Filed under: Blackburn Rovers, Newcastle, Premier League, Football, Match Reports
Demba Ba claimed a hat-trick as Newcastle continued their fine start to the Premier League season, while adding to the pressure on the Blackburn manager Steve Kean. The striker signed from West Ham in the summer struck twice in three minutes before David Hoilett gave Blackburn some hope with a well-taken goal shortly before the interval.
But, after hitting the bar through Martin Olsson, Blackburn's hopes of at least a point vanished when Ba struck again with a header that looped over Paul Robinson.
Blackburn finished with ten men Martin Olsson was sent off in the 70th minute for a foul on Best - and some of their fans were soon targeting Kean as they chanted "you don't know what you're doing".
THE GOALS:
27 mins: Ba collects a cross from Leon Best and holds off a defender Scott Dann before turning in to power a shot past Paul Robinson 1-0.
30 mins: Ba again, this time from close range after Steven Taylor heads Cheik Tiote's cross back across goal 2-0.
37 mins: Ryan Taylor gives the ball away and a Rovers' counter-attack ends with David Hoilett powering in a shot from the edge of the area 2-1.
54 mins: Ba completes his hat-trick with a header that drifts over Robinson, who is under pressure from Best.
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS:
6 mins: Ba surges forwards and drills a shot just over the Blackburn bar.
20 mins: Best lashes a first-time effort over the same bar from 18 yards.
23 mins: David Hoilett fails to connect at the far post with a cross from Martin Olsson.
41 mins: Best leaps high, but can only head over a cross from Ryan Taylor.
52 mins: Ryan Taylor's fine header prevents Yakubu an equaliser.
53 mins: Martin Olsson loops a shot over Tim Krul, but it bounces on top of the bar.
70 mins: Olsson is sent off for cynically bringing down Best.
78 mins: Best turns inside before firing over the bar - just one of several opportunities falling to the striker.
REACTION:
Newcastle manager Alan Pardew was delighted with the performance of his side:
"I thought we were brilliant. We controlled the game and there were some tremendous performances. We controlled the game and were magnficent all day. We are unbeaten and looked sound. We could have scored more than three. The club is good health at the moment. I wwould be nice tohave a season when there is a good feeling about the place."
On Ba and his fellow-striker Best:
"I thought our two strikers were great. Demba Bas had a quiet start when he went through Ramada and it was difficult for him, but he put in a terrific performance. Strikers thrive on goals and scoring those in front of the Toon Army will have done him a power of good. Leon could have had a hat-trick as well and they work well as a pair."
On a brief appearance by Hatem Ben Arfa:
"It was nice to see him on the pitch becasue he can do things that our other players can't do. He gave a nice little cameo. Perhaps Peter Lovenkrands could have gone on, but Hatem has had a tough time with injuries and I thought it would be good for him to get a reaction from the fans."
Blackburn manager Kean was furious about United's third goal:
"The whole momentum of the game swung from that moment. I struggle to see how it was not a free-kick for us. I feel a bit aggreived because Scott Dann was going to clear off the line and Leon Best bundled him over. Martin Olsson protested to the referee and was booked - and eventually ended up with another yellow card. It was the turning point of the game because we felt it was a clear foul."
On how his players will react to another defeat:
!We have a group of players that will know they will stick together if things are going against us."
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Source: http://www.fanhouse.co.uk/2011/09/24/newcastle-3-blackburn-1-demba-ba-adds-to-steve-keans-worries/
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