Premier League: Blackburn 0 Newcastle 0

After last weekend’s scintillating, breakneck clash against Arsenal, Newcastle had to settle for a slightly more serene but equally hard-fought point at Blackburn.

Newcastle fought back from 4-0 down to draw 4-4 against the Gunners a week ago, but Alan Pardew’s side managed to shut out Blackburn in a reasonably entertaining goalless draw at Ewood Park on Saturday.

This was a clash between the two sides who unexpectedly dismissed their managers earlier on in the season. In December, Newcastle sacked Chris Hughton and, a week later, Blackburn followed suit by getting rid of Sam Allardyce.

But both clubs have flourished under their new managers, with Pardew’s Newcastle and Steve Kean’s Blackburn side-by-side in the Premier League and still level on points in 10th and 11th place respectively.

It was Pardew’s team who started the brighter and almost took the lead after five minutes, but a cross from the excellent Jose Enrique just evaded the on-rushing Kevin Nolan.

Blackburn hit back quickly and should have opened the scoring after 10 minutes through the on-loan Roque Santa Cruz.

When Chris Samba nodded the ball back across the face of goal, it looked harder for Santa Cruz to miss than score, but the Paraguay international could only prod his effort against the post.

Newcastle also struck the woodwork in an entertaining first half when Peter Lovenkrands’ lobbed effort beat Paul Robinson – but not the crossbar.

The north-easterners continued to attack effectively and Fabricio Coloccini forced Robinson into a glorious save nine minutes after the break. The keeper had to be alert once again to prevent a Lovenkrands cross sailing in on 70 minutes.

Newcastle’s recent signing Shefki Kuqi, who joined the club on Friday as a free agent, was thrown on in the last minute, but there was not enough time for the Finland striker to make an impression, with the sides settling for a point apiece.