan Shearer in attack for his first Newcastle start.

He could have made himself an instant hero two minutes before half-time when he tapped home Nolberto Solano’s cross.

However, the offside flag which had been raised.

Newcastle showed flashes of the irresistible attacking form which has characterised their play in recent seasons, but rekindled memories of some of their darker days with a shaky defensive display in the opening 45 minutes.

Gallagher flicked a Lucas Neill cross over with five minutes gone as the Australian made the most of the space he was given down the right.

However, despite former Magpie Andy Cole and Gallagher making nuisances of themselves throughout, it was Friedel, once on the books at St James’ Park, who was the busier goalkeeper.

After seven minutes he dived to his left to palm away a rising Jermaine Jenas shot, and he got down well to his right on 21 minutes to repel a downward header from Shearer.

The American was at his best again 10 minutes before the break when Laurent Robert capitalised on an error by left-back Vratislav Gresko to fire across goal, and although Newcastle finished the half in top gear, they could not force the breakthrough.

Rovers had earlier lost Scotland international midfielder Barry Ferguson with a dislocated knee after a clash with Gary Speed, but they started the second half at a gallop with Gallagher a thorn in the Newcastle side.

Robert took aim from 30 yards with a 54th-minute free-kick after Andy Todd had ploughed through Chopra, but although he got his effort on target, Friedel was again equal to the task.

Shay Given had to react smartly two minutes later after Gallagher turned smartly and laid a perfect ball into the path of Cole, the former Blackburn goalkeeper racing from his line to get a vital touch before Titus Bramble and Olivier Bernard arrived to help out.

Cole went wide with a glancing header from a Brett Emerton cross on the hour, but the home side were gradually turning up the temperature and Friedel saved well from Solano on 65 minutes after Robert had injected some pace into the game.

Chopra, who had rather retreated into his shell, had a glorious opportunity to cap his debut with a goal on 70 minutes after being played in by Robert, but Friedel saved easily and the youngster’s afternoon came to an end seconds later when he and Solano were replaced by Darren Ambrose and LuaLua.

Robson’s best-laid plans were blown apart within two minutes when the Newcastle defence failed to handle Cole in the box and the ball fell to Emerton, who crossed to the far post for Gallagher to bundle home with his hand.

Only a goal-line clearance by O’Brien denied Cole a second three minutes later after Bramble had sold Given short with a header, but it was one of those afternoons for the Magpies.

Robson’s men battered away as time ran down, but lacked the craft to break down a solid defence and Robson’s men left the pitch to boos.