He's a Shear nuisance!

The former darling of the Blackburn End became the toast of the Toon after his second half double-whammy secured United's place in next season's Champions League at the end of another pulsating night at Ewood.

Twice Rovers took the lead courtesy of goals from United old-boys Keith Gillespie and Andy Cole only for Shearer to strike back with typically predatory equalisers in the 63rd and 71st minutes.

And that result means Rovers are still not mathematically safe from relegation even though this hard-earned point ensured Ipswich now have to win all of their remaining three games to stand any chance of overhauling Graeme Souness's side.

Shearer -- the Premiership's all-time leading scorer -- found the net a staggering 130 times in 165 appearances for Rovers during four 'goal-den' seasons in the 1990s.

And he showed he's lost none of that magic touch with two further additions to his Premiership collection to mark a triumphant return to his old stamping ground.

"He's a nuisance isn't he?" said Rovers boss Graeme Souness.

"Alan Shearer scored again to show just what a top man he is.

"We were happy when he got his 200th goal on Saturday but then he goes and gets two more against us.

"We've got two big strapping centre halves and at times he messed them about, which doesn't happen on too many occasions.

"Normally, it's people with quick, sharp, movement who cause our two problems but I've not seen anyone else mess them around physically like he did.

"But then Alan Shearer is a special case and he proved again tonight that he's still a real handful."

Newcastle came to Ewood with an appalling record in the Premiership as they looked for the point they required to cement a top four finish.

They had failed to taste victory on any of their previous six visits and in those half dozen games, they had managed only one goal.

But former England boss Bobby Robson has transformed United into one of the slickest sides in the top-flight and no-one has benefited more from his arrival than Shearer.

During his pomp, the 31-year-old used to terrorise defences like no other striker in the land as he fired the goals to bring the Premiership title to Ewood.

These days, the reflexes might not be as sharp and his pace over six yards might have disappeared but he still possesses that eye for a goal which set him apart from any of his peers.

United -- playing with great energy and efficient -- caused Rovers all sorts of problems all over the park.

Kieron Dyer, a pocket dynamo in midfield, linked up impressively with Shearer and Lomana Lualua in attack.

And with Nol Solano and Laurent Robert providing craft and guile from the flanks, Rovers needed all their wits about them in order to stem the black and white tide.

Desperate to secure their place amongst Europe's elite next season, it was United who made all the running in the opening 20 minutes as Dyer and Speed completely bossed the midfield.

Brad Friedel saved smartly from both Lualua and Solano before Shearer then underlined his attentions with a rasping drive which rattled the bar.

But it was Rovers who broke the deadlock completely against the run of play in the 33rd minute with a goal which was made and converted by two former Magpies.

Craig Short knocked a 70 yard ball from left to right which Gillespie flicked into the path of Cole and the Northern Ireland winger then raced through to pick up the return before tucking a low shot under the advancing Shay Given.

Matt Jansen should then have extended Rovers' advantage with a free header from 10 yards but he put the chance over the bar with the goal at his mercy.

And Rovers lived to regret that miss as Shearer suddenly pounced in trademark fashion in the 63rd minute when he tucked away a Solano cross from six yards after the Peruvian's initial shot had been blocked at the near post.

Rovers were back in front again within four minutes, however, when Cole became the third player of the evening to score against his former club.

This time Gillespie was the orchestrator, crossing from the right following a short corner, and there was Cole to prod the ball past Given with his studs for his ninth goal in 17 appearances.

But there was still a sting in the tail for the home side and, predictably, it was that man Shearer who was at the sharp end once again.

Robert - who was lucky to be still on the field after a ludicrous lunge at Lucas Neill - threaded a clever ball through a square Rovers backline and Shearer bulldozed his way past a defender before tucking a neat finish beyond Friedel.

Even then that wasn't the end of the drama, though.

With 11 minutes left, Jansen could have snatched a late winner when he connected sweetly with a Duff centre but his goal-bound shot was blocked by Nikolaos Dabizas.

Souness later admitted Rovers didn't do enough to merit a victory on the night but he was happy with a point -- a result which nudged his side nearer safety.

"I suppose a draw was a fair result in the end," conceded the Rovers boss.

"I thought Newcastle showed that they are a very good team and it would be very hard to deny them a place in the Champions League.

"We played them earlier in the season and they've come a long way since then.

"We felt hard done to not getting something at St James's but tonight I thought they were a very, very good team.

"For our part, we never managed to put them under any sustained pressure which we normally do at Ewood.

"We've done that against Manchester United, we've done that against Arsenal and we've done that against Chelsea but tonight we couldn't do that and I think it was a bit of us not being up to our normal standards and a bit of Newcastle playing well."

ROVERS 2

Scorers: Gillespie 28, Cole 67

NEWCASTLE UNITED 2

Scorer: Shearer 63, 71