Blackburn 3, Newcastle 1

Dec 2 2007 by Neil Farrington, Sunday Sun

IF this defeat comes to be used in evidence against Sam Allardyce, he can claim rough justice.

For this, while a hammer blow to his hopes of arresting Newcastle’s slide down the table, provided scant proof that he has lost his players.

But for two moments of brilliance from David Bentley, United may well have won yesterday – and won handsomely.

In the end, rather than a side no longer playing for their manager, they paid the price for chasing victory too hard.

Spirit was not wanting here. Nor, Allardyce’s ardent critics take note, did tactics play a big part in defeat.

Luck – and defensive composure – were what the Magpies lacked.

After a first half so short on incident that it felt as long as a lifetime, the second period was so action-packed that it flew by.

Obafemi Martins took less than 90 seconds after the restart to nod Newcastle ahead, only for the impetuosity of Charles N’Zogbia to give Bentley the chance to display his dead-ball expertise.

His clinical free kick contrasted with the failure of Joey Barton and Martins to convert glorious chances to restore United’s lead.

And even after Bentley had made the most of the run of the ball to fire Blackburn ahead, Newcastle never stopped believing – or pressing.

Ultimately though, despite claims for a second-half penalty, the visitors paid the price for going all-out for victory – and redemption for the farce of a week before.

Tugay’s injury-time goal flattered Blackburn and, coming on the back of another three-goal setback, may yet be used to insult Allardyce.

But this defeat bore little other resemblance to the Liverpool debacle, and 6000-plus travelling fans knew it.

Magnificent throughout, they refused to turn on team – Joey Barton included – or manager after the final whistle. The opposite, in fact.

Whatever becomes of Allardyce, those fans can attest to him being hard done by in this game.

You want further proof? Try losing Abdoulaye Faye to injury barely 24 minutes after welcoming him back from injury.

With Faye, Barton and Milner in – Emre, Luis Enrique and Mark Viduka dropped – Allardyce made his own comment on United’s previous “performance”.

And it was clear his players knew they owed their fans a debt – the early bruises sported by several Blackburn players, proof as much.

There was assurance about Newcastle in possession too, although a wayward shot by Habib Beye was their only early effort on goal.

True, the defensive wounds left by Liverpool were all too easily opened up when Roque Santa Cruz marched clean through on Shay Given, only to lift his finish well wide.

And Faye swiftly compounded Allardyce’s concerns by hobbling off.

But United absorbed those blows well, and came back swinging themselves.

Martins found space on the left of the box, but saw Milner, Geremi and Barton all fail to make meaningful contact with his cross.

Then he played an impudent one-two with Alan Smith to offer his partner-for-the-day a better chance than he realised – volleying hurriedly over when he had more time.

And when Butt forced a scrambling save from Friedel – after seeing the keeper off his line – Newcastle had the initiative.

But it would have counted for nothing had David Rozehnal and Given not got lucky again.

Having rushed from goal to deal with a long ball, Given played a risky pass to Rozehnal, who turned straight into the path of Bentley.

But the England midfielder could not find the empty target from 40 yards.

It that appeared a decent chance at the time, it was made to look a glaring miss by Martins’ early second-half opener.

Milner won a free kick wide on the left, and from Geremi’s inswinging cross, Martins – played onside by Brett Emerton – glanced home a header.

Cue a loss of composure by Blackburn which may ultimately have done Newcastle few favours.

Sensing their hosts were badly shaken, United went gung-ho.

It would have paid off had N’Zogbia not wrongly been ruled offside before crossing for an unmarked Martins.

But when play switched to the other end, a frustrated N’Zogbia brought down Santa Cruz just outside the box.

If the scenario was tailor-made for Bentley, his free kick was Rolls-Royce – curled around the wall and into the top right-hand corner as Given looked on.

Yet even then, Newcastle came again.

Barton will still not know how he was denied in a dizzying goalmouth scramble.

Having charged down Chris Samba’s clearance, he saw one shot blocked by Friedel, then repeated efforts to force home the rebound somehow blocked by desperate defenders.

Soon afterwards, with Friedel in no man’s land, Martins nodded over an empty net.

So to then go behind was perhaps the bitterest pill Allardyce had yet swallowed.

After Rozehnal could only push the ball to Santa Cruz, Carr nicked it away from the South American, but only into the path of Bentley.

Not that there was anything lucky about his subsequent strike – arrowed in off the left-hand post from some 20 yards.

And it did set up a rip-roaring finale.

Viduka came on only to see fellow Aussie Emerton hit the inside of a post.

Geremi appeared to block Santa Cruz’s follow-up effort with his hand – the first of a couple of late flashpoints.

The second of them, when Emerton brought down a high ball with his arm in his own box, also went ignored.

Given then denied Rovers substitute Jason Roberts. Milner saw a goalbound strike charged down. Pedersen headed inches wide.

By now, the game was ridiculously stretched, rendering Rovers’ third goal almost insignificant.

And, again, it owed something to fortune.

Rozehnal challenged Roberts, only for the ball to break for Tugay to slot past Given from 15 yards.

And so United were beaten again.

But, this time, they didn’t look down and out.