BLACKBURN 4 NEWCASTLE 3 (AET)

NEWCASTLE'S unbeaten start to the season is over, and perhaps more importantly, so is their interest in the Carling Cup.

Having pulled off the most remarkable of comebacks to claw back a two-goal deficit in stoppage time thanks to dramatic late strikes from Danny Guthrie and Yohan Cabaye, the Magpies suffered a last-gasp heartbreak of their own as Gael Givet's 119th-minute header finally settled an enthralling encounter.

The defeat was harsh on a spirited Newcastle side, who fell behind in extra-time to a deflected Morten Gamst Pedersen effort, only for Peter Lovenkrands' spot-kick to restore parity once again.

Rarely can a 14-game unbeaten run have been more fiercely defended, but once Givet scored Blackburn's fourth goal of the night there was to be no escape.

As a result, for the 45th time in 51 stagings of the Carling Cup in a variety of guises, Newcastle have failed to reach the quarter-finals. It is a desultory record given their standing in the game and the list of clubs to have appeared in a League Cup final since United were last involved in 1976, yet the disappointment goes on.

It was exacerbated last night by the chaotic nature of the game, the complete lack of interest that saw fewer than 7,000 home supporters attend a largely unpopulated Ewood Park and the fact that Newcastle looked to have retrieved the irretrievable at the end of normal time.

Ultimately, though, their remarkable resurrection was not enough. Credit must go to Alan Pardew, who threw caution to the wind as the second half evolved, sacrificing full-back Danny Simpson and introducing two strikers in an attempt to chase the game.

A lot must also be made of the strength of Newcastle's spirit, something that was supposed to have dissolved during a chaotic summer, but which appears to be more influential than ever, such was United's steadfast refusal to accept defeat.

Yet for all that Pardew can feel somewhat aggrieved at last night's events, he will also have to acknowledge that the concession of four goals underlined the lack of depth in certain areas of his squad.

James Perch was unable to mask the absence of Steven Taylor at the heart of the back four, while Danny Guthrie was unable to exert the same sort of control that Cheik Tiote normally provides, even if he did spark Newcastle's recovery with a fine long-range effort.

That comeback was necessary because Newcastle conceded two goals in the opening 64 minutes, the first of which came early on.

Junior Hoilett, so impressive in last month's league game between the two sides, was the architect, feeding Martin Olsson, who cruised on the outside of Simpson. Olsson's centre found the unmarked Ruben Rochina, and the Spanish midfielder swept a crisp first-time finish past Tim Krul.

Newcastle had been behind in their opening Carling Cup game at Scunthorpe, so at least the experience held no fears. Sure enough, it did not take them long to find their attacking stride, and after Hatem Ben Arfa sent Demba Ba galloping down the right-hand channel, the in-form striker crashed a low shot against the outside of the post.

Krul was forced into three impressive saves to keep the deficit down to one, and as if to underline Newcastle's defensive discomfort, Fabricio Coloccini was fortunate to remain on the field when he clattered into Yakubu's upper thigh.

As it was, Newcastle entered the interval with their cup hopes still alive, but the sense that this was not to be their night was evident early in the second half.

Ben Arfa was no more than two yards out when he rose to meet Ba's cushioned header from Sylvain Marveaux's cross, but he somehow directed his own header well over the crossbar.

A growing sense of frustration was evident when Newcastle saw two decent second-half penalty claims waved away, and it was exacerbated when Blackburn quickly swept down the other end of the field to win a spot-kick of their own.

David Goodwillie looked to have wasted a decent through ball when his attempt at chest control failed miserably, but the loose ball tempted Krul from his line, and the Magpies goalkeeper tripped the Scotland international as he attempted to go past him. Yakubu converted from the spot, and Wembley felt as far away as ever.

This, though, is a Magpies side that does not know when it is beaten, and the stage was set for a remarkable recovery.

The clock had ticked to 92 minutes when Guthrie picked up a loose ball 25 yards from goal and hammered a low strike beyond Mark Bunn and into the bottom left-hand corner.

Surely not? Surely so. Samba hauled Coloccini to the ground to concede a free-kick 30 yards out and after scoring his first goal in Newcastle colours on Saturday, Cabaye stepped up to curl home a sensational long-range effort.

Understandably reeling from such a dramatic turnaround, it would have been easy for Blackburn to have folded in extra-time. Instead, they reclaimed the lead in the 99th minute, although their third goal of the night owed much to luck.

Pedersen's free-kick took a hefty deflection off the Newcastle wall, giving Krul no chance as he watched the ball divert beyond his left hand.

Madness over? Not a chance. Within six minutes, the Magpies were celebrating parity yet again as Lovenkrands held his nerve to convert from the spot and claim his third Carling Cup goal of the season.

The penalty was a controversial one, with only the assistant spotting Grant Hanley's tug on the Danish striker as he attempted to reach the loose ball after Bunn had saved from Ba.

Penalties beckoned, but there was to be a final sting in the tail. Chris Samba headed Pedersen's free-kick back across goal and Givet converted with a close-range diving header.