The Ewood faithful were treated to a seven goal thriller as Rovers took all three points against Newcastle...read how the action unfolded.

Referee, A Wiley, gets the game under way with Rovers kicking off toward the Darwen end.

It's a quick start by Rovers Gillespie is played on the six yard box - Given comes rushing out, Gillespie chips and it's nearly 1-0 within a minute.

Rovers are on the attack its a good cross aimed at Dunn, Given collects but spills it to Yorke who shoots - but its hand ball and a penalty.

Dunn sets up and scores, 1-0 to Rovers

5 mins gone and not only are Newcastle down by a goal they are also down to 10 men after Dabizas was sent off his penalty hand ball.

The Magpies are quick to respond with a wicked shot from outside the 18 yard box - it swings late and Friedel can only punch it away.

This could become a cricket score as Dunn gets his second of the afternoon, 2-0 to Rovers.

Egil was played throw down the right his path was blocked but the ball came to Thompson who cut inside and then the ball off the Dunn who had plenty of room to slot the ball home.

10 mins gone and the Newcastle defence are having a nightmare as Yorke gets the ball and is given plenty of room to shoot and nearly get Rovers third.

Newcastle venture into the Rovers half and get a free kick but its wasted - they get the ball back again and run at the Rovers defence - who forget their job role and are lucky to force a corner.

The corner is easily dealt with a long cross field ball is played to Yorke who is fouled - the free kick is played to the back post but its out for a corner - which is wasted.

Rovers attack again it out wide to Thompson who crosses to Yorke - he heads down and Given makes a solid save - an inch or two wider and Yorke would have made 3-0.

20 mins gone 2-0 to Rovers and the Newcastle fans are getting worried

Again Rovers make the extra man advantage play as Flitcroft crosses from the left - but again Newcastle force the corner - it comes to nothing.

Rovers keep up the attack, Neill plays a one tow with Dunn but is fouled by Speed, who gets a yellow card.

The free kick is swung in by Thompson but there's pushing in the box and Newcastle get the free kick.

Newcastle push forward but without much success - they are clearly missing their 11th man.

30 mins gone 2-0 Rovers, as they continue to press it can only be a matter of time before Rovers make it 3-0 and Dunn takes the match ball home

This time Gillespie doesn't cross from the right but cuts in past two defenders but more are back and he try's to chip Given - but there wasn't enough room.

Dunn is fouled on the half-way line, he's down and out for the count - he gets to his feet holding his jaw for treatment on the sideline, but he's soon back on the pitch.

The ball is crossed into Shearer who jumps with Neill, Shearer falls to the ground and gets what he was looking for - 9.6 and a penalty.

Shearer steps up and it's 2-1 to Rovers with 5 minutes left of the first half.

Rovers go on the attack straight away with Gillespie down the right - he is brought down and needs attention, the exchanges between the teams heats up and the ref steps in.

Berg plays an excellent ball wide to Yorke who heads to Thompson but it's a bit too strong and Newcastle survive.

Newcastle get a free kick which is fired at Friedel sees it late pushes it over the bar - the resulting Newcastle corner is wasted and Rovers come away with the ball.

With 3 minutes of extra time Rovers look to maintain their advantage at the break, this allows Newcastle to push forward.

Half time 2-1 to Rovers

Newcastle get the second half underway - no changes made at half time.

It's a slow re-start with neither side seeming too happy to have left the warm dressing rooms.

Gillespie gives away a free kick which is delivered straight into the box, it's scrambled clear by Neill for a corner - its swung wide and Shearer is there to head home Newcastle's equaliser.

If things continue like this Rovers will only have themselves to blame if they don't make the extra man pay and take the three points.

Rovers respond and Gillespie forces a corner - it's swung in and finds its way out to Dunn, but he can only find row Z.

Newcastle attack and get a free kick - but it's straight at Friedel. Rovers counter with Egil all he has to do is cross to Yorke and it's 3-1 but the Newcastle defence get in the way.

Rovers have a corner, again it finds it way out to Dunn this time he hits a player the ball goes out to Taylor - he controls shoots and it is 3-1 to Rovers.

60 mins gone and Rovers, who were clearly rattled by Newcastle's second, have pulled together and look like they will take all the points.

As the rain the falls at Ewood the play is non stop with Rovers and Newcastle having good chances, only to be caught offside

Rovers try to settle things down with some good passing in midfield, unfortunately Yorke is not getting the final ball he wants.

It is Rovers day as they go 4-2 in a bizarre manner. The ball is cross deep to Gillespie who heads back into Yorke, he's blocked by the keeper and a defender but somehow the ball crosses the line.

Immediately Rovers make a change Tugay comes on for Yorke and Matt Jansen comes onto a standing ovation, for Gillespie.

15 mins to go and Rovers would be stupid to give away the three points now - 4-2 to Rovers.

It's wide to Dunn who cuts back in and plays an excellent ball to Jansen - he's in loads of space but can't quite make a dream first team return as he shoots straight at Given.

Rovers continue to push forward looking for their fifth - and they get it. Taylor grabs his second of the day from a corner wiped in by Thompson.

As Newcastle make a double change the Rovers fans up the volume and get 'stuck into' the opposition.

Rovers make their final change Grabbi, comes on for Egil.

The three fresh pairs of legs continue to push the Newcastle defence - clearly 5 goals isn't good enough.

With just under 10 mins to play Newcastle make there final change, surely a mere formality as it would a miracle for them to come back.

Again Jansen looks for a dream return as Dunn plays him in, but its blocked - it may take more than 30 minutes to blow the cobwebs away.

3 mins to go and Grabbi nearly makes it 6 with a curling shot which goes just wide of the post - Given was beaten.

Almost straight away Dunn try's for his hat-trick, but his thunderous shot is somehow blocked - whoever did block it will have a bruise in the morning.

2 mins of extra time to be played and Rovers slow the pace down - the three points are in the bag.

Full time 5-2 to Rovers, Souness has to happy with that result, especially when some of the bigger names where missing - Martin Taylor gets man of the match.

Todays teams;

Rovers - Friedel, Neill, Flitcroft, Dunn, Johansson, Gillespie, Yorke, Thompson, Taylor, Ostenstad, Berg (Subs: Tugay, Jansen, Grabbi, Curtis, Kelly)

Magpies - Given, Solano, O'Brien, Jenas, Shearer, Bellamy, Speed, Griffin, Hughes, Robert, Dabizas (Subs: Bramble, Ameobi, bernard, Viana, Harper)