NEWCASTLE (4-2-3-1):

7 Darlow: Made an excellent early save to deny Graham and dominated his area with a series of effective catches and punches

5 Yedlin: Tried to get forward down the right-hand side, but too many of his crosses and passes failed to find their intended target

4 Mbemba: Looked nervous on a number of occasions and is still to get close to the form he was displaying for some of last season

6 Clark: Battled gamely against Blackburn’s physical attackers and was comfortably the pick of Newcastle’s back four

5 Gamez: Was stretchered off at the start of the second half with a shoulder injury that is likely to sideline him for a lengthy spell

7 SHELVEY: Tried to get Newcastle going with a series of searching long passes and almost set up a late equaliser

4 Hayden: Was a passenger for much of the game and got on the wrong side of Mulgrew as the Blackburn defender scored

5 Ritchie: Was closely marked for the majority of the game and missed a great chance as he volleyed over

4 Perez: Didn’t really offer anything in the number ten role and has lacked consistency for the majority of the season

4 Atsu: Failed to sparkle down the right-hand side, with too many of his runs coming to nothing as passes went astray

4 Mitrovic: His listless performance was a major factor in Newcastle’s attacking impotence – repeatedly gave the ball away


Subs:

6 Dummett (for Gamez, 55): Was a better attacking option than the player he replaced – set up an excellent second-half chance for Ritchie

Gayle (for Mbemba, 85)

(not used): Sels (gk), Lascelles, Anita, Gouffran, Diame.


BLACKBURN (4-4-2):

Steele 7; Marshall 6, Lenihan 7, MULGREW 8, Williams 6; Feeney 7, Lowe 6, Evans 6, Conway 5; Gallagher 5 (Emnes 62, 7), Graham 6.

Subs (not used): Raya (gk), Bennett, Brown, Nyambee, Akpan, Stokes.


Man Of The Match: CHARLIE MULGREW – The Blackburn centre-half was the best player on the pitch for 75 minutes – then came up with the match-winning strike.