Newcastle v Blackburn 14/09/96 3.00Newcastle (1) 2 Blackburn (0) 1 FT Shearer 45 (pen) Sutton 85 Ferdinand 61 Alan Shearer kept his pre-match promise and inspired Newcastle to a 2-1 victory over his struggling former club Blackburn at St James' Park. Shearer had vowed not to show any mercy against second-from-bottom Rovers and proved true to his word by scoring Newcastle's first from the penalty spot and laying on a second for strike partner Les Ferdinand. Chris Sutton threw Rovers a lifeline when he pulled a goal back five minutes from time but Newcastle held on to record their fourth successive win and leave Rovers with just one point from six games. Battling Blackburn had succeeded in frustrating Newcastle until referee Keith Burge decided Colin Hendry had handled Ferdinand's nod down just before half-time and Shearer stepped up to beat Tim Flowers from the spot. Blackburn fought back strongly at the start of the second-half but Shearer, facing Rovers for the first time since his £15million summer move to Newcastle, crushed their revival on the hour. 
The England captain met David Ginola's corner with a downward header and Ferdinand applied the finishing touch to take his goals tally to five in four games. Shearer had warned Newcastle that Blackburn should not be underestimated, pointing to their 2-2 draw against Manchester United as evidence of their willingness to battle away from home. The warning proved well founded as a well-organised and highly competitive Blackburn side frustrated Newcastle by getting men behind the ball and making it difficult for the home side to break them down. Shearer alone threatened to pierce Blackburn's determined defence and he found his former team-mate Tim Flowers in fine form. A Newcastle free kick just outside the box was an invitation Shearer couldn't resist but his fiercely-struck low shot was tipped round the post by a diving Flowers. Peter Beardsley's thoughtful pass carved out a half chance for Shearer and, from a narrow angle, his low shot forced Flowers to produce a reflex save at his near post. Blackburn looked to break quickly when the opportunity arose and Pavel Srnicek had to move quickly off his line to deny Lars Bohinen. Newcastle's frustration mounted as the half wore on and Blackburn looked certain to reach the interval on level terms. But referee Burge had other ideas, deciding Ferdinand's header had been handled by Hendry a minute from the break. Chris Coleman and Bohinen were booked for leading the furious Blackburn protests but when calm was restored Shearer was coolness personified as he tucked his spot kick into the bottom right corner for his third goal of the season. Blackburn rallied strongly at the start of the second-half and Newcastle's fans, mindful that their team had surrendered the lead to lose against Sheffield Wednesday in the last home league game, were becoming increasingly restless. 
But Newcastle managed to rouse themselves and John Beresford volleyed just wide when Ferdinand's lay-off from Steve Watson's cross gave him time to line up a shot from just outside the box. A flurry of home pressure paid off on the hour when Shearer headed down David Ginola's right-wing corner and Ferdinand applied the final touch the ball squeezing into the net of Tim Flowers' left-hand post. Newcastle had the bit between their teeth now and Rob Lee twice went close to increasing their lead. Flowers parried one effort and a second, following a neat turn on the right edge of the box, flashed just wide of the far post. Blackburn looked well beaten but Sutton gave them hope with a well-struck right-foot shot from 20 yards which crept inside Srnicek's right-hand post with five minutes remaining. Newcastle were suddenly facing an anxious closing spell but they held their nerve to take the three points. 
Newcastle: (4-3-3) Srnicek, Watson, Beresford, Peacock, Howey, Batty, Lee (Gillespie, 81), Beardsley (Clark, 81), Ginola, Shearer, Ferdinand (Asprilla, 73). Subs not used: Albert, Hislop. Blackburn: (4-4-2) Flowers, Coleman, Kenna, Sherwood (Fenton, 79), Hendry, Berg, Gallacher, Bohinen, Flitcroft (McKinlay, 66), Donis (Ripley, 66), Sutton. Subs not used: Pearce, Given. Booked: Coleman, Flitcroft, Bohinen. Attendance: 36,424. Referee: K Burge (Tonypandy). |
