Match report: Newcastle United 0 Blackburn Rovers 1

Charlie Mulgrew’s first goal in Rovers colours proved decisive, as his 75th minute strike was the only goal of the game as the visitors upset the league leaders.

It was a resilient and disciplined display throughout from Rovers who were good value for their victory against the side who were chasing a club record 10th consecutive win.

Owen Coyle named an unchanged team for the visit to St James’ Park, though there were places on the bench for Marvin Emnes, back from injury, and Hope Akpan who was back from a one-match ban.

The manager would have been encouraged by his side’s start to the game. Liam Feeney was behind that bright start as he enjoyed plenty of joy down the Rovers right in the opening stages.

After just four minutes he crossed from the right, with Danny Graham’s looping header requiring a fingertip save from Karl Darlow, which would turn out to the closest either side would go in a tight opening 45 minutes.

Graham was also the intended target for Feeney’s 13th minute cross as Rovers broke, but it was just ahead of the striker, and Sam Gallagher who was looking to make up the yards at the far post.

Newcastle, despite making six changes, still possessed plenty of quality going forward howver.  One of their changes, Ajose Perez, saw a 14th minute shot deflected just wide off Derrick Williams, while Jason Steele was also quick off his line to deny Perez moments before.

The midway point of the first-half was reached without too many alarms for Rovers as the game went in to something of a lull.

Indeed, it took until the half hour mark for Newcastle to get in behind Rovers.  MItrovic held off Williams and slipped it through to Perez whose cutback towards Atsu in the six yard box looked set to put the hosts infront.  However, the visitors got bodies back and managed to smother the ball wide of Steele’s left-hand post as they survived their first real scare.

Another effort soon followed, but DeAndre Yedlin’s volley, after Rovers had cleared a Ritchie set play, skimmed off the turf and wide of Steele’s post.

Gallagher and Graham were having plenty of joy in the air against the Newcastle central defensive pairing, but their knock-downs weren’t quite falling for team-mates as their wait for another chance went on.

It was from a ball in that Newcastle looked to threaten next, but despite a spectacular overhead kick, Mitrovic could only find row 20, rather than the net, as Rovers held out until half-time.

That was only after seeing out several set pieces, as Jonjo Shelvey and Matt Ritchie had several opportunities from corners to deliver quality late in the half, but Rovers were dealing with that particular threat well as they went in to the break deservedly level.

Christian Atsu had Newcastle’s best chance of the first-half, and he was to waste another good opportunity just four minutes in to the second period.  Ajoze Perez’s deep cross found his team-mate unmarked at the far post, but he could only tamely volley wide.  That was followed by another effort wide of Steele’s post, this time from Isaac Hayden on 51 minutes as he tried his luck from 25 yards as he found room in the middle of the pitch.

There was a break in play of around four minutes as Jose Gamez was stretchered off the pitch to be replaced by Paul Dummett in the 55th minute.

Dummett wasn’t brought on for his attacking prowess, but he played a big part in Newcastle’s next chance just three minutes after coming on.  Atsu got free down the left, and after feeding the left-back, his cross found Matt Ritchie coming in off the opposite flank, but he couldn’t keep his volley down as Steele watched it over the bar.

Rovers were frustrating the hosts, but made a change up top just after the hour mark, as the returning Emnes replaced Gallagher in attack.

The Swansea loanee almost had an immediate impact as he linked up well with Graham in the 64th minute.  He controlled  his strike partner’s nod-down, but after working a yard of space on his left foot, could only drag his effort wide of the post.

Jason Steele had been relatively untroubled in the Rovers goal, but that would change either side of the 70th minute as he kept his side in the game with two smart saves.

The first saw him turn behind a dipping Jojo Shelvey volley as Mulgrew’s clearing header could only find the midfielder 30 yards out.

And from the resulting corner, Ciaran Clark missed a glorious chance to put Newcastle in front.  He find himself with the ball at his feet inside the six yard box after a mis-hit Perez shot, but Steele was down quickly to diver the ball behind.

So how relieved the stopper will have been to see Mitrovic fire over moments later when he pulled down a Ritchie cross and shot goalwards after holding off Marshall.

With 15 minutes to go, Rovers were to shock St James’ Park and take the lead.  Charlie Mulgrew was the unlikely scorer, getting his foot to a Liam Feeney cross as Rovers worked a short corner to divert the ball beyond Darlow.

That came after a succession of Rovers corner, and another shortly afterwards saw Danny Graham get to the ball first, but he got too much contact to it, as the ball flashed past Darlow’s post.

With five minutes remaining, the hosts sent on the league’s top scorer, Dwight Gayle, but it was Rovers who would threaten next.

Danny Graham did well to hold up the ball, and after setting up Marvin Emnes, the Dutchman saw his effort deflected behind, moments before Corry Evans would also see an effort deflected behind.

And as the clocked ticked down, it was actually Rovers who were enjoying the better of the chances.  Emnes again found himself in space as Newcastle failed to clear a corner, and after cutting inside his man, the forward found the side  netting with his effort.

Six additional minutes indicated by the fourth official got the home crowd behind their side once again, and they would see Dwight Gayle fire over in the first of those minutes as he met Matt Ritchie’s right-wing delivery.

A frantic few moments followed, but Rovers held on to make it back-to-back wins.