Newcastle United remain at the wrong end of the Premier League table tonight after being hit by a sucker punch from Matty Derbyshire.
The Blackburn sub snatched a dramatic late winner in the final minute at St James’s Park on a day when the Magpies dominated the game but failed to convert their chances.
Keegan replaced Frenchman Charles N’Zogbia following the 5-1 defeat against Manchester United as Jose Enrique began his first game since Arsenal away in January in the FA Cup.
The player had limped off that day with a calf injury but after shaking off the problem had been unable to force a way into KK’s team until today.
But KK kept faith in Alan Smith as the England international started up front with skipper Michael Owen.
It also meant Toon favourite Oba Martins started the game on the bench after recovering from an ankle problem.
United went into the game looking for their first victory in the Premier League since December 15 at Fulham with their last home win coming just seven days before against Birmingham.
United kicked off the game with a rainbow as backdrop behind the East Stand and looked determined to end their woeful run of form.
Newcastle created a great chance with just three minutes on the clock as James Milner made a great run down the right before rolling it into the path of Damien Duff only for the Irishman’s stabbed effort to roll agonisingly wide of the post.
Smith then forced a corner on eight minutes and after Duff’s corner had been charged down Milner’s swirling right wing cross found the head of the former Man United striker who sent a flicked header just inches over the top.
United’s best chance of the opening quarter came on 21 minutes.
Owen rolled it unselfishly for Smith but the England man was unable to get any contact on it and when it landed at the feet of Duff it was Blackburn star Morten Gamst Pedersen who blocked the goalbound effort.
Owen was also slipped in 10 minutes before the break and after rounding former Liverpool team-mate Brad Friedel he could only screw the ball wide.
Blackburn created little in terms of chances but Harper had to be alert with eight minutes left of the first half as Andre Ooijer cracked one just wide of his right hand post.
However, Newcastle went in level at the break after being frustrated by Blackburn.
Newcastle made a steady start to the second half and forced two corners inside six minutes but were still unable to find the breakthrough.
On 53 minutes Smith broke free of his marker Christopher Samba after Barton’s pass but he hit his shot wide on the turn.
Two minutes later and United stretched Blackburn to the limit as Nicky Butt’s clever chipped pass from the right was headed at goal by Owen yet Friedel managed to somehow tip it over at Gallowgate.
With 61 minutes played Barton picked out Owen, however, his side footed effort was deflected wide of the post by Friedel’s foot as Newcastle were left cursing their luck once again.
With 26 minutes left Martins made his return to the United first team since the clash with Man City almost two months as Butt made way for the Nigerian ace.
On 78 minutes Keegan introduced N’Zogbia for Duff with time running out for the Magpies.
Martins picked out Milner at the front post with 11 minutes left but Friedel again dented the hopes of the Geordie Nation.
Tempers boiled over seconds later as Habib Beye failed to hand the ball back to Pedersen on the touchline for a throw as an 18 man brawl, involving coaching staff and players, followed in a tense finish.
Beye and Pedersen were both booked in an ugly incident that required a policeman to aid the separation of the United and Blackburn players.
United were indebted to Harper with two minutes left when his great block denied Santa Cruz after Matty Derbyshire picked him out at the back stick.
But disaster struck for Newcastle in the final minute when, with United on the attack, Rovers caught them on the break and Bentley sent Derbyshire clear before he slotted home following a one on one with Harper.
UNITED: Harper, Beye, Enrique, Faye, Taylor, Milner, Butt (Martins 67) Barton, Duff (N’Zogbia 78), Smith, Owen.
Subs: Forster, Carroll, Cacapa.
ROVERS: Friedel, Ooijer, Warnock, Samba, Emerton (Derbyshire 60), Santa Cruz, McCarthy (Roberts 60), Pedersen, Khizanishvili, Reid.
Subs: Brown, Tugay, Mokoena
Crowd: 50,796
Ref: Rob Styles.
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