Tyneside can breathe a triumphant sigh of relief. Having endured a dicey spell last month that threatened to derail a stirring season, Newcastle will play Champions League football next season.
The point secured here last night thanks to Alan Shearer's two goals, the second of which was calmly prodded home from Laurent Robert's pass 19 minutes from time, guaranteed fourth place at the very least and a first foray among Europe's elite since 1997.
In the circumstances the fact that the former England captain, back on his former stamping ground, supplied the coup de grace had an air of inevitability: all of yesterday's goalscorers once played for their opponents.
The visitors should have secured their continental passage during a one-sided first half, but instead retired somewhat crestfallen at the interval trailing to a goal forged and finished by a pair of ex-Newcastle players.
The few incisive moments eked out by the home side invariably went through Andy Cole and Keith Gillespie, who gave Robbie Elliott a torrid time down Rovers' right flank. Having already worked one good shooting chance, regrettably wasted, the winger's luck changed in the 28th minute. The 28-year-old flicked on Craig Short's punt for Cole to wriggle free of Sylvain Distin near the right-hand touchline. The striker's slipped return was perfect for Gillespie, out-sprinting the floundering Elliott, to drill his third goal of the season through Republic of Ireland international Shay Given's legs.
The full back was mercifully replaced at the break, but by then the unexpected reward of the goal had spurred the home side on. Indeed, Damien Duff might have added a second after bursting away from Aaron Hughes and forced Given to tip a curled attempt round the post. By then the visitors' incessant pressure had faded, and with it the flurry of opportunities they had created and missed.
Shearer, booed roundly throughout, came closest. The former Blackburn striker, bursting into the area, left the frame of the goal quivering with a bludgeoned shot. Premiership goal 201 would have to wait, though not for long.
The chances continued to flow. Nicos Dabizas's header from Nolberto Solano's free-kick was claimed, as was the Peruvian's more direct attempt seconds later.
Even when Friedel was beaten, there was Hakan Unsal to smear Gary Speed's header from Robert's corner off the line. The Frenchman was giving one of his more touchy displays, remonstrating with Solano on the half-way line and then twice opting to crunch shots at Friedel's near post when there were better placed players on the edge of the six-yard box.
Unabashed, Robert then lost the ball and his head on the edge of the area, flooring Lucas Neill in his frustration. The winger deservedly saw yellow; the Australian international was carried off on a stretcher.
Bobby Robson, twitching nervously on the bench, was unimpressed though within seconds Newcastle were level. Solano's near-post shot was blocked by Friedel with the ball rebounding back out to the winger who calmly rolled a pass for the unmarked Shearer to prod into the unguarded net. The goal sparked wild celebrations among the visiting support, but they were silenced almost immediately.
Gillespie worked a short corner routine with Nils-Eric Johansson before measuring a cross from the right. His centre was perfect for Cole to convert.
But Shearer was still to have the final say for Newcastle. "Two and a half years ago this club was going down to the Nationwide League," he said afterwards. "What a transformation."
BLACKBURN: Friedel, Neill (Johansson 61), Berg, Short, Unsal, Gillespie, Tugay, Dunn, Duff, Cole, Jansen. Subs Not Used: Flitcroft, Hughes, Yordi, Kelly. Goals: Gillespie 28, Cole 67.
NEWCASTLE: Given, Hughes, Distin, Dabizas, Elliott (Bernard 45), Robert, Dyer, Solano, Speed, LuaLua (Bellamy 71), Shearer. Subs Not Used: O'Brien, Jenas, Harper. Booked: Elliott, Robert. Goals: Shearer 63, 71.
Referee: U Rennie (Sheffield).
