GIVEN Freddy Shepherd's demands for a maximum return from Newcastle United's last ten home games, it is little wonder he sat stern-faced in the directors' box as manager Graeme Souness failed to guide his side to their first three-points towards that ambitious target.

An unpunished handball from Morten Gamst Pedersen may have settled this fixture but, nevertheless, there had been 74 other minutes prior to that controversial incident for Newcastle to have edged themselves in front.

And it is for that reason Shepherd is apparently sharpening the knives again this morning. Contemplating whether or not now is the time to bring an end to Souness' unsuccessful 16-month reign on Tyneside after another day without victory.

The fans, sections of whom gathered outside the main entrance to shout 'Souness out' for nearly an hour after Saturday's game, have had enough of listening to the manager dreaming of when he can field his strongest side again.

His programme notes on Saturday were no different. Mentioning injuries in four of his first five paragraphs in a column his chairman would have preferred to have opened positively.

But now, after Blackburn's cheaply assembled squad escaped from Gallowgate victorious, supporters and the club's hierarchy have had enough of the suggestion things can't turnaround until Michael Owen, Scott Parker and Emre are back.

Is it little wonder? Even without the aforementioned, Newcastle's starting XI still cost over £40m to assemble, some £31m more than that of Blackburn, whose team in full was cheaper than Albert Luque alone.

It is true youngster Michael Chopra was the only viable option up front alongside Alan Shearer, but even then Newcastle still should have had more than enough in their ranks to earn a favourable result.

A midfield consisting of Nolberto Solano, Luque, Lee Clark and Lee Bowyer is by no means weak; and a defence comprising of Peter Ramage, Jean-Alain Boumsong, Titus Bramble and Celestine Babayaro should be more than capable of performing well.

Nevertheless Souness, also having to overcome a relationship with Mr Shepherd that has deteriorated in recent months, remains reticent in his determination to see this job through.

"It's simple. The priority in my life is my family. I have to do my best for my family at all times. After that, second most important, is my work. And I will do my very best I can at my job," said Souness.

"I will continue to do that until I am told something different. As a manager all you can hope for is total commitment, 100 per cent from your players and the full support of your players. I feel I have got that."

And if there is one group of people at the club who Souness does seem to still have with him it is the playing and coaching staff.

But, despite being well-liked by the squad, that factor is not having the desired effect on results. Something he knows needs to happen if Newcastle are to avoid slipping into a relegation battle.

They are in the midst of relegation form. With just one win in ten league matches, the crisis engulfing the club could get a whole lot worse if they were to slip up at lower league Cheltenham in the FA Cup on Saturday.

In fairness to Newcastle if they play like they did for much of the game against Blackburn then their League Two opponents shouldn't be too difficult to overcome.

There were positive signs but, with the likes of Luque not doing his share of the running, Newcastle came up short when they needed that little more in the final third.

Chopra, someone who has never grabbed his chance in the past to shine, did show fleeting glimpses of a striker held in such high regard as a teenager but the nearest he came to scoring was when he fired over after cutting inside from the left.

Luque came closest to scoring for Newcastle in the first half when his shot at the back post was well saved by Brad Friedel, while Shay Given made a vital stop on the line to deny Paul Dickov when he was picked out unmarked at the back post.

Seconds after half-time Luque, with his last real contribution of the game before he was hauled off, somehow guided a free header the wrong side of the post when he rose just yards out to meet a Bramble cross.

Bowyer scuffed a volley wide and Shearer headed straight into the arms for Friedel before Blackburn did what the whole of Newcastle feared - broke up the other end and scored the goal that proved to be the match-winner.

The manner of the goal summed up everything bad about Newcastle's luck.

Lucas Neill's cross to the back post was met by Shefki Kuqi's head, after a little nudge in Ramage's back. As the ball headed along the line, Pedersen helped it on its way with a neat touch from his left hand.

Referee Howard Webb failed to spot it, the goal stood and Blackburn secured the three points against the manager who left them in September 2004 to take over at Newcastle.

All eyes now will be focused towards Shepherd to see whether it will be his hands doing the pushing this week - helping Souness towards the St James' exit door.

Result: Newcsatle United 0, Blackburn Rovers 1.

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