FILAN: Didn't do anything wrong and, indeed, made a couple of super stops or it might have been worse. 8 out of 10

KENNA: His involvement ended through injury just after half time and it's difficult to blame him for the goal after being caught out by such a magnificent pass. 6

*PEACOCK: Really has done well in recent weeks and, once again, starred against his former club. If some of the defending had not been as good, Rovers could really have been on the wrong end of another bashing, considering the way Newcastle dominated possession in midfield. 8

BROOMES: Like his partner had a lot to do against a tricky strike force and one defensive header early in the second half prevented the tie being wrapped up there and then. 7

DAVIDSON: Did well in the first half and generally won his battle with Nolberto Solano, but his distribution in the second half was really poor. 6

GILLESPIE: Maybe bogged down with his defensive duties but didn't threaten his old club, and Warren Barton, as much as we might have hoped until a late run and shot. 6

MARCOLIN: Newcastle won the midfield battle and he was always chasing the game, despite some tidy moments 6

WILCOX: Finishing could have been much better but, having been given the captain's armband, he tried to lead by example and never gave up trying to break from the unfamiliar midfield role he was asked to fill. 7

DUFF: Once again sacrificed as Rovers tried to salvage something in the last half-hour, he occasionally threatened to get around the back of the Newcastle defence. 6 DAVIES: Some good touches first half but clearly ran out of steam in a rare start and lost possession too easily after that. 5

BLAKE: A laid-back style is not what you need when every game is a battle and a lack of movement up front makes it even more difficult for the other players to pick a pass. 4

SUBS

CROFT: Garry Brady got in a couple of times but produced one superb piece of covering to thwart the dangerous Saha. 6

WARD: Put himself about but was unable to tip the balance, especially with a lack of quality service. 6

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.