Jordan Rhodes guides Blackburn through
Jordan Rhodes guided 10-man Blackburn into the FA Cup fourth round by breaking Newport's resistance with a 75th-minute winner at Rodney Parade.
Prolific goalscorer Rhodes, who was a half-time substitute, headed home Tom Lawrence's cross past County goalkeeper Joe Day, who was sent off for a foul during the dying seconds, to secure a 2-1 victory and a trip to Oxford in the next round.
It represented an impressive show of resilience by Rovers, who had Chris Brown red-carded just 10 minutes into the game following a challenge on Medy Elito that saw Elito carried off.
Blackburn had taken the lead two minutes before Brown saw red when Ben Marshall rifled home a penalty, before captain Mark Byrne's superb right-footed strike 15 minutes before half-time gave League Two County - 50 places below Championship outfit Blackburn - a brilliant equaliser.
But Wales' last remaining team in the competition this season could not fight back for a second time, with Rhodes' late strike proving decisive.
Rovers boss Paul Lambert made three changes from the side beaten 1-0 at home by Championship opponents Brighton two days ago, as he handed starts to Lawrence, Corry Evans and Chris Taylor - Lee Williamson had also been due to start but he was a late withdrawal.
Rhodes, Matt Kilgallon and Craig Conway made way, although Kilgallon had been due to be on the bench, but he missed out because of illness.
Newport, meanwhile, showed two switches following a 1-0 success away to York last time out, as Day and Scott Barrow featured in the starting line-up for Warren Feeney's first home game as manager following John Sheridan's departure to Oldham last week.
County made a bright start, dominating possession and testing Rovers goalkeeper Jason Steele from the outset, with Aaron Collins going close, but Blackburn opened their account after just eight minutes.
Marshall's run into the County box was halted by Scott Barrow, and referee Craig Breakspear punished the Newport player for a foul, with Marshall stepping up to take the penalty and calmly tucking it past Day.
But it was far from plain-sailing for Blackburn, and they were reduced to 10 men just three minutes later when Brown was dismissed for violent conduct following a tackle on Elito.
Lambert cut an animated figure on the sidelines, and Steele was then forced into a fine save as he tipped Byrne's dipping drive over the bar.
Byrne was not to be denied 15 minutes before half-time, though, as he beat Steele with a superb shot from the edge of Blackburn's box that flew into the top right-hand corner and hauled the underdogs level.
Newport continued to dominate in terms of serious threats on goal, and Feeney would have been comfortably the happier man after a full-blown opening 45 minutes ended 1-1.
Lambert sent on Rhodes for the second period, with Rhodes replacing Elliott Bennett, but Rovers still had a heavy-handed approach and Lawrence was booked after 47 minutes following a couple of hefty challenges.
Rhodes proved an immediate threat to the Newport defence with his darting runs and willingness to take on players, and Blackburn looked far more of a threat with their principal striker well and truly into the action.
It was Rhodes who predictably provided the game's decisive moment, easing away from his marker to head home Lawrence's cross and confirm a Kassam Stadium appointment with Oxford later this month.
Source: PA
