DAVID Batty returns to Ewood on Monday night, hoping to be on a winning side again in a Blackburn Rovers-Newcastle clash - only this time in black and white.

The former Rovers midfielder wants to help Newcastle to a similar performance to the one they gave at Ewood last year but with a different result.

And Batty has been backed by his new boss Kevin Keegan against suggestions that his £3.75 million signing, along with that of controversial Colombian Faustino Asprilla, could cost the Geordies their great championship chance.

There was controversy too when Batty left Ewood in a long drawn-out transfer saga and he admitted he does not know what kind of reception he will receive at Ewood.

But he has settled in well on Tyneside, saying: "The fans have taken to me straight away and I am delighted about that. It has helped that the team has played well."

Looking back on that dramatic VE Day at Ewood, when Alan Shearer scored Rovers' crucial winning goal just under a year ago, the midfielder said:

"Newcastle hammered us that night. They could have had six on the basis of play and possession.

"That's what really impressed me.

"I had just come back from injury and thought I was doing quite well fitness-wise. Then I found Newcastle were over-running us.

"Tim Flowers made all the difference.

"You point to people in games and he probably won Blackburn the title that night.

"It was a scandalous result really, but you need things like that.

"It's not playing well that matters at this stage, it's getting the result.

"If Newcastle play half as well as they did that night, they have a great chance.

"But Blackburn have a good home record and I can't remember when they last lost two home games in a row.

"Every game is tough but this one is going to be really tough."

Keegan has been criticised for upsetting the balance of his team by signing Batty and Asprilla but he believes they have been Newcastle's best players in recent matches.

"I am looking at other players to perform and not hide behind the fact that I brought two new ones in," he said.

"I thought Batty and Asprilla have been excellent for us and were again against Liverpool.

"Sometimes it's very easy to be negative," he added talking about the media.

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