McCarthy at the double for Rovers
Benni McCarthy's brace sees the Sam Allardyce revival at Ewood Park continue
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Saturday, 17, Jan 2009 09:36
Blackburn Rovers have climbed out of the relegation zone after a 3-0 win over Newcastle United at Ewood Park.
Second-half goals from Benni McCarthy (2) and Jason Roberts move Rovers above the drop zone on goal difference.
On a miserable day for the Magpies, Nicky Butt was sent off in the closing stages for two bookable offences.
Watching England boss Fabio Capello would have been unimpressed with what he saw in the first-half from both sides.
The Magpies shaded possession with Stephen Warnock blocking Michael Owen's shot on 11 minutes, while Wayne Andrews cleared Andy Carroll's header off the line.
Sam Allardyce's men were woeful and their display was summed up by Andrew Ooijer blazing over from close range in their best chance of the half.
The second-half was a more entertaining affair with Rovers looking like a different side.
McCarthy had his free-kick pushed onto the post by Shay Given, and it was the South African who broke the deadlock on 61 minutes when he won a penalty after being brought down by David Edgar.
The striker then slotted in the spot-kick to make it 1-0. Five minutes later, the home side doubled their lead when keeper Paul Robinson's hoofed clearance fell to Roberts who poked the ball in.
Newcastle's hopes of salvaging something were destroyed on 83 minutes when Butt was shown a second yellow for hacking down David Dunn.
And Rovers capitalized on their man advantage by sealing victory a minute later when McCarthy tapped in Morten Gamst Pedersen's cross, to keep their survival hopes alive and drag Joe Kinnear's men back into the dogfight.