I KNOW it's the season of goodwill but the amount of space and time given to Boro on Boxing Day stretched things a bit.

Not only did we manage to 'entertain' Middlesbrough with another dire performance but we made Juninho look like a good player again.

Not since 1997 has the Brazilian looked a world beater but we turned back the clock for him.

What I couldn't understand was that after scoring and hitting the post from two early corners we then decided to take them short?

Not only that, but we stopped getting crosses in altogether and played without width.

Thank goodness we resorted back to Plan A in the last minute to snatch a point that was certainly not deserved.

The significance of that goal should not be forgotten as, not only did it save us from losing, it set us up for the next game in better heart.

St James' Park is never an easy place to go to but it's even harder if you've lost the last three games.

And so it proved as Rovers played without inhibition. I don't know if it's the atmosphere (or should I say lack of it) at Ewood that stifles the players but we always seem to perform better away. Also, our style of play is better suited to hitting teams on the break.

Having said that, it always helps when the team has balance and it was this that I believe made the crucial difference.

For a change, there were no 'square pegs in round holes' and all the players looked comfortable in their positions.

When we attacked we had width and when we defended the wide men 'tucked in' and denied Newcastle space.

And then when a bit of luck is needed we finally get it. Forget the 'hand of God', we've got the 'hand of Gally'! A peach of a right hand delivered a knockout punch that the Geordies couldn't recover from.

It could certainly be argued that the goal shouldn't have stood, but it can't be argued that we didn't deserve the win.

Babbel was immense and had Shearer in his pocket, Emerton looked more like the player we hoped he would be and then there's Gallagher. His touch and link up play was tremendous and with every game he looks the business. Can you imagine the tabloid hysteria that would be whipped up now if he didn't play for homely little Blackburn?

On a sadder note, the gloss was taken off the result somewhat by the injury to Ferguson. here's hoping for a full and speedy recovery.

We're now set up nicely for the cup game at Birmingham. I hope that we treat this game with the utmost respect and don't save players for the league games.