A tale of the unexpected

One point from a possible six over Christmas left Graeme Souness feeling greener than The Grinch as he contemplated a bleak mid-winter fighting a desperate battle against relegation.

Then suddenly out of nowhere Rovers dug deep to produce their best performance of the season so far to stun a Newcastle team with genuine aspirations of a place in the Champions League.

Sometimes the game of football simply defies all logic.

In the past, St James's Park has been something of a graveyard for Blackburn Rovers.

In fact, in the last 73 years, Rovers had won only once in their previous 32 league visits.

But a display brimming with New Year's resolution ensured that record came grinding to a halt thanks to a lucky 'strike' from promising young forward Paul Gallagher.

It was the kind of result and performance that should have left Souness with a grin as broad as the Tyne.

But sadly a serious injury to Barry Ferguson took the gloss off what was an otherwise excellent afternoon's work.

Ferguson's challenge on Gary Speed midway through the first half looked innocuous but it soon became apparent by the look of sheer distress on Souness's face that the midfielder's injury was far more serious than first thought.

Those fears were later confirmed when it was revealed that the former Rangers star had sustained a broken kneecap which will keep him out for the remainder of the season and possibly beyond.

Just how costly that may prove to be only time will tell.

But if Rovers go on to show the same levels of commitment and resolve as they did here in the second half between now and May then they shouldn't have any fears in regard to avoiding the drop.

Just what is it about Rovers' Jekyll and Hyde character?

How can the same group of players perform so miserably at home against Aston Villa and Middlesbrough and then travel to places such as Old Trafford, Highbury and St James' and match some of the best sides in the land?

Maybe Souness should get his players to board a coach and take a quick spin around the block before they next run out at Ewood because the team that performs so purposefully away is positively unrecognisable compared to the one that looks so jittery at home.

Impregnable at the back, inventive in midfield, and, most importantly, threatening up front, there was a steely determination coursing right through the team, which has been sadly missing in recent weeks.

Souness decided to ring the changes following the Boxing Day draw with Middlesbrough, so out went Garry Flitcroft, Dwight Yorke, Nissa Johansson and Martin Taylor and in came Andy Cole, Alan Mahon, Tugay and Vratislav Gresko.

That meant Markus Babbel, Rovers' two-goal hero against Boro, reverted to a more central role alongside Andy Todd in the centre of defence and that partnership was to prove the bedrock for a landmark victory as Alan Shearer barely got a sniff of a chance against his former club.

Cole's alliance with Paul Gallagher up front was also crucial on the day as the pair never gave the Magpies' defence a moment's peace.

Rovers created the game's first meaningful chance in the fifth minute.

Cole fed Lucas Neill out on the right and the full-back's cross found Gallagher, who was lurking at the near post, but his first-time flick looped just over the bar.

Newcastle's response was almost immediate as Jermaine Jenas pounced on a lay-off from Alan Shearer and unleashed a snap-shot from the edge of the box that Brad Friedel did well to turn around his post.

Unperturbed, Rovers continued to press forward with real zest and a free-kick from Ferguson arced just wide of Shay Given's left-hand post.

Then Mahon sent Cole away with a clever header but the former Newcastle player failed to pack enough venom in his shot to beat Given.

With Shearer prowling menacingly at the opposite end, however, Rovers knew they couldn't afford to switch off for a second.

Friedel had to come to the rescue with a scrambling save to his right after the former England captain got in a downward header from a right-wing centre.

Then the visitors were dealt a devastating blow in the 27th minute when Ferguson went into a crunching tackle with Speed on the halfway line and collapsed to the ground in agony.

It became apparent his injury was serious and the sight of him disappearing down the tunnel on a stretcher was a sickening set-back for Souness, who was forced to throw on Flitcroft as his midfield replacement.

In the meantime, the Magpies continued to press forward as Friedel saved smartly from Laurent Robert, Shearer headed over, a Michael Chopra 'goal' was ruled out by an offside flag, and another Speed effort flew over the bar.

The early momentum remained with United after the break as Robert tried his luck from distance on a couple of occasions.

Then the industrious Gallagher very nearly engineered an opening goal for Rovers with a sublime turn and pass to release Cole but Given was alert to the danger and nipped the ball off the striker's toes.

As the half wore on, Friedel was called into action again, this time saving low to his left from Solano after Robert had drifted in from the left.

Bobby Robson finally reached the end of his tether and decided to replace Solano and Chopra with Darren Ambrose and Lomana Lualua but, within 60 seconds of their introduction, Rovers made the all-important breakthrough.

Cole chased a hopeful through-ball from Neill into the area and he appeared to be pushed by Olivier Bernard.

However, the referee, Mark Halsey, waved play on and Bernard's tame clearance fell straight to Emerton who delivered a pin-point cross to the far post where Gallagher was lurking to bundle it over the line.

Television replays later showed he had clearly used his hand to divert the ball goal-wards but by then it was too late.

Newcastle were reeling and, as they struggled to regain their composure, Rovers had further chances to make the points safe.

Andy O'Brien produced a magnificent goal-line clearance to deny Cole his 250th career goal after Titus Bramble had sold Given short with an attempted backpass.

Then another raid saw the Magpies out-numbered four to one at the back but Emerton let them off the hook when he pulled his low cross behind three in-rushing team-mates.

In the closing stages, Newcastle threw everything forward in a desperate attempt to snatch a point from the fire.

But Rovers held firm to prove there's life in the old dog yet.

NEWCASTLE UNITED 0

ROVERS 1

Gallagher 72