WHAT odds on a penalty shootout being needed to decide tonight's FA Cup replay at Ewood?

If that turns out to be the case - and Rovers and Newcastle have already drawn three times this season - then a little bit of FA Cup history will be made.

For neither side has ever won a penalty shootout in this particular competition.

Both have come down to the last resort on two occasions.

In 1992-93, the first season of the Premier League, Rovers lost their FA Cup quarter-final replay against Sheffield United 5-3 on penalties at Bramall Lane.

And, last season, West Ham came to Ewood for a fifth round replay and won 5-4 on spot kicks after Colin Hendry had missed from the spot.

Newcastle have also suffered twice - both times at St James's Park. In the 1991-92 season, Bournemouth won a shootout at the end of a third round replay and, at the same stage of the 1995-96 competition, Chelsea beat them on penalties.

Ironically, the Worthington Cup fourth round tie between the clubs on Tyneside back in November had to be decided by spot kicks.

Rovers won 4-2 after the two sides had finished level at 1-1 after extra time.

Apart from those penalties, five hours of football have failed to separate the teams so far this season. CUP REPLAYED NEWCASTLE have the edge in previous FA Cup clashes, their most famous win coming in the semi-final replay of 1951-52 at Elland Road.

Rovers' FA Cup history against the Geordies reads:

1909-10 rd 3 (a) lost 1-3

1927-28 rd 3 (h) won 4-1

1951-52 sf (neutral) drew 0-0

Replay (neutral) lost 1-2

1992-93 rd 5 (h) won 1-0

1994-95 rd 3 (a) drew 1-1

Replay (h) lost 1-2

1998-99 (a) drew 0-0

Replay (h) ?

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