It had to be the irrepressible Alan Shearer who would return to his old stamping ground and score the goals to guarantee Newcastle's place in next season's Champions League.

In a remarkable night for old boys, former Magpies stars Keith Gillespie and Andy Cole twice gave Blackburn the lead as Rovers searched for the win which would secure their Premiership status.

But it was Shearer, a man who led Blackburn to the Premier League title seven years ago, who stole the show with a quick-fire second-half double to give United the point which could see the club landing an £8million jackpot.

St James' Park can now look forward to a number of heady European nights against some of the continent's elite, while boss Bobby Robson can start planning on how to spend the cash which will swell the club's coffers.

Fourth place represents a superb achievement for Robson and his side, whose season started in mid-July with Intertoto Cup football, albeit exiting the competition before reaching the first round of the UEFA Cup.

Newcastle had dominated the opening exchanges and should have been a goal to the good prior to conceding the opener against the run of play to Gillespie as the winger scored his third goal of the season, and his first since October 20.

Gillespie, a £2.25million buy from the Magpies in December 1998 after scoring just 14 goals in 147 games on Tyneside, was the recipient of a superb raking pass out of defence from Hakan Unsal.

The nod down found another former black and white hero in Cole, the striker then slipping the ball back into the path of Gillespie who drilled home a crisp drive between the legs of goalkeeper Shay Given.

Newcastle looked pig-sick, and rightly so for their incisive play during the first 25 minutes had looked worthy of a team destined for the Champions League. Lomana LuaLua had the opening chance in the fourth minute following a neat exchange with Gary Speed.

The Wales international, becoming the first player to reach his 350th Premiership appearance, played a delightful reverse pass back to the Congolese striker.

It allowed LuaLua to fire in a goal-bound 20-yard drive which forced Brad Friedel into a low save to his left, with the United States international then relieved to watch Shearer spurn a gilt-edged chance.

LuaLua was the provider with a pass which gave Shearer a clear sight of goal after powering his way into the area, only to see his angled 12-yard finish clip the sidenetting.

Unsal then cleared a Speed header off the line in the 20th minute, and although there were claims he had used his hand, the appeals were half-hearted.

Friedel then had to be alert just before the half-hour mark when Nolberto Solano curled in a quickly-taken 25-yard free-kick destined for the top right-hand corner, but the American coolly plucked the ball out of the air.

With Newcastle in control, they were stunned when Gillespie fired home, and could have been 2-0 down at the break but for a superb Given save in denying Republic of Ireland team-mate Damien Duff.

Just after the hour Newcastle made the breakthrough when Shearer sidefooted home from inside the six-yard box after Solano had latched onto his own acutely-angled shot which had rebounded off the saving Friedel.

Newcastle's joy was shortlived as Cole, who scored 68 goals in his 22 months on Tyneside, toepoked home a Gillespie right-wing cross from five yards for his eighth strike in Blackburn colours.

But there was no denying Shearer, although there are doubts as to whether his supplier in Laurent Robert should have been on the pitch after a cynical challenge on Lucas Neill in the 58th minute led to the defender being stretchered off.

Robert received a yellow card, ensuring he was on hand to feed Shearer for his 71st-minute leveller - the 202nd Premiership goal of his career - and one which is almost priceless for Newcastle.

At the final whistle, Robson took his players to the several thousand Magpies fans who had travelled from the north east to applaud them for their support.

Teams:

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.

Att: 26,712

Ref: U Rennie (Sheffield).