Newcastle failed to capitalise on a dominant performance over Blackburn in a 0-0 draw at Ewood Park.
Lack of aerial power costs Newcastle three points at Ewood Park
Newcastle United failed to capitalise on a dominant performance over Blackburn Rovers in a 0-0 draw at Ewood Park on Saturday.
Fabricio Coloccini had the best chance for Newcastle, thumping a close-range shot at Rovers keeper Paul Robinson, who reacted superbly to tip over.
The game might have swayed in a different direction, however, had the returning Rovers striker Roque Santa Cruz not struck the post with a close range header just ten minutes in.
Jose Enrique was superb down the Newcastle left and he set up Peter Lovenkrands early on, with the Dane hitting the crossbar with a lob.
The Spanish full-back put in a string of dangerous crosses, but Newcastle lacked aerial prowess as the Rovers defence comfortably dealt with Leon Best and Lovenkrands.
Magpies boss Alan Pardew had been able to name an unchanged side following the stunning comeback against Arsenal last week, with stop-gap striker and former Rovers player Shefki Kuqi on the bench.
With Rovers having come off worse in a seven-goal thriller at Wigan, it was not surprising both teams started where they left off and produced a richly entertaining first quarter-hour.
Early chances
Jermaine Jones' attempt at an overhead kick in the third minute failed to inspire the hosts as the American missed the ball and clattered into Mike Williamson.
Newcastle came close two minutes later when Lovenkrands played in Enrique down the left and his ball across the face of goal was palmed clear by Robinson.
In what was warming into a feisty encounter, Cheik Tiote was warned for a rash challenge on Nikola Kalinic, and Kevin Nolan and David Dunn almost came to blows on the half-way line.
Rovers should have grabbed the lead in the ninth minute when captain Christopher Samba's flick in the box set up Santa Cruz for a header which struck Steve Harper's right-hand post. The Paraguayan really ought to have scored.
As the fast pace continued Rovers had another chance when Dunn blazed over the bar after good work from Junior Hoilett down the Rovers left.
Michel Salgado gifted Newcastle an opening in the 25th minute with a wayward cross-field pass which let in Lovenkrands, but the Dane ran into Ryan Nelsen who cleared.
Nelsen headed away another cross from the dangerous Enrique as the game's early excitement faded with a series of minor infringements ruining any momentum the game could gather.
The visitors dominated from the start of the second period against a Blackburn side forced to make two changes due to injuries to Santa Cruz and Junior Hoilett.
Second-half
Joey Barton had the first chance of the second-half for Newcastle after Jonas Gutierrez's charge down the left, but Barton's swept left-foot effort sailed well over the bar.
Newcastle came closer on 54 when Coloccini chested down a Barton corner from the left and rammed a rising left-foot shot which Robinson did ever so well to react in time to force it over the bar.
Barton almost found Best in the box on the end of a neat one-two and as Rovers struggled to clear it was Gutierrez's turn to fire the loose ball over the bar.
Rovers were being pinned back in their own half with captain Samba outstanding. But without the presence of Santa Cruz they were struggling to create anything in the visitors' half.
After completely dominating for the first half hour of the second half, Newcastle lived on their nerves in the 81st minute when a deep Pedersen corner caused chaos in the box.
If the near-miss was designed to belatedly stir the home side into life it failed to work as both Barton and Gutierrez were only let down at the other end by the quality of their final balls.
Pardew threw Kuqi into the fray for the three minutes of added time no doubt in the hope of a fairytale start in the black and white stripes but referee Stuart Atwell had other ideas.
