Full time of extra time: United 1 Rovers 1


The shootout:

Johnson scored 0-1
Shearer scored 1-1
Sherwood missed 1-1
Hamann missed 1-1
Dailly scored 1-2
Pearce scored 2-2
Kenna scored 2-3
Hughes missed 2-3
Dunn scored 2-4

Blackburn win

Ruud Gullit said:
 
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Roy Hodgson:

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Guardian match report:

An extraordinary finale, in which both sides missed penalties that would have settled the tie in their favour, took Newcastle United and Blackburn Rovers into extra-time at St James' Park last night as Blackburn's injury-ravaged side summoned up a display of admirable spirit.

First Alan Shearer ballooned high over the bar for Newcastle after George Georgiadis had been pushed in the area by Gary Croft. When David Batty was adjudged to have fouled Tim Sherwood in injury-time a heroic Blackburn win looked on the cards, only for Shay Given to save the penalty from Jeff Kenna low to his left.

In common with the Worthington Cup habits of Arsenal and Manchester United, Rovers fielded virtually a reserve side but, whereas the Premiership's top two do so as a matter of policy, Rovers' selection owed everything to what their manager Roy Hodgson has described as the most horrific injury crisis in his 23 years as a coach.

Presented with such formidable odds, Blackburn opted to play Kevin Davies as a lone striker ahead of a congested midfield and they kept body and soul together for a mere eight minutes before Newcastle took the lead.

Dietmar Hamann crossed from the left and Shearer thudded in a header from six yards, his first goal in eight games possessing added piquancy by the fact that he outwitted a former Newcastle defender Darren Peacock in the process.

Newcastle wrested possession almost at will for the first half-hour; indeed, when Christian Dailly finally laid a tackle on Blackburn's behalf it was a most un-Christian hack on David Batty, for which he was booked.

But possession is only half the battle and Newcastle, having created no other worthwhile chance in that time, conceded an equaliser to Tim Sherwood. Shay Given's clearance punch from a corner was effective enough, but when Jeff Kenna's cross came in from the right Sherwood's finish was unerring.

Hamann's return from a 10-week absence with hamstring trouble has brought an immediate recall to the German squad and his strength in central midfield offered Newcastle heart. There was little else to admire as the crowd turned its wrath upon Warren Barton in particular.

Midway through the half, Newcastle's predicament might have worsened. The tousle-haired Johnson, a 19-year-old Lancashire lad, was dashing with increasing enthusiasm down Blackburn's right and when his cross found the head of Sherwood, Dario Marcolin, in only his second appearance since his move from Lazio, struck the foot of the post.

Biffa