Louis Saha proved right the old adage that one player's misfortune can be
another's opportunity.
The French Under-21 striker only started for Newcastle at Ewood Park because
Alan Shearer had been laid low by the flu, but he certainly made the most of his
unexpected chance.
Saha netted the only goal after 38 minutes with a finish Shearer would have
been proud of to set up an FA Cup quarter-final clash with Everton.
The Frenchman, who is on loan from Metz until the end of the season, is
rapidly endearing himself to the Toon Army and his winner was his second goal on
only his third start.
It was a strike worthy of winning the Final itself and it keeps Newcastle on
course for a return trip to Wembley.
Saha's goal lit up what was otherwise a dull fifth-round replay. Meetings
between these sides this season were beginning to rival the Tottenham Wimbledon
saga in terms of longevity and tedium.
This was their fourth encounter and they also have a date at St James' Park on
the final day of the season.
Only a penalty shoot-out in a fourth-round Worthington Cup tie, won by Rovers,
had been able to separate them in 300 minutes of less than riveting football
prior to this game.
Blackburn, missing eight regulars through injury and ineligibility, began
intent on settling this replay inside normal time and the reinstated Kevin
Davies headed wide from an early knock-down from Nathan Blake.
Newcastle weathered Rovers' bright start and started to threaten. Dietmar
Hamann stung John Filan's hands with a ferocious free-kick from 30 yards out in
the 15th minute and the Blackburn goalkeeper was called into action two minutes
later when he turned away a Temuri Ketsbaia shot for a corner.
Jason Wilcox, back after suspension and playing in centre midfield, created a
half-opening when he intercepted the ball just inside the visitors half and ran
to the edge of the box only to shoot into the home supporters behind Shay
Given's goal.
The game so far had been painful evidence of the law of diminishing returns
when teams play each other over and over again.
But just as the boredom began to set in, Saha brought the tie, and most of the
fans, to life with his terrific goal.
Hamann found Saha running in on the left with a superb cross-field ball and he
held off Jeff Kenna to fire home past Filan and just inside the far post.
Rovers almost hit back straight away and Given touched Wilcox's flick away for
a corner.
Newcastle were clearly lifted by Saha's goal and they began the second half
stroking the ball about with great confidence.
Hamann was running the game in the Magpies engine room and the German
midfielder was spraying some lovely passes about the pitch.
From one crisp move, Nolberto Solano fed Saha who set up Ketsbaia only for the
Georgian international to blaze wide.
Former Newcastle winger Keith Gillespie, who was booed every time he touched
the ball by the away fans, demonstrated a nice turn of speed as he beat Warren
Barton down the right and centred for Blake only for his shot to be saved by
Given.
Blackburn boss Brian Kidd knew the tie was slipping away from his side and on
the hour mark he brought on Ashley Ward, who had surprisingly started on the
bench. Ward came on for Damien Duff as Kidd switched from a 4-4-2 formation to
three up front.
But it was Newcastle who went closest to scoring when Ketsbaia played Saha in
with a delightful through ball only this time he shot well over Filan's bar.
Blake posed a constant aerial threat for Rovers and he headed just over from
one chance.
Laurent Charvet should have confirmed Newcastle's place in the last eight in
the 74th minute when he squandered a great chance. Filan parried Garry Brady's
shot to the feet of the Frenchman who somehow managed to hit the upright with
the goal gaping.
Teams
Blackburn: Filan, Kenna (Croft 57), Peacock, Broomes, Davidson,
Gillespie, Wilcox, Marcolin, Duff (Ward 60), Blake, Davies.
Subs Not Used: Johnson, Dunn, Flowers.
Newcastle: Given, Charvet, Dabizas, Howey, Barton, Solano,
Hamann, Speed, Brady, Saha, Ketsbaia.
Subs Not Used: Lee, Dalglish, Hughes, Griffin, Harper.
Booked: Speed, Solano.
Goals: Saha 37.
Att: 27,483.
Ref: D Gallagher (Banbury).
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