FA PREMIERSHIP - Newcastle United ... 5 Blackburn Rovers 1: The trophy cabinet in Graeme Souness's house presumably requires a lot of polish on a daily basis. Souness was so glorious as a player at Liverpool, then a player-manager at Rangers, then manager, that the accumulation of silverware was part and parcel of daily life.
Souness also treasures the fact that he kept Southampton up at a time when they looked incapable of doing so and last season he guided Blackburn Rovers to the English League Cup. In short, Souness knows what it takes to win medals.
It was, therefore, puzzling to hear him downgrade Newcastle United's victory here on Saturday. Rightly he pointed out that Newcastle's last three goals came in a burst in the last few minutes, and that at 2-1 down Blackburn had two decent opportunities to equalise.
But Souness knows from his playing days at Anfield 20 years ago that the game lasts 90 minutes. Titles and trophies are won with resilience as much as talent sometimes, and Newcastle, in their 47th match of the season, showed more of both.
Manchester United visit in mid-April and it is fast becoming a decisive fixture due to Newcastle's refusal to let the championship become a two-horse race.
There is no inferiority complex among Bobby Robson's players and the way they dismantled a side that beat Arsenal the previous Saturday spoke of confidence.
And also depth. Robson returned to Portman Road on Friday - Ipswich looking ever more like Newcastle's feeder club - to sign the 19-year-old Darren Ambrose for next season. But Robson is already able to introduce players from the bench of the calibre of Jermaine Jenas, Hugo Viana and Shola Ameobi. There were three lovely touches from Viana in the last three goals.
The excellent Aaron Hughes collected Viana's first pass and then teed up Jenas for a rifle that made it 3-1 on 85 minutes. Dyer picked up Viana's second, then forced Vratislav Gresko to score an own goal with Ameobi waiting. Viana himself supplied a sublime third inswinger for Craig Bellamy to lash in the fifth.
That was the goal of the game, which, given the quality of Damien Duff's equalising volley, is saying something. Duff did little else, however.
Blackburn held their own in that early period but as Gary Speed and Dyer gradually took over midfield, Newcastle began to dominate. Robert produced a spiky display topped by a double pirouette that set up Nolberto Solano to climb above Duff to head home. Duff's beautiful shot brought Blackburn level but Robert scored with a curling free-kick.
NEWCASTLE: Given, Griffin, Woodgate, Bramble, Hughes, Solano (Jenas 65), Dyer, Speed, Robert (Viana 77), Shearer (Ameobi 86), Bellamy. Subs Not Used: Harper, O'Brien. Booked: Bramble. Goals: Solano 24, Robert 61, Jenas 85, Gresko 89 og, Bellamy 90.
BLACKBURN: Friedel, Taylor, Berg, Short, Gresko, Gillespie (Dunn 45), Flitcroft, Tugay (Grabbi 70), Duff, Sukur, Yorke (Cole 63). Subs Not Used: Kelly, Todd. Booked: Gresko. Goals: Duff 54.
Referee: N Barry (N Lincolnshire).
Guardian Service
