TWO-GOAL hero David Bentley said his match-winning performance against Newcastle United at the weekend helped to ease the pain of England's failure to qualify for the European Championships.

The Blackburn midfielder provided the inspiration for a stunning second half fight-back at Ewood, scoring two brilliant goals, both from outside the box, as Rovers stormed back from a losing position to secure a priceless 3-1 victory over Sam Allardyce's beleaguered Magpies.

Bentley, who celebrated each of his strikes with great fervour, later admitted it was an emotional occasion, as he emerged from what he described as the worst couple of weeks of his life.

Gutted by England's failure to reach the finals of Euro 2008, the 23-year-old was already at a low ebb before Rovers' 4-0 drubbing at the hands of Aston Villa last Wednesday night - a defeat which Bentley said was embarrassing and humiliating'.

But after producing a man-of-the-match performance, which helped Rovers secure a first league victory in five attempts, Bentley finally had something to smile about again on Saturday evening.

"After the Aston Villa defeat, it's been a bad couple of days around the building," confessed the Rovers midfielder.

"To get beat 4-0 is embarrassing and humiliating, so to go out there and put it right in the way we did was great.

"It's one of the best feelings ever to come off a game like Villa and go and run over Newcastle like that.

"I felt so emotional when I scored - but I always do. I get so excited and go mad when I score."

Trailing 1-0 to an Obafemi Martins header, Rovers were staring down the barrel of another defeat until Bentley suddenly intervened, his exquisitely taken free kick curling past a static Shay Given from 25 yards out.

Then things got even better for the England international when he beat Given all ends up again, this time with a sumptuous strike that arrowed into the far corner.

It was a sweet moment for Bentley, who struggled to contain his emotions as he celebrated excitedly in front of the Blackburn End.

"With what happened with England as well, I've had the worst couple of weeks of my life - it seems like everything has gone wrong - so it was emotional for me to get a couple of goals," said Bentley.

"I was frustrated by what happened with England - even though I didn't play because I'm still a massive England fan.

"When you around the lads you don't want to see them fail; it was just so disappointing.

"People think we don't care, but it does get you down when something like that happens."