Steve Kean's side missed the chance to move out of the bottom three after tasting defeat at the hands of Newcastle United

Rovers failed to find the back of the net on home soil for the first time since November as they lost 2-0 at Ewood Park.

It was certainly smash and grab from the visitors as they lead at the break through Ryan Taylor's wickedly deflected shot, then sealed the points in added time courtesy of a breakaway goal from Gabriel Obertan.

It was a tough result to take for Rovers as between those two strikes Rovers had dominated the match but couldn't turn chances into goals. Gael Givet had seen a shot cleared off the line, Leon Best headed against his own bar, before David Dunn saw his penalty kick saved by Tim Krul.

The second half saw Krul deny Scott Dann from close range, Mauro Formica found the side-netting when well placed and Gael Givet's goalbound shot was blocked by James Perch.

On chances created Rovers could have won by a country mile, but it was Newcastle United who took both of theirs.

With new arrivals Marcus Olsson and Bradley Orr not signed in time for the match, it was Rovers' first signing of the month Anthony Modeste who was the only new face on show at a chilly Ewood Park.

The French striker was the only change in the starting eleven from last time out against Everton, coming in for his first league start in place of David Goodwillie who missed out due to illness.

After an opening in which Rovers edged it was the visitors who took the lead in fortunate circumstances on twelve minutes. But Rovers did only have themselves to blame.

A midfield pass from Radosav Petrovic dissected Scott Dann and Jason Lowe who both thought the other was going to collect the ball, Newcastle took up possession and worked it inside for Ryan Taylor to shoot from distance only for it to divert off the outstretched boot of Dann and beyond a wrong-footed Paul Robinson into the back of the net.

Rovers came close to hitting back immediately when from a corner from the left Gael Givet fired goalwards only for Danny Simpson to clear off the line. The Frenchman was first to the rebound but couldn't redirect the ball on target.

Rovers followed that up with further chances, Radosav Petrovic fired wide after a Morten Gamst Pedersen corner was cleared. Then the Norwegian's delivery from a free-kick out wide caused defender Mike Williamson to head behind in front of his own goal as Steven Nzonzi lurked.

Anthony Modeste had looked lively on his home debut and good footwork from the loan star saw him tee up Junior Hoilett, but his delicately placed shot was just wide of goal.

Then the ever impressive David Dunn teed up Modeste but his shot was blocked by a sliding Coloccini.

The half hour mark saw a flashpoint after a trademark run from Junior Hoilett was brought to an abrupt halt. The Canadian looked to be tricking his way into the area until Coloccini tripped him. The Rovers flyer went down in the box but referee Phil Dowd ruled the connection was outside. Newcastle's Ryan Taylor was less than impressed and confronted Hoilett which sparked the usual handbags. Ryan Taylor saw yellow for his reaction, Morten Gamst Pedersen saw his free-kick deflect wide.

Radosav Petrovic lashed narrowly wide once more after a Hoilett cross had found the Serbian, then from a Pedersen corner kick Leon Best headed against his own bar under pressure from Gael Givet.

Two minutes before the break Rovers were then awarded a penalty after Danny Simpson was adjudged to have fouled Anthony Modeste in the area. The Frenchman wanted to take the spot-kick himself, but responsibility lied with David Dunn, unfortunately Tim Krul dived the right way to save, and then reacted quickly to save Gael Givet's follow-up.

As Phil Dowd blew for half time, Rovers left the pitch wondering how they weren't ahead, let alone losing, as they had created all but one of the first half chances.

Rovers kept with the same eleven as the players returned for the second half, the visitors however made a change with James Perch coming on for Hatem Ben Arfa. The former Nottingham Forest player given the task of man marking David Dunn.

Newcastle came close to extending their lead from the restart, Ryan Taylor's ball into the area was left by Leon Best to allow Jonas Gutierrez a chance to shoot but the Argentine got his effort horribly wrong.

Rovers continued to force the pace, but the clear cut chances eluded them. Danny Simpson cleared a cross-shot from Anthony Modeste after the striker had got the ball past the advancing Tim Krul, whilst Junior Hoilett saw an effort blocked on the edge of the area by Leon Best.

In a bid to find that spark Steve Kean replaced Petrovic with Mauro Formica on 66 minutes, a minute later Formica found David Dunn who lifted the ball over the Newcastle defence for Anthony Modeste to chase. He had beaten the offside trap but his hurried first-time effort was wide.

The pressing continued by Rovers and they were denied once again by Krul. After Modeste had been fouled by Mike Williamson, Pedersen sent the resulting free-kick into the area, Scott Dann connected well with a header but it was straight at the Toon stopper.

The final quarter hour saw Rovers try and try but they just couldn't find an equaliser their play deserved.

Steve Nzonzi lashed over from distance before following Pedersen's through ball Formica could only find the side-netting.

Rovers then went closer when a Pedersen corner broke for Givet, but his shot was brilliantly blocked by James Perch. Krul was again alert to thwart a snapshot from Modeste.

Added time saw both centre halves, Gael Givet and Scott Dann, employed as makeshift forwards and so with Rovers light on numbers at the back a misplaced pass by Steve Nzonzi was punished in the worst possible manner.

Nzonzi inexplicably spread the ball to Gabriel Obertan who found Peter Lovenkrands before the ball was spread back to Obertan who raced away before beating Robinson.

It was Newcastle's second effort on target in the match, they were certainly clinical, unfortunately for Rovers, they weren't. They weren't short of chances, they just didn't take them.

ROVERS: Robinson (c), Lowe, Dann, Givet, Olsson, Pedersen, Petrovic (sub Formica 66 mins), Nzonzi, Hoilett, Dunn (sub Rochina 78 mins), Modeste.

Subs not used: Bunn (GK), Slew, Vukcevic, Hanley, Henley.

NEWCASTLE: Krul, Coloccini (c), Santon, Simpson, Williamson, Guthrie, Ben Arfa (sub Perch 46 mins), Taylor (sub Obertan 89 mins), Gutierrez, Best (sub Lovenkrands 77 mins), Ameobi.

Subs not used: Elliot (GK), Abeid, Gosling, Ferguson.

Booked: Lowe (Rovers), Taylor, Williamson. (Newcastle).

Attendance: 20,817