STEVE Kean believes Blackburn Rovers deserved to at least force a replay after crashing out of the FA Cup at Newcastle this afternoon.

Jonas Gutierrez's injury time winner sealed a deserved 2-1 win for the hosts but Kean was left reflecting on what might have been.

He said: "I think the way we played in the first half, we certainly deserved to be up and on reflection maybe we deserved to be up by more than one goal.

"Steven Nzonzi and Petrovic really got tight to Newcastle's midfield two and stopped them from dictating play.

"We are disappointed we never saw the game out and at least forced a replay.

"It took two very good goals on their behalf but when you get that late in a game you feel you have done enough to earn a replay."

Kean insisted Chris Samba had been left out of the squad through injury and Yakubu had also been left on the subtitutes bench due to a slight knock.

He said: "We wanted to get through. Everyone can see that by the way we played in the first half.

"We were really disappointed we didn't score more goals in the first half.

"We have players coming back from injury now though and there is going to be real competition for places come the vist of Fulham nexst weekend."