By Craig Hope for The Mail on Sunday
Published: 19:26 GMT, 5 January 2019 | Updated: 19:52 GMT, 5 January 2019
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'The best they can get is a replay', observed one ex pro after a goalless first half - and he was not referring to Blackburn Rovers.
Newcastle were awful, from start to finish, and were only spared a seventh third-round exit in 12 seasons of Mike Ashley’s ownership by a late Matt Ritchie penalty.
The mood on full-time was not one of relief or celebration, mild embarrassment would be more accurate.
Bradley Dack powered a header past Freddie Woodman from Elliott Bennett's inviting cross
Dack's 56th-minute header threatened another early exit for troubled Newcastle
Newcastle (4-2-3-1): Woodman 5; Sterry 5, Schar 6, Lejeune 6, Manquillo 6; Hayden 5 (Shelvey 57, 6), Longstaff 6 (Perez 80); Murphy 5 (Atsu 74, 5), Kenedy 5.5, Ritchie 6.5; Joselu 5
Subs: Harker, Clark, Rondon, Yedlin
Scorers: Ritchie 85 (pen)
Bookings: Ritchie
Blackburn (4-2-3-1): Raya 6; Bennett 6.5, Lenihan 6, Mulgrew 7, Bell 6; Travis 6, Evans 6; Conway 6.5, Dack 7, Armstrong 6 (Reed 70, 6); Graham 6 (Brereton 79, 5)
Subs: Leutwiler, Nyambe, Williams, Rothwell, Downing
Scorers: Dack 56
Ref: K Friend 7
MOM: Dack
Att: 36,440
Manager Rafa Benitez disappeared immediately down the tunnel. He is hardly likely to be enthused by the prospect of doing this again at Ewood Park.
Still, at least
