DAVID Batty shrugged off the boos on his return to Ewood Park last night and put Newcastle United's title turmoil down to a change of luck.

The midfielder, who scored a collector's item of goal - with his left foot! - has found his arrival on Tyneside co-inciding with an almighty stutter in the championship battle.

It's not dissimilar to Rovers' fade-out last season but he said: "You can draw similarities in that there's more focus at the end of the season when people look at the results.

"I think I have been there for six games and we have lost four.

"But, apart from Arsenal, where we didn't deserve to get anything, I think we have deserved something from every game we have played.

"I think we have had a dip in luck more than anything else. We have played well enough to win a lot of games."

Batty goals are few and far between but he didn't see any special significance in last night's strike and he wasn't bothered about his reception following a controversial transfer.

"People were talking to me about going to Blackburn but I just felt it was a case of coming here to try to get three points," he said.

"I thought we dominated for long spells in the second half. They weren't in the game but that's how it goes sometimes.

"The goal meant I thought we were on the way to three points, no more, and I think when you get booed it means you are a good player.

"I don't think there's any good players get a good reception (when they go back to a former club)."

And the title race?

"Manchester United are by far the favourites but we still have second place and a chance of the title."

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