Kinnear off to losing start

Goals from Christopher Samba and Roque Santa Cruz gave Rovers a deserved half-time lead at St James' Park as the Magpies wilted once again.

But they staged a fightback after the break when skipper Michael Owen converted a 48th-minute penalty - after he had been tripped by Ryan Nelsen - to spark a much-improved second-half display, although one which ultimately came up short.

Caretaker boss Chris Hughton's hands have been tied by injuries and suspensions, but the patchwork side he fielded did not look up to the task in the opening 45 minutes.

With Carlos Villanueva orchestrating from the middle of the park for Rovers and Santa Cruz too hot for a traumatised defence to handle, the signs were not good.

The visitors would have been ahead with just nine minutes gone had Shay Given not kept out Matt Derbyshire's shot after he had escaped from Steven Taylor, but the opening goal arrived with 31 minutes gone when Samba ran on to Villanueva's free-kick unchallenged to head past the Irishman.

Newcastle, however, did not learn their lesson, and when Brett Emerton curled a similarly inviting cross into the box 10 minutes later, Santa Cruz supplied an equally comprehensive finish to put his side in complete control.

The Magpies were appealing in vain for a penalty after Martin Olsson appeared to handle Damien Duff's cross under pressure from Geremi.

Referee Steve Tanner was unmoved on that occasion, but he did point to the spot a minute later after Rovers skipper Nelsen had clipped Owen's heels.

The England international dispatched the penalty past keeper Jason Brown and his side might have been level within three minutes had Geremi volleyed Duff's cross towards goal rather than miscontrolled it.