NEW boss Alan Murray launched a stinging attack on referee Colin Harwood last night after Rovers reserves slipped to their second successive defeat in controversial circumstances at the hands of Newcastle United.

Livewire striker Lomana Lua-Lua scored a hotly-disputed winner after appearing to foul Rovers defender Marlon Broomes on the stroke of half-time.

And to sum up a disappointing night for Murray and his men, centre-back Gordon Greer was then red-carded five minutes from time after Harwood booked the Scot for two innocous-looking fouls in the space of a minute.

"What can you say because you talk yourself into trouble if you criticise them?" said an infuriated Murray.

"But people's livelihoods are at stake here and that's the problems we've got.

"Players are looking for encouragement when they are playing and performances like that certainly don't help.

"The ref must have been the only man in the stadium who didn't think it was a foul for their goal.

"And, as for all the bookings, he didn't make any allowances for people having to turn quickly on a slippery surface so he spoilt the game because there wasn't a bad tackle all night."

Looking to bounce back with a win after their 4-1 thumping at Manchester City a fortnight ago, Rovers started brightly enough and could have been two up inside the opening 10 minutes as young striker Jonathan Walters missed a couple of glorious chances.

But after weathering the storm, United then took control with the lively Lua-Lua at the centre of the action.

Twice he was denied by smart saves from John Filan before he finally broke the deadlock in first half injury time when he latched onto a hopeful through ball before shrugging off Broomes to fire emphatically into the roof of the net.

Neither created much going forward in a scrappy second half but United had keeper John Karelse to thank for a smart save from Burton O'Brien in the closing stages before Greer was then sent off for two bookings in the space of a minute at the death.

SCORE: BLACKBURN ROVERS RESERVES...0 NEWCASTLE RESERVES...1

ROVERS: Filan, Kenna, Murray, Hignett, Greer, Broomes, Grayson, Dunning, Bent, Walters, Morgan. Subs: Howson (Murray, 39), O'Brien for Morgan, 63), Danns (for Walters 72) Not used: Robinson, Donnelly

NEWCASTLE: Karelse, McGuffie, Bernard, Ramage, Marcelino, McClen, Green, Boyd, Coppinger, Lualua, Dimas. Subs: McMenamin (for Lualua, 60), Robson (for Dimas, 74), Offiong (for Coppinger, 84) Not used: Labonte.

BOOKED: Rovers (Murray, Broomes, Hignett, Greer, Howson), Newcastle (Bernard, Dimas, Coppinger)