By Mark Deeks
March 27 2003

Columnist Mark Deeks, writes about Newcastle's excellent victory over Blackburn Rovers last Saturday. As usual, it is a cracking read, so don't miss out! BLACKBURN HOME
MARCH 22ND.

Another "there and back in a day" trip from sunny Wakefield, and it really is getting to the point where I could do without seeing the A1 for a few months! Nevermind, there was yet another important 3 points at stake so I had to play my part and cheer the boys on.

Blackburn, in the middle of a decent run, and fresh from comfortably beating champions Arsenal would surely provide stiff opposition. Then there was the small matter that it would be good if we could get the disappointment of the Barca game out of our system as soon as poss so that it didn't effect our (admittedly only slightly possible) title run in.

I feel like I've been saying for some time now that we really should have scored more goals this season. Not since the opening fixture and a 4-0 over West Ham have we really punished an opponent, and I still reckon our attacking players played better last season, but of course our league position cannot be argued with!

However, saying all that, the last thing I expected was for Blackburn to be on the wrong end of a toon pasting. Infact, my cash was on 2-1! And for most of the match, that looked a distinctly possible scoreline. Robert was having one of his more effective matches of the season, and the way he fooled us all into thinking he had wasted the 24th minute opportunity when he didn't shoot then didn't cross then didn't shoot again, but then dinked it perfectly to the far post for Solano to nod home, was excellent. Have to say though, the visitors' defence must have been mortified to see little Nobby outleaping their rearguard for a rare headed goal! Good jump wee man!!

In the second half, we had the frustration of watching David Dunn receive treatment for several minutes without being asked to leave the pitch, only to play a crucial role in Blackburn's goal as the free kick was touched to him, his shot was blocked, and the rebound fell to Duff on the edge of the area who unleashed an unstoppable volley. 1-1.

Not for long though, as Robert curled a beautiful free kick home after the Blackburn players had been punished for dissent with a free kick moved forward the regulatory ten yards (just!!). 2-1.

And that's the way it stayed until the 85th minute, and my money was looking good until, within 7 minutes, the regular early leavers (idiots) missed out on 2 lovely flowing moves finshed exquisitely by Jenas and Bellamy, and a bundled home own goal after another fantastic burst of speed from Dyer! 5-1!!

Harsh on the visitors maybe. But after the goons in the front row of the away section had spent all afternoon with 5 fingers of one hand and 2 of the other raised (reminding us of the 10 man induced debacle at Ewood Park earlier in the season), Little Craig's fabulous finish for the fifth was a sweet moment indeed. And nobody on the park deserved it more. Especially after his efforts in midweek against Barca.

So another 3 points gained and another couple of quid down the drain. An afternoon typical of many at SJP this season!

Keep the faith.