Source: Daily_Mail
Blackburn 3 Newcastle 0: Big Sam enjoying his days in the sun
Sam Allardyce saw Blackburn see off his former club Newcastle
Things aren't looking good at the moment for Newcastle boss Joe Kinnear
More...
Blackburn 3 Newcastle 0: All the action as it happened
Blackburn and Celtic target Janko subject of£7m bid from Serie A side Palermo
BLACKBURN FC NEWS FROM ACROSS THE NET
NEWCASTLE FC NEWS FROM ACROSS THE NET
To watch the Toon Army round on Joe Kinnear for the first time, Joey Barton mark his return to action by tangling with team-mates Jose Enrique and Sebastien Bassong and Nicky Butt get himself sent off for a mindless challenge was to witness a club in meltdown.
Kinnear knows it. Unlike Allardyce, he will be given time to appease the fans, even if now is not the time to be talking about a contract extension.
'I understand how the fans feel,' said Kinnear. 'They're crying out for success. Obviously, they're going to vent their anger. Nine times out of 10 it's going to be the manager and it's my turn today. 'I'm a proud fella and I don't want to be relegated. I said I'd keep them up and I intend to.'
Not surprisingly, Kinnear was unhappy with Rob Styles' decision to award a penalty for David Edgar's challenge on Benni McCarthy that allowed the South Africa striker to fire Blackburn in front - or the fact that the same referee, who controversially dismissed Habib Beye back in October, saw fit to give Butt two yellow cards.
But the truth is that Newcastle were all over the place as Jason Roberts fired Blackburn's second goal and the frustration was too much for Barton when Enrique failed to track back and prevent Roberts firing a late third.
Wor cry: Bassong (centre) separates squabbling Barton and Enrique
The bust-up fuelled speculation of a split in the dressing room at St James' Park between the British players and foreign contingent.
That is one more headache for Kinnear, who only has£10m to spend as he tries to bring in two more foreigners - Rennes midfielder Stephane Mbia and St-Etienne striker Bafetimbi Gomis - to stop Newcastle sliding into a relegation battle.
'I was trying to do it wisely and buy two at£5m, but both bids were turned down, they want£10m for each. Now it's whether I go for one at£10m or keep searching for two fives.
'I'm not having a knock at the previous managers, but whoever did their homework on the squad needs to take a long look at it because we haven't got any back-up.
'You'd think a club this size would be doubled up in every position. We're not.'
Dennis Wise might have an opinion on that, but Allardyce will not care. Newcastle are no longer his problem.
He resisted the temptation to gloat after maintaining his unbeaten start at Blackburn and taking the club out of the bottom three, offering only sympathy to the away fans who taunted him whenever they were not abusing their own manager and team.
Benni McCarthy scores Blackburn's second goal
He said: 'Like every player or manager playing against his old club, you don't want to be on the back end of a defeat. But getting out of the bottom three is the most important thing.'
Allardyce has problems of his own, with Roque Santa Cruz's future still up in the air as Manchester City prepare to raise their offer for the unsettled Paraguay striker this week.
Santa Cruz made his first appearance under the new manager on Saturday and his arrival off the bench was greeted by jeers from a sizeable chunk of the Blackburn crowd, unhappy over his attempts to secure a move to City.
The transfer saga has overshadowed Allardyce's fine start at Ewood Park, not to mention the burgeoning partnership between Roberts and McCarthy, but there appears to be no discontent in his dressing room.
Roberts said: 'Roque is a fantastic player and I hope we can keep him, but if he does go for a lot of money he'll be worth every penny.
'I consider him my friend but, of course, I want to stay in the team. If people are talking about me, that's cool.'
Newcastle have appointed Colin Calderwood, sacked as Nottingham Forest manager on Boxing Day, in a coaching role.
More...
Blackburn 3 Newcastle 0: All the action as it happened
Blackburn and Celtic target Janko subject of£7m bid from Serie A side Palermo
BLACKBURN FC NEWS FROM ACROSS THE NET
NEWCASTLE FC NEWS FROM ACROSS THE NET
