Delight for Gally as he celebrates his goal

IT certainly wasn't a classic, but Rovers go back to Lancashire with all three points following their 1-0 win over Newcastle United.

Paul Gallagher's bundled goal on seventy-two minutes was only goal of the game and the perfect way to end 2003 as Rovers put in a thoroughly professional away performance to register their first win at St James Park for forty-five years.

But the win was marred by a serious injury to midfielder Barry Ferguson. The Scottish international was stretchered off with a broken knee-cap midway through the first half.

Graeme Souness made four changes to the side that drew 2-2 against Middlesbrough on Boxing Day. Vratislav Gresko, Tugay, Alan Mahon and Andy Cole all came in for Martin Taylor, Nils-Eric Johansson, Garry Flitcroft and Dwight Yorke.

And it was Rovers who started the liveliest of the two sides, with Cole and Gallagher combining well up front, well supported by Emerton and Ferguson from midfield.

Rovers won their first corner after just three minutes and their first shot at goal after just four minutes.

Cole and Emerton combined on the edge of the box, Cole squared it to Lucas Neill on the overlap down the right, his centre was met by Paul Gallagher in the six yard box and his clever flick went over Bramble and Given, but the ball landed on the roof of the net.

Two minutes later, Brad Friedel had to be alert, diving to his left to deny Jenas.

Barry Ferguson went close with a free-kick from the edge of the area, his right foot shot curled round the wall but flew inches wide.

There were then a couple of chances for Andy Cole, first he beat the offside trap to race to the edge of the box, he strikes the ball cleanly, but it is straight at Given.

Then a minute later, a huge punt upfield by Brad Friedel, bounced over Bernard and O'Brien. Cole took advantage of the mix-up, lifted the ball over the Newcastle defenders and Given, but the ball bounced just wide of the goal, and the referee's whistle thwarted any further attempts by Cole.

Rovers kept Shearer quiet for the majority of the first half, but Brad had to be at his best to deny the former Rovers' striker, Shearer out jumped the Rovers defence, Friedel diving to his right to palm away the ball.

On twenty-five minutes, Rovers almost went in front, Andy Cole played a through ball to Barry Ferguson - reminiscent of his goal-making pass to the Scot in the game against Birmingham - but Ferguson was just offside as Given came out to save.

It would be Ferguson's last involvement in the game, as seconds later he was involved in an innocuous challenge with Gary Speed. The Rovers midfielder went down in some pain. He was attended to by the physio and doctor before being stretchered off the field of play with a serious knee injury. Garry Flitcroft replaced the Scottish international.

Souness looks on as Ferguson is put on the stretcher

Rovers were causing all the problems, taking the game to their hosts, but the home side did have chances, with Friedel having to deny Robert one handed, and then making another save from a Shearer shot.

Newcastle did get the ball in the back of the net, when Solano pounced on an error by Gresko. Michael Chopra put the ball in the net from the cross by the Peruvian, but he was correctly flagged offside.

The second half was more of the same for Rovers, as they continued to take the game to Newcastle.

Straight from the off in the second forty-five, Tugay played a great pass through to the impressive Brett Emerton, who in turn put in an excellent cross, that Andy O'Brien was fortunate to see his block go straight into the arms of Shay Given.

Newcastle's best chance of the second half came just past the hour mark, good work by Laurent Robert, the Frenchman set up Nolberto Solano, but the Peruvian scuffed his shot and Friedel made an easy save.

Rovers continued to press on and on seventy-two minutes, they eventually got their just rewards.

Andy Cole chased a through ball, appeared to be pushed over by Bernard, but play was waved on, Cole battled with Given on the floor, the ball was cleared to Emerton who swung in the ball and it was bundled into the back of the net by Paul Gallagher.

Gallagher bundles the ball over the line

A minute later Newcastle had Andy O'Brien to thank as he amazingly stopped the hard working Andy Cole from registering his 250th goal in league football. Cole pounced on an error by Titus Bramble, his header looped over Given and appeared to be bouncing towards the empty net when O'Brien managed to get back to clear the ball over the bar from inside the six yard box.

At no stage during the game did Newcastle put Rovers under an concerted pressure, the team defended from the front, with Andy Cole and man-of-the-match Paul Gallagher putting pressure on the back four from the off, and this unsettled the home side.

It was an excellent hard working performance from the team, but the win will be marred by the injury to Barry Ferguson.

See tomorrow's Rovers World for the full post match reaction!