Source: Daily_Mail
Newcastle 3 Blackburn 1: Toon flying high after Ba hat-trick shoots down Rovers
Demba Ba opened his Newcastle accountwith a hat-trick as the Magpies brushed Blackburn aside to extend theirunbeaten start to the season.[LNB] The Senegal international scored twice inside three first-half minutes to give his side a commanding lead, and then after Junior Hoilett had pulled one back for the visitors, who had Martin Olsson sent off, headed home a third with 54 minutes gone.[LNB] Hot shot: Demba Ba scores his team's opening goal past Scott Dann[LNB] [LNB]MATCH FACTS [LNB]Newcastle: Krul, Simpson, Steven Taylor, Coloccini, Ryan Taylor, Obertan, Cabaye, Tiote, Gutierrez (Marveaux 84), Ba (Ben Arfa 74), Best. Subs Not Used: Harper, Guthrie, Lovenkrands, Perch, Sammy Ameobi.[LNB]Scorer: Ba 27, 30, 54.[LNB]Blackburn: Robinson, Salgado, Samba, Givet, Dann (Rochina 63), Hoilett, Lowe, Nzonzi, Olsson, Formica (Roberts 63), Yakubu (Grella 79). Subs Not Used: Bunn, Petrovic, Vukcevic, Hanley.[LNB]Yellow card: Olsson, Lowe, Nzonzi, Salgado.[LNB]Red card: Olsson (69).[LNB]Scorer: Hoilett 37.[LNB]Att: 46,236.[LNB]Ref: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire).[LNB]Click here for the latest Premier League table, fixtures and results [LNB] Alan Pardew's men might have won even more comfortably with Leon Best passing up two late opportunities to add to his three goals for the season, but they were good value for awin which took them to 12 points from a possible 18 and stretched theirrun to eight games without defeat in all competitions during the current campaign.[LNB] In the process, they ended Blackburn's remarkable run of five successive Premier League victories at St James' Park on an afternoon when they never looked like adding to it in front of a crowd of 46,236.[LNB] The two sides will meet again in theCarling Cup fourth round at Ewood Park next month after being paired together in today's draw, but the Magpies will head to Lancashire brimming with confidence after cementing their place in the upper ranks of the league table.[LNB] There was much anger and frustrationon Tyneside when the summer transfer window closed with the club havingfailed to land the high-profile striker for whom they had been searching since Andy Carroll's departure in January.[LNB] [LNB] Amid the fall-out, however, Ba's arrival had gone largely unnoticed after an uncertain start to his career at St James' Park.[LNB] Cracker: Ba scores his second goal against Blackburn[LNB]But today was the day the 26-year-old chose to announce himself in style with a treble which reminded the locals of the potency which brought him seven goals in just12 Premier League appearances for West Ham last season.[LNB] Ba whistled a long-range sixth-minute effort over Paul Robinson's crossbar as the Magpies made a bright start with Gabriel Obertan particularly influential.[LNB] But he demonstrated his prowess in front of goal 21 minutes later when he opened his account in some style.[LNB] Best's driven cross from the left presented its own challenges, but Ba controlled superbly to turn centraldefender Scott Dann and smash a right-foot shot past Robinson.[LNB] Trick shot: Newcastle's Leon Best challenges Blackburn's goalkeeper Paul Robinson (left) as the ball goes in for Demba Ba's third goal[LNB]The striker dropped to the ground to kiss the turf, and he was celebrating again within three minutes.[LNB] Steven Taylor, who had headed upfield for an earlier free-kick, was still deep in enemy territory to head Danny Simpson's deep ball back across the penalty area and Olsson could only help it on towards Ba, who headed it past the stranded Robinson from close range.[LNB] That really should have been it for the Magpies, who had dominated for much of the opening half-hour, and they might have added to their lead had Dann not made an important blockto keep out Jonas Gutierrez's 36th-minute shot.[LNB] However, Rovers got themselves back into the game seconds later after Ryan Taylor had gifted them possession on halfway.[LNB] Head boy: Ba scores his second goal[LNB]Mauro Formica capitalised and the ball was fed out to Olsson on the left, and he crossed for Hoilett, who had looked the visitors' most dangerous player, to control and thump a half-volley into the roof of the net.[LNB] Pardew was furious on the touchline,although his mood might have improved on the stoke of half-time had Obertan's shot flown inside rather than outside the post after he and Yohan Cabaye had staged a pacy counter-attack.[LNB] Rovers returned in spirited fashion and went close when Olsson met Michael Salgado's 53rd-minute cross and looped a shot on to Tim Krul's crossbar.[LNB] But the Magpies eased further ahead within seconds when Ba looped a header over Robinson and into the net with Best desperately trying to get the final touch.[LNB] Slap on the back: Alan Pardew congratulates Ba after his performance[LNB] Simpson was almost caught out by Olsson once again on the hour when he failed to intercept another Salgado cross, but the ball hit the midfielder's shins and dropped wide.[LNB] Obertan curled a 68th-minute shot just wide with Newcastle dominant once again, and they caused was aided further two minutes later when Olsson was dismissed after being booked for the second time for a cynical challenge on Best.[LNB] Cabaye tested Robinson from distance and Best twice fired over the top after working himself into promising positions.[LNB] David N'Zonzi launched a dipping long-range effort over Krul's bar with eight minutes remaining, but Rovers' cause was forlorn.[LNB] Former Newcastle striker Lualua set to join Blackpool on free transferBring on United! Aldershot handed dream draw against Premier League championsAll the latest Newcastle United FC news, features and opinionAll the latest Blackburn Rovers FC news, features and opinion[LNB] [LNB]
