Sacked by Newcastle a year ago after eight typically turbulent months in charge, Sam Allardyce got his own back with a victory that raises questions about the future of one of his successors. Newcastle are struggling under Joe Kinnear. His record is just four wins in 16 league games.

Kinnear insisted before this defeat that he has been asked by the club’s owner, Mike Ashley, to stay. Judging by the reaction of Newcastle’s supporters after Blackburn had scored three times in the second half, and Nicky Butt had been sent off, a new contract for Kinnear would do little to end the disquiet.

It was under Ashley that Allardyce failed but at Blackburn he may have found another niche. Sam will be allowed to be “The Man” at Ewood Park. The former Bolton manager has made Blackburn more difficult to beat, as an undefeated five-match start to his tenure testifies. His re-energising of Benni McCarthy and Jason Roberts, who shared the goals yesterday, carried them to a second league win under his care to climb out of the bottom three.

“Psychologically that’s very good because if we continue to win matches we won’t go down there again,” said Allardyce, who resisted the temptation to gloat. “I got some stick [from the Newcastle supporters] but the players answered for me by winning a crucial game.”

Allardyce’s biggest headache now may be what to do with Roque Santa Cruz. The striker was on the bench and when he did come on in the second half, the reaction from the home support was mixed. How long they can afford not to cash in on a player at the peak of his value remains to be seen.

That Blackburn can contemplate winning games without Santa Cruz is down to the form of McCarthy and Roberts. A soft penalty decision 15 minutes into the second half for a foul on McCarthy changed the game as the striker slotted home. “It was definitely the turning point,” said Kinnear. “We started pushing forward and leaving gaps.”

Roberts exploited one of those when Newcastle failed to deal with a long kick from Paul Robinson. A second from Roberts completed a miserable day for Kinnear, who watched Joey Barton and Jose Enrique have a slanging match.

Star man: Jason Roberts (Blackburn).

Yellow cards: Blackburn: Grella, Roberts. Newcastle: Edgar, Butt, Barton.

Red card: Newcastle: Butt.

Referee: R Styles.

Attendance: 25,583.

Blackburn: Robinson 6, Ooijer 6, Samba 5 (Dunn 45min, 8), Nelsen 6, Warnock 6, Emerton 6, Tugay 5 (Grella 59min, 7), Andrews 6, Pedersen 6, Roberts 8, McCarthy 7 (Santa Cruz 70min).

Newcastle: Given 6, Edgar 5, Coloccini 5, Bassong 5, Enrique 5, Duff 5 (Gutierrez 79min), Guthrie 6, Butt 6, N’Zogbia 6 (Barton 74min), Carroll 7, Owen 5.