FORMER Ewood favourite Alan Shearer is the overwhelming favourite to bag the opening goal in Monday night's FA Cup clash.

The Newcastle striker is quoted as a 9-2 shot to break the deadlock, according to bookmakers Coral.

Shearer's strike partner, Duncan Ferguson, is a 6-1 shot as are Rovers duo Egil Ostenstad and Nathan Blake.

And you can get odds of 8-1 on Rovers old boy Kevin Gallacher coming back to haunt his old club by netting the opener.

Newcastle are favourites to win the clash at 5-4, with a Rovers victory priced 7-4 and the draw 11-5.

ROVERS supporters have one last chance to purchase tickets for the eagerly anticipated FA Cup clash against Newcastle on Monday.

Only a limited number of seats remain and the ticket office has extended its opening hours to meet the demand.

Tickets will be on sale tomorrow between 11am and 3pm and they can be purchased by dropping in at the ground or calling the freephone ticket hotline on 08080 101010.

The game is all ticket and fans are reminded that no tickets will be available on the day of the game.

MARAGRET Baldwin has learned a thing or two about lotteries since she first started working for Rovers in the 1970s.

For Margaret, of New Wellington Street, Blackburn, has just clocked up 25 years as administrator in the Lottery Department at Ewood Park.

To mark her silver service, Margaret was presented with a glass bowl and a bouquet of flowers by Rovers commercial manager Ken Beamish.

ROVERS had a distinguished visitor checking out their impressive new Academy facilities at Brockhall this week.

Former England manager and current Watford boss Graham Taylor had a guided tour on Monday and gave the new development his full seal of approval.

ROVERS two Academy teams are both in action against Liverpool at Brockhall next Saturday.

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