FA Cup 5th round: Newcastle United 0 Blackburn Rovers 0 - Peter White's big match verdict

THE case for the defence, and in particular the goalkeeper, was presented ever so eloquently in both words and deeds by its youngest member - Marlon Broomes.

He is still only 21 but showed all the qualities that one day, unless I am very much mistaken, will bring him the reward of a senior England shirt.

And the Blackburn Rovers centre back was as cool, calm and collected pitchside after the match as he had been resisting wave after wave of Newcastle attacks during a frantic 90 minutes when a depleted team - no disrespect to those who were drafted in - soaked up everything that the Magpies could muster.

Along with Darren Peacock, silencing the fans who used to cheer him, and man of the moment John Filan, Broomes emerged as a real Rovers hero.

But, like the rest of us, he was quick to single out the keeper, whose form is proving an inspiration and, in one simple sentence, summed up what most Rovers fans are thinking.

"I can't understand why he was number two at Coventry before he came to Blackburn. That's beyond me," said Broomes.

"His confidence is so high at the moment, man of the match in the last game, man of the match here. When he is playing like that, it's going to be so hard for Tim Flowers to get back in the team."

That, in itself, is the ultimate compliment to Filan and, when you have a keeper who is playing out of his skin, confidence surges throughout the side.

"Tremendous" was manager Brian Kidd's description of the Aussie's performance but Filan took it all in his stride, calmly collecting the man-of-the-match champagne from Alan Shearer without going overboard about his performance. That's his way. Broomes, Peacock and Filan produced their own version of the Bermuda Triangle to keep Rovers in with a chance of a home tie against Everton in the sixth round.

Almost every Newcastle attack - and there were many - disappeared into the deep black hole formed by that intrepid trio.

Having lost more than half a team for various reasons, Rovers could easily have rolled over. For Kidd has publicly stated that staying in the Premiership is the priority.

But they stood up to be counted, despite getting a battering from a Newcastle side who clearly believe they are Wembley bound once more.

Five hours of football so far this season and still the two sides cannot be separated, if you ignore the penalty shootout that decided the Worthington Cup clash.

And there is nothing to say the replay will not be every bit as tense and tough, for both sides.

The early sparring suggested the game had all the makings of a classic cup tie, despite Rovers' enforced changes.

They went closest in the 13th minute when Chris Sutton's header put Ashley Ward on the charge and, with Shay Given in no man's land desperately trying to recover his ground, the striker was desperately unlucky.

His lob looked inch perfect but hit the bar and came out.

Within a minute, however, Stephen Glass volleyed against the top of the Rovers bar and over to make a tit-for-tat reply. From then until half time, the black and white tide swept forward.

Newcastle have plenty of players who like to run at defenders, their wide men Glass and Nolberto Solano - both quick and dangerous - to name two and Temuri Ketsbaia for another.

Rovers were perhaps sitting a little deep but it was difficult to say whether that was through choice or caused by the pressure.

But, somehow, they held on as the goal attempts mounted.

Filan made four superb saves, took crosses, punched when necessary and, in front of the keeper, Broomes and Peacock were an impressive barrier, holding the defensive effort together.

The actual chances for Newcastle strike pair Alan Shearer and Ketsbaia were so few throughout the game it spoke volumes for the way Rovers' central defenders handled them.

But there were some real scares and the half-time whistle spelled relief for Rovers.

The second half followed a similar pattern except for two things.

For all the continuing pressure, the chances Newcastle created became fewer and fewer, while Rovers began to suggest they might even pinch a winner on the break as the home side became stretched.

The best openings came shortly after the break when Given made good saves from headers by Peacock and Nathan Blake, while Filan underlined his courage and timing once more with a great save at the feet of Glass.

For a time it was one-way traffic but Newcastle ran into a brick wall. There was always a blue and white shirt on hand when needed and the stress was starting to show on home faces.

Ward and Gary Croft almost set up matchwinning breaks, while Sutton was thwarted by a last-ditch challenge from the keeper and Gary Speed after some delightful skills.

It cost Speed what looked a serious injury but, fortunately, those fears were dispelled afterwards.

The saga continues on Wednesday week. Pack the Valium.

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