Rovers held by Magpies

Fabricio Coloccini came closest to breaking the deadlock for Newcastle at Ewood Park but a game which began with much promise ended goalless.

Coloccini had a rasping 54th minute drive tipped over the bar by Rovers keeper Paul Robinson after a first half in which both Roque Santa Cruz and Peter Lovenkrands hit the woodwork.

Magpies boss Alan Pardew threw stop-gap striker Shefki Kuqi into the fray for the final three minutes but his hopes of a fairytale start in the black and white stripes came to nothing.

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