ROVERS crashed to a second successive defeat after they were out-classed by a powerful Newcastle team at Morecambe's Christie Park last night.

Former Wimbledon striker Carl Cort started the rout when he opened the scoring midway through the first half before the rampant Magpies cashed in on sloppy defending to add three more during a one-sided second half.

And had it not been for goalkeeper Alan Miller, Rovers' punishment could have been even more severe at the end of a disappointing night.

Manager Alan Murray selected a similar side to the one which slumped to a 3-0 defeat at Leeds United recently with Craig Hignett, Alan Mahon and Keith Gillespie in midfield, Andy Todd at the back, and Ciccio Grabbi up front.

And it was Rovers who made the brighter start as Jonathan Douglas had an early header ruled out for offside and Mahon went close with a free kick.

However, United broke the deadlock with their first real attack in the 23rd minute thanks to a flowing three-man move.

Jamie McClen swept a great ball out to Diego Gavilan on the right who crossed for Cort to power a header past Miller.

Rovers had opportunities to equalise before the break as Marc Richards fired wide of the far post instead of cutting the ball back for the unmarked Grabbi.

Then a Douglas volley flew over the bar after Gillespie and Grabbi had combined to fashion the opening.

It was all one-way traffic in the second half, however, as Newcastle moved up a gear.

Bradley Orr grabbed the second on 65 minutes after Cort had dispossessed Todd and slipped a clever ball into Michael Chopra.

And Robbie Elliot then made it 3-0 with a sweetly struck free kick after Gordon Greer was penalised for a foul on the edge of the box.

By now, United had their tails up and Miller saved from both Cort and Chopra as the home defence capitulated.

Eventually, they did add a fourth in the closing stages when Miller scuffed a goal-kick straight to Chopra who ran in unchallenged before dispatching a neat finish.

Murray could at least console himself with the performance of Mahon who turned in an energetic display on the left-hand side of midfield.

ROVERS: Miller, Hockenhull, Morgan, Hignett, Todd, Greer, Gillespie, Douglas, Richards, Grabbi, Mahon. Subs: Danns (for Richards, 63) Not used: Corbett, Renton, Taylor, Dunning.

NEWCASTLE: Harper, Griffin, Elliot, O'Brien, Caldwell, Bassedas, Gavilan, McClen, Cort, Bellamy, Robert. Subs: Chopra (for Bellamy, 53), Orr (for Robert, 61), Taylor (for O'Brien, 81) Not used: Collin, Brennan.

ROVERS RES...0 NEWCASTLE RES...4