JON Stead must be wondering just what all the fuss is about. Two goals, four points, and his manager drawing comparisons between him and the legendary Alan Shearer.

It's been one heck of a week for the former Huddersfield striker.

So much for struggling to make the step up from the Third Division to the Premiership!

At this rate, the new darling of the Blackburn End could be walking off with the golden boot at the end of the season.

On Saturday, a cool finish on his debut accounted for Middlesbrough at the Riverside.

Last night, a predatory strike in the Shearer mould extinguished Newcastle's hopes of securing a first ever victory at Ewood Park in the Premiership.

Graeme Souness's £1 million capture from the McAlpine has already scored as many goals in the top flight as Ciccio Grabbi mustered in two and a half years.

Stead had to pinch himself last night as the full impact of his point-saving escapades fully sunk in.

To score on his debut was a dream come true but to eclipse someone like Shearer on what could be his last ever visit to Ewood is 'Boys' Own' stuff.

The expression etched on the 20-year-old's face as he clutched onto his man of the match award at the end of this absorbing contest was a mixture of joy and sheer bewilderment.

Even in his wildest dreams, Stead's first full week as a Blackburn player could hardly have gone any better.

He might have left it late but his far post finish five minutes from time was a reward for sheer perseverance on a night when Rovers simply refused to accept they were beaten.

It's little wonder Souness could afford a wry smile as he sat back and reflected on his new arrival's latest heroics.

There were those who questioned the manager's wisdom when he plucked a player from the Third Division in a bid to avert a potential crisis.

But Souness has never been afraid of taking a punt on raw potential in the past, as Paul Gallagher and Jay McEveley will both testify.

And Stead's youthful exuberance has clearly had a rejuvenating effect on all those around him judging by the grit and determination that has underpinned the last two performances.

Whenever a striker joins a new club, it's imperative that he starts as he means to go on.

Goals are the only currency forwards deal in and the longer you go without breaking your duck at a new club, the harder life becomes, as big-money flops such as Grabbi and Kevin Davies have discovered to their cost.

However, Stead has no such worries in that department.

Brimming with confidence after plundering 18 goals in the Third Division, Rovers' latest addition has taken the step up in class firmly in his considerable stride so far.

Aside from his goals, he appears to have an assured touch for a big man.

But it's his willingness to work that has endeared him to the Blackburn faithful, as well as his new manager.

"Apart from the goal, Jon really pleased me tonight," enthused Souness.

"I think he embarrasses people with the amount of honest running he does, both for himself and his team-mates.

"If you've got that, then you've got a chance of being a player.

"That was a proper striker's finish for the goal.

"Dare I say it, he was like Alan Shearer in terms of when the ball left Gally's foot, he was always going to make sure it ended up in the back of the net."

In a game where the momentum swung from one team to the other, it was Rovers who dominated the first half only for the Magpies to wrestle back control in the second.

But the arrival of Paul Gallagher from the substitute's bench was a pivotal moment and the 19-year-old cast his spell in the closing stages by supplying the cross for Stead's late equaliser.

Aside from the two young guns up front, it was the contributions of Markus Babbel and Andy Todd, the two old heads at the back, which proved instrumental in securing a hard-earned point.

Shearer rarely looked like ending his recent goal-drought and it was Craig Bellamy, rather than the former England captain, who ultimately posed the biggest threat.

In fact, Bellamy could have opened his account for the night inside the opening three minutes when he sprung the offside trap and raced through the middle but Brad Friedel made himself look big and blocked the shot.

After that, it was all Rovers for a 20-minute spell and Shay Given really should have been made to work harder than he did.

Michael Gray, who was a constant source of danger on the left, slipped a clever ball through to Andy Cole but the striker's shot was beaten away by Given at his near post.

Then Cole scuffed another effort horribly wide following determined work by the industrious Brett Emerton.

If that was a howler then Babbel was guilty of missing an even simpler chance minutes later when he headed wide from an Emerton cross.

As the half wore on, Newcastle began to pose more of a threat as an attacking force and Friedel showed lightning reflexes to deny both Shearer and Gary Speed.

But still the chances kept coming at the opposite end and still Rovers' finishing let them down.

Clever prompting by Cole created an opening for Stead but he opted for a cross instead of a shot and when the ball eventually arrived back at Cole, his follow up effort was blocked on the line by Titus Bramble.

By now, Rovers must have been wondering what they had to do to score and Emerton heightened those feelings of frustration when he raced through and squandered yet another glorious opportunity on the stroke of half-time.

Bobby Robson no doubt had some harsh words to say to his players at half-time as they emerged with more purpose after the break.

Within seven minutes of the re-start, they had made the all-important breakthrough.

Babbel, who was otherwise immaculate, allowed a long throw from Laurent Robert to bounce in the box and as Friedel challenged Shearer, the ball dropped kindly for Bellamy to hook a shot into the roof of the net.

From then on, Newcastle took a firm grip on proceedings and it was difficult to see where an equaliser would come from.

However, Gallagher's arrival from the bench injected more urgency into the home side and he was instrumental in laying on the equaliser for Stead with five minutes remaining.

Babbel's pass dissected the Magpies' rearguard and Gallagher's low cross was expertly squeezed home from the tightest of angles by Stead, who was loitering with intent at the far post.

ROVERS 1

Scorer: Stead 85

NEWCASTLE 1

Scorer: Bellamy 52

Ewood Park Att: 23,459