Blackburn 2 - 2 Newcastle - SKIPPER Alan Shearer led Newcastle back into the Champions' League with a double strike as Bobby Robson's side came from behind twice to secure the point they needed and defy the best efforts of old boys Keith Gillespie and Andy Cole to spoil the party.

Ewood Park has been something of a jinx ground for United - it's 41 seasons since they won a top-flight game here.

And the curse looked set to strike again when winger Gillespie, off-loaded by former United boss Ruud Gullit three seasons ago in a £1m deal, gave Blackburn a 28th-minute lead after being set up by Cole.

Shearer, whose goals fired Rovers to the Premiership title in 1995, levelled in the 63rd minute when Nolberto Solano's shot was parried by goalkeeper Brad Friedel before the Peruvian winger reacted first to present his captain with a simple tap-in.

But former Geordie goal king Cole restored Rovers lead four minutes later when Gillespie reciprocated, taking a return from a short corner and crossing for the England reject to force home his ninth goal of the season.

This Newcastle team, however, never know when they are beaten and Shearer embodies that spirit.

A further four minutes had elapsed when Laurent Robert played him through with a delightful reverse ball and Shearer did the rest to coolly beat keeper Brad Friedel and make it 25 goals for the season - and 202 in the Premiership.

Midfielder Kieron Dyer and striker Lomana LuaLua came through fitness tests on the groin injuries which had threatened to disrupt Robson's plans, while left-back Robbie Elliott shook off a knee problem.

But the United boss still made one change to his starting line-up, centre-back Nikos Dabizas taking the place of Andy O'Brien, who dropped to the bench where striker Craig Bellamy was again kept in reserve following eight weeks out of action with worrying knee tendon trouble.

There had never been more than a goal between the sides in their previous 13 Premiership encounters and Newcastle had managed just one here in the process, David Batty - a former player with both clubs - scoring in the fateful 2-1 defeat when Geordie Graham Fenton struck twice as Rovers effectively ended United's title dream under Kevin Keegan six years ago.

LuaLua, with two strikes from as many games, soon had sight of goal again when he let loose from around 25 yards in the third minute with an effort Friedel was relieved to save low to his left.

While the home side did most of the early pressing, it was United who carved out the better openings, Shearer taking a return ball from LuaLua to close in on goal down the right but drive narrowly wide of the near post.

The Magpies' menace gathered in intensity and only a desperate goalline clearance from Hakan Unsal prevented a goal when Gary Speed met Robert's left-wing delivery.

When they then won a free-kick on the right, Solano whipped in the dead ball and LuaLua failed to make the most a free header, nodding into the grateful grasp of Friedel.

Gillespie produced Rovers' first genuine attempt at goal in the 22nd minute, working his way into a shooting position inside the penalty area but screwing his finish horribly wide of the far post.

However, the Northern Ireland international was seeing plenty of the ball and when Elliott was left trailing in his slipstream, the United defender resorted to a lunge from behind which earned him a yellow card from referee Uriah Rennie.

After Rovers failed to capitalise on the free-kick, Solano gained possession deep inside his own half on the right and embarked on an amazing 60-yard run before centering for LuaLua, who lifted his shot high over the bar.

But with United looking vulnerable down their left, Rovers persisted in probing the weakness and when Cole played the ball inside Sylvain Distin, Gillespie escaped Elliott to surge into the box and drill past former Rovers keeper Shay Given at his near post.

It was only Gillespie's third goal of the season and first for over six months.

Blackburn then switched their line of attack to the left, Damien Duff forcing Given to palm away an angled drive.

Moments later, Duff crossed and Dabizas missed the ball before Matt Jansen headed over from a great position.

Robson put Elliott out of his misery at half-time when he brought on Frenchman Olivier Bernard.

But Blackburn quickly threatened again, Given racing from his line to save at the feet of Duff before the ball broke to Gillespie whose shot was blocked by Distin.

Newcastle finally responded when Robert forced Friedel to beat the ball away at his near post.

But the United winger looked lucky to remain on the field soon afterwards when he committed a crude late tackle on Blackburn defender Lucas Neill, who was stretchered off after lengthy treatment, while Robert was relieved to see the card raised was only yellow.

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