MATT Derbyshire's late strike made it a week to remember for the young striker as Rovers inflicted more misery on Newcastle United and Kevin Keegan.

After becoming the proud father of twin boys just 48 hours earlier, the England under 21 star came off the bench to upstage all with a cooly taken goal on the stroke of ninety minutes.

Up until that point it had been a game of spurned chances from the home side and fine saves to deny Rovers. Michael Owen the chief culprit for the home side after he missed a hatful of opportunities.

Newcastle started strongly, Duff and Milner both saw efforts deflected wide as Rovers struggled to contain their hosts. Michael Owen wasting the home side's best chance on 35 when he put an effort wide after rounding Friedel.

Rovers pressured late in the half, Andre Ooijer seeing his shot saved by Harper, whilst Emerton should have done better when through.

The second period followed a similar pattern with Rovers having to defend for their lives, Milner dragged an effort wide, but Brad Friedel's fantastic saved stopped Michael Owen from heading home.

Rovers came more into the game, Pedersen saw an effort saved, then Santa Cruz was thwarted by Harper after good work from subs Roberts and Derbyshire.

But just as the game headed into added time, Pedersen played the ball down the line, Bentley released his pass to Derbyshire at the perfect moment, and young Matt capped off a perfect week.

Mark Hughes made just the one change from the side that defeated Bolton Wanderers 4-1 six days previous. Welcoming back Andre Ooijer to captain the side, David Dunn's calf strain meaning the Dutchman slotted back into the reshuffled side that saw Brett Emerton move to the right wing slot and the versatile David Bentley move inside.

It was Emerton who arguably had Rovers' best chance of the first half, just ten minutes had elapsed when the Australian got the better of Jose Enrique to bear down on goal, but dragged his effort horribly wide with just Harper to beat.

That was a rare effort for Rovers as Newcastle dominated the opening half hour of the game. A series of dead ball situations allowed the home side to force the pressure but Mark Hughes' side just about held firm. A last ditch challenge from Andre Ooijer saw him deflect a Damien Duff effort wide, then James Milner also saw a strike deflected wide.

On 21 minutes Michael Owen found rare space to feed Damien Duff, but a combination of Ooijer and Samba smothered the danger. Whilst a minute later Ooijer was up the other end to put an effort narrowly wide after latching onto a Chris Samba knockdown.

But Rovers were able breath a sigh of relief on 35 minutes when Joey Barton played in Michael Owen, as Friedel rushed out the England striker took the ball around the 'keeper on the left but then dragged his strike a yard wide of the far post.

That chance for the home side woke Rovers from their lethargy and they ended the half the stronger of the two sides.

Andre Ooijer again threatened, first he volleyed narrowly wide after striking a high ball first time, then from a corner he was denied by Harper who rushed towards the defender to make the save with his chest.

Zurab Khizanishvili also went close, his glanced header from a David Bentley corner going the wrong side of the upright.

Rovers had an early chance after the restart, breaking quickly upfield, Emerton onto Santa Cruz, but the Paraguayan lifted his effort over the bar.

The home side came back strongly, Smith dragged an effort wide, but just before the hour mark a deep cross from Nicky Butt was headed goalwards by Michael Owen only for the striker to be denied by Brad Friedel tipping the close-range effort over the bar.

That prompted Mark Hughes into action, thrusting Matt Derbyshire and Jason Roberts into action for Brett Emerton and Benni McCarthy in a positive move from the Rovers boss, but as is so often the case as they were readjusting Newcastle broke and it took another fingertip save from Friedel to deny Owen once again.

Despite continuous pressure Rovers defended excellently, the back four standing up to everything that was thrown at them, on the rare opportunity that Newcastle were afforded a sight at goal, Friedel saved comfortably.

But like the first half, as the second wore on Rovers again started to overpower their opponents, sub Jason Roberts proving to be a real threat with his strength and hold-up play.

Two minutes from time it looked like Rovers had wasted the opportunity to claim all three points when Roque Santa Cruz saw an effort saved by Harper after excellent work from Derbyshire but ninety seconds later that was all forgotten.

It stemmed from a Newcastle corner, but as the home side pushed bodies forward they were caught on the break, Pedersen and Roberts worked hard to win the ball on the touchline before feeding David Bentley on the halfway line, the timing of his pass to Derbyshire was perfection, the 21 year-old raced clear to beat the advancing Steve Harper with a strike out of the top drawer, when cool as you like he clipped the ball over the Newcastle 'stopper and into the corner of the net.

That prompted the 'rock the cradle' celebrations at the corner flag, but with five additional minutes shown by the officials there was little time to rest.

But the side in blue and white held on with comparative ease to pick up yet another win in the North East, the three points sending Rovers up to seventh by five.

NEWCASTLE: Harper, Enrique, Barton, Owen (c), Duff (sub N'Zogbia 78 mins), Milner, Smith, Beye, Butt (sub Martins 67 mins), Faye, Taylor.

Subs not used: Forster (GK), Cacapa, Carroll.

ROVERS: Friedel, Ooijer (c), Samba, Khizanishvili, Warnock, Emerton (sub Derbyshire 60 mins), Bentley, Reid, Pedersen, Santa Cruz, McCarthy (sub Roberts 60 mins).

Subs not used: Brown (GK), Tugay, Mokoena.

Booked: Beye (Newcastle), Bentley, Pedersen (Rovers).