ON A DAY OF FIRSTS AT EWOOD PARK, Newcastle United supporters saluted the return to form of a striker they worship, hailed a new one who took his first steps towards becoming a hero, and booed a third who endured a hugely frustrating afternoon against his old club.

But while the sight of Alan Shearer scoring his first goal for 25 hours, Michael Owen opening his account, Craig Bellamy finishing a loser on his first appearance against the club who kicked him out and Newcastle recording their first win of the season will have given the Toon Army every reason to smile, yesterday’s flattering victory and clean sheet against Blackburn Rovers did little to paper over the cracks in defence that should give Graeme Souness, the manager, serious cause for concern.

Souness, understandably, did not want to dwell on the bad points of an average game and, after bringing a five-match winless streak to an end against his old club with ten men after the dismissal of Steven Taylor, who could blame him? But when Souness sits down to assess this match on video, he may find that the negatives outweigh the positives.

Newcastle’s first victory in the top flight at Ewood Park for 44 years may have alleviated the mounting pressure on Souness’s shoulders, but he faces a massive task turning this team into the “formidable” one he believes are capable of a top-six finish in the Premiership.

“Secure is not a word that goes hand in hand with football management,” Souness said. “That’s a word I have never used and will never use. The pressure starts again although (the win) means I will be more pleasant around my family now.”

Encouraged by the win, Souness even appeared willing to bury the hatchet with Bellamy, who was jettisoned from Tyneside in the summer after accusing the manager of lying in an interview. He made a point of shaking the player’s hand at the final whistle. “I don’t hold grudges,” Souness said. Some might disagree.

Newcastle were directionless and largely devoid of ideas before Alan Shearer broke the deadlock with a blistering free kick, but that goal may be the kick-start Newcastle need. Certainly, the sight of Shearer and Owen getting on the score sheet will have given everyone associated with the club a lift.

Neither looked impressive against a Blackburn side that were right to wonder how they lost 3-0, and at times during an afternoon of laboured football it was hard to believe that they had once played together for England, but it is a partnership that promises riches.

This was Owen’s second game since his £16 million move from Real Madrid, but while it may be a while before Newcastle see the best of him, he is still a major threat even half-fit. His goal — a finely taken header — was testament to just that.

Shearer, on the other hand, looked all the while as if his legs had gone before he scored against his former club but Owen was adamant that it would be foolish to write off the Premiership’s all-time top goalscorer. “Obviously Alan is not as good as he was a few years ago, but he is still good enough to be a big, big force in the Premier League,” Owen said.

Souness agreed. “I think you would be an absolute fool to lose faith in Alan given his track record,” he said. “I work with him every day and I don’t see any desire missing. Opportunities for strikers don’t come along and then they come along all at once. I hope that is the start of a run for Alan and it was good for Michael to get off the mark as well.”

Souness’s description of the game as a “dogged affair” was putting it kindly. Blackburn dominated a first half that was notable mainly for Newcastle fans goading Bellamy and Robbie Savage while Blackburn supporters berated Souness, who left them for St James’ Park last September. The game was also witness to some kamikaze Newcastle defending, for which the awful Jean-Alain Boumsong was generally to blame. Morten Gamst Pedersen flashed a free kick over the bar and Steven Reid saw a couple of efforts sail agonisingly wide but clear-cut chances were in short supply for either side before Shearer scored in the 62nd minute, lashing Lee Clark’s short free-kick beyond Brad Friedel.

One goal became two four minutes later when Charles N’Zogbia, who was a constant threat down the left side all game, turned Lucas Neill and planted a perfect cross on the head of Owen to score. Newcastle braced themselves for a nervy climax when Taylor was sent off for a second bookable offence after fouling Bellamy, before N’Zogbia calmed the visiting team’s nerves with a solo effort late on, rounding Friedel after beating the offside trap to cap a terrific display.

Blackburn have now gone more than six hours without a goal, but Mark Hughes, the manager, appeared unconcerned. “The goals will come,” he said. Souness can only hope they continue for Newcastle.