COLIN Hendry earned the ultimate tribute from Kevin Keegan on a night when Blackburn Rovers regained their pride, if not any points.

The Newcastle United manager's actions said it all as he paused on his way to the post-match Press conference to shake Hendry by the hand and congratulate him on a performance that made Les Ferdinand's chances of replacing Alan Shearer for England next week even less likely than they had been at the start of the game.

Then Keegan let words speak louder than actions when he said: "Hendry, in particular, had a tremendous game at the heart of Blackburn's defence.

"It was one of the best performances against us that I have ever seen."

Praise indeed and richly deserved, even though Rovers did not return with the point their overall performance merited.

Only in English football, perhaps, could you watch two such contrasting 1-0 defeats for your team. On Sunday, they were depressingly poor but, on Tyneside, Rovers matched the runaway Premiership leaders in all but an early Robert Lee goal. Defenders, especially Hendry, dominated as the rain teemed down and the reigning champions met the would-be pretenders to their crown in an absorbing contest.

Yet there was another clash that summed up, even more, a classic contest which wouldn't have brought a murmur of protest from anyone if it had finished level.

I doubt David Ginola met anyone quite like Monsieur David Batty when he was plying his pretty skills down the flanks for Paris St Germain.

Well, he has now.

From the moment, during the first half, that Batty was switched to the right - debutant Billy McKinlay moving to the left - a full house at St James's Park were licking their lips in anticipation.

They weren't disappointed, though the outcome was not quite what the majority expected.

Personally, I was disappointed in Ginola. We all know the man has outstanding skills but, in my book, he's in danger of becoming a prima donna.

An early "dive" was worth maybe 5.7 in the Olympics but did him no credit.

And, after being fairly if robustly tackled by Batty just before half time and feeling the effects, the Frenchman was clearly out for revenge.

It was exacted with a crude late challenge on Batty early in the second half.

Referee Dermot Gallagher, not one of my favourite officials, rightly booked the enigmatic Frenchman. But to be fair Gallagher got most things right in an outstanding display.

Despite what many critics say, Batty can play too and showed it on more than one occasion.

What a pity his finishing isn't of the same high standard, or Rovers might well be celebrating becoming the first visiting team to take something from St James's Park this season.

In general terms they played well enough and that should give them heart, despite their appalling away record, with just one point from seven trips.

True, they didn't create that much. But neither did Newcastle against a team reshaped because of injuries to Ian Pearce and Stuart Ripley.

McKinlay got his first start, initially on right but switched to the opposite flank during the first half and Rovers looked better for it.

The Scot worked really hard, had one or two volleyed efforts but, understandably, looked as though he needs time to adjust to the pace of the game.

Rovers maintained their unfortunate record of falling a goal behind in every single away game this season and there were some who feared a rout after Lee's 13th minute opener.

But they came back with spirit and no little style.

The only major criticism that could be made of them was that they didn't create enough clear-cut chances.

Given the service, Alan Shearer would surely have continued his scoring record against his hometown club.

Though these are difficult times for his partner Mike Newell. The harder he tries, and there can never be any complaint about Newell's effort, the worse things seem to go for the striker.

It was, again, a surprise that Chris Sutton was not used at a much earlier stage.

Lee's early goal, as he cut in from the right, following build-up play between the effervescent Peter Beardsley and Keith Gillespie, could have boosted Newcastle confidence and destroyed Rovers' morale.

His left-foot shot gave Tim Flowers no chance as it went in off the post.

But Rovers fought back well and, twice, Newcastle defenders had to clear off their own goal-line, first from Batty, then from Lars Bohinen. Batty blasted just wide as he followed up the second.

The second half was great to watch but there were few chances until the late stages when Rovers were almost caught on the break as they pushed forward desperately for an equaliser.

Beardsley wasted the best of them, after being slipped through by John Beresford.

The best indication of how tough it had been for Ginola came with the belated first display of his "party tricks", juggling the ball some three minutes from time. Then he was caught tying his laces as a pass was allowed to slip harmlessly out of play!

Rovers finished with Newell blasting a shot on the turn over the bar and it said much about their evening.

They contributed plenty, deserved something, finished with nothing. So near, yet so far away.

But better to be watching Rovers in this mood, despite being sat in the pouring rain in Newcastle's new Press box, than the way they were at Goodison.

Oh and by the way, make mine a double Batty, rather than a Gin-ola and tonic thanks very much.

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