A LOOK at the key stats and figures from the game against Newcastle.

FRIEDEL: Celebrated his call-up for the World Cup finals with a couple of impressive stops...7

NEILL: Kept a tight rein on Laurent Robert until the fiery Frenchman exacted his revenge with a crunching challenge...7

UNSAL: Solid enough down the left after being drafted in as cover for Stig Bjornebye but some of his distribution was a little over ambitious...7

BERG: Relished his tussle with ex-Ewood team-mate Alan Shearer but it was the former England skipper who had the last laugh...6

SHORT: Needed all his strength and experience to contain a lively Newcastle attack but caught a little flat-footed for Shearer's second...6

DUNN: Struggled to influence proceedings as we know he can in the first half but grew in stature as the game wore on...7

TUGAY: Looked off the pace by his own high standards as Rovers struggled to win the midfield battle...6

GILLESPIE: Scored one and made one. Not a bad night's work for the winger against his old club...7

COLE: Took the fight to United up front and looked to have sealed a vital win for Rovers until Shearer pounced for the Magpies...8

JANSEN: Appeared to be running on half empty after a stomach bug had sapped him of his strength but the mere fact he played at all speaks volumes for his character...7

DUFF: Not as effective as he has been in recent weeks but still delivered a couple of dangerous balls in the final third despite the fact United often doubled up on him...7

SUBS: JOHANSSON (for Neill, 63) 6. NOT USED: FLITCROFT, HUGHES, YORDI, KELLY (GK)

OPPOSITE CAMP:

GIVEN...Stranded for the goals 7

ELLIOTT...Given the slip by Gillespie 6

HUGHES...Played Duff quite well 7

DISTIN...Pacey defender 7

DABIZAS...Caught napping for the opener 6

SPEED...Plenty of energy in midfield 7

DYER...Billy Whizz in the centre 8

SOLANO...Did well for Shearer's first 7

LUALUA...Lacked an end product 7

SHEARER...Sheer class 8

ROBERT...Lucky to stay on 6

SUBS: BERNARD (for Elliott, 46) 6, BELLAMY (for Lualua, 72) 6. NOT USED: O'BRIEN, JENAS, HARPER (GK)

STATS:

Goal attempts: Rovers 12 Newcastle 19

Shots on target: Rovers 5 Newcastle 8

Woodwork: Rovers 0 Newcastle 1

Offsides: Rovers 0 Newcastle 3

Corners: Rovers 6 Newcastle 6

Free kicks: Rovers 16 Newcastle 13

REFEREE...Uriah Rennie (Sheffield) 5

YELLOW CARDS - Rovers: None Newcastle: Elliott (foul), Robert (foul)

RED CARDS - None

Attendance: 26,712

TIME FOR ACTION:

03Brad Friedel is forced into an early save by Lomana Lualua

11Alan Shearer fires an early warning when his shot grazes the bar

18Gary Speed flicks on a Laurent Robert corner but Keith Gillespie hacks his effort off the line

28Rovers take the lead against the run of play when Gillespie slots home after a clever through ball from Andy Cole

40Matt Jansen looks to the sky in disbelief after watching his free header sail over

63It's 1-1 as Shearer nets against his old club after tucking away a Nol Solano cross

67Rovers are back in front again as Cole prods a Gillespie cross past Shay Given

71It's honours even again as Shearer scores his second of the night after latching onto a Robert through-ball

79Jansen is denied a late winner when Nikolaos Dabizas blocks his goal-bound shot