Blackburn 3 Newcastle 1:David Bentley made sure Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce endured a miserable return to the north-west.

The England winger scored two superb goals and former Bolton boss Allardyce has now seen his side lose four of their last five matches.

The first half was short on entertainment but Blackburn should have made the breakthrough in the 15th minute when David Dunn hoisted the ball forward.

Benni McCarthy released Santa Cruz but with only Shay Given to beat he steered his effort wide of the post.

Newcastle carved out a good chance in the 30th minute when Martins split the home defence.

He clipped a neat ball into the path of Alan Smith but his ambitious effort went wide of the post when he should have opted to release James Milner, who was in a better position.

Newcastle had a scare in stoppage time when Bentley spotted Given out of his area but the winger was not able to get any direction on his effort.

Newcastle needed only two minutes of the second half to take the lead after Brett Emerton was pulled up for a challenge on Milner.

Charles N'Zogbia drove the ball in and Martins escaped his marker to clip a header beyond Friedel.

It was the Nigerian's sixth goal of the season and a welcome boost for Allardyce, who had come in for criticism from some of the supporters.

However, Blackburn equalised in the 54th minute with a superb 25-yard free kick from David Bentley.

The winger left Given motionless after N'Zogbia had brought down Santa Cruz.

Barton should have regained the lead for Newcastle two minutes later when Blackburn defender Christopher Samba's clearance rebounded off the midfielder, only for him to seem to get his feet stuck under the ball and Friedel was eventually able to make the block.

Martins then got goal-side as Samba failed to cut out Milner's through-ball but headed over the top.

Blackburn took the lead in the 67th minute with Bentley's second goal of the game.

It was another fine finish as well, the England winger rifling a shot into the corner off the post.

Bentley had been set up by Roque Santa Cruz, who shrugged Barton's challenge to pick out his team-mate.

The winger came within a whisker of getting his hat-trick in the 74th minute, his effort coming back off the post.

Then substitute Jason Roberts saw his effort turned away by Given in the 80th minute.

Substitute Morten Gamst Pedersen headed wide in the 84th minute before Tugay scored a third in stoppage time.

The veteran Turkish playmaker was released by Roberts after Pedersen started the move with Newcastle pushing forward.