ROVERS got back to winning ways after coming from behind to put three past Newcastle at Ewood Park.

After a first half were chances were few and far between, the game sprang to life moments after the restart when Obafemi Martins glanced the visitors in front.

But Rovers weren't behind long as David Bentley curled in a wonderful free-kick just seven minutes later, and the turnaround was complete when the England man's effort from the edge of the area crashed in off the foot of the post.

The game could have gone either way in an enthralling second period, until Tugay wrapped up proceedings and calmed the nerves in injury time.

Mark Hughes side had gone the whole of November without a win, picking up two points in the process, but with a new month on the calendar, winning ways were once again restored.

Before the game Mark Hughes made just the one change from the side that started against Aston Villa, with Ryan Nelsen serving a two-match suspension following his sending off on Wednesday night, it meant a return for Tugay in the centre of midfield.

Whilst under-fire Newcastle United boss Sam Allardyce made just the two changes from the side that had lost 3-0 against Liverpool a week earlier.

The game started with a lot of energy and enthusiasm, David Dunn's early run towards goal was brought to a crashing halt by Nicky Butt who went into Martin Atkinson's book. But Rovers couldn't make anything from the resulting free-kick, David Bentley's cross arriving straight into the arms of Given.

That was the way play went in the early stages of the game, Rovers getting into promising positions only for the final ball being too close to Given in the Newcastle goal.

But on the quarter hour Rovers should have taken the lead. David Dunn played the ball up to Benni McCarthy who flicked it perfectly into the path of strike-partner Roque Santa Cruz, but as he raced towards goal and Shay Given raced out to meet him, the Paraguayan clipped the ball over the advancing 'keeper but also wide of goal.

That was as close as Rovers would come to scoring until the final minute of the first half, when Bentley couldn't find the empty net from distance after Given had a rush of blood by charging out of his area.

In the meantime it was Newcastle who had the better of the play, Alan Smith and Obafemi Martins were the visitors chief threat, but excellent defending by Andre Ooijer and Christopher Samba managed to snuff out any danger in and around Brad Friedel's box.

Joey Barton sliced a bouncing ball into the arms of Friedel, whilst Geremi hit a daisy-cutter of a free-kick that the Rovers number one watched sail harmlessly wide.

As the referee blew the whistle to indicate half-time, there was plenty for both managers to ponder over.

Mark Hughes will have barely made his way to his seat in the dugout when Rovers found themselves a goal down almost straight from the restart.

Brett Emerton was adjudged to have fouled James Milner on the far left touchline, and from the resulting free-kick from Geremi, Obafemi Martins got a vital glancing touch to head the ball beyond Friedel and into the bottom corner of the net.

It was certainly not the start to the second half that the Blackburn Rovers boss would have wanted.

But Rovers were behind for just seven minutes, Bentley had already seen claims for a penalty waved away as he went down in the area, but when Charles N'Zogbia had felled Roque Santa Cruz 25 yards out, the England man curled a wonderful free-kick into the top corner past a static Shay Given.

Rovers, however, were very nearly the architects of their own downfall moments later. Brett Emerton played Aaron Mokoena into trouble and his clearance was blocked by Joey Barton. An almighty scramble followed with bodies and boots flung at the ball, thankfully it was Brad Friedel who came away with it firmly in his grasp.

But Bentley then blotted his copybook by picking up a booking for a foul on Barton, that was his fifth of the season and a place in the stands beckons for the Rovers midfielder in home game against West Ham United in eight days time.

Then it was Samba's turn to be relieved when his mis-kick allowed the ball to run through to Martins, but under pressure from Friedel, he put his header over the bar.

Despite the leveller manager Mark Hughes was obviously still not impressed with what he saw, Pedersen, Roberts and Reid were all brought on within a matter of minutes of each other.

And it was two of the substitutes who had a hand in Rovers' taking the lead on 67 minutes. A high leap from Pedersen saw him head up field, Roberts got a toe to the ball to push it into the path of Roque Santa Cruz, as he bore down on goal it had looked like he'd lost possession but the ball rolled into the path of David Bentley and he made it two for him and his side with a crisp strike from the corner of the area that went in off the far post.

Bentley was inches away from netting a third when following a flowing move he once again struck the woodwork, but although his effort was a near carbon-copy of the one that had netted seven minutes early, this time the ball bounced off the foot of the post and away, it seemed destined that Roque Santa Cruz would pounce on the rebound, but Habib Beye flung himself in the way to block. Reid tried his luck but that was also blocked, whilst Roberts was denied by the legs of Given.

From what had been quite a dull first half, the second was an end-to-end thriller, Samba had to fling himself in front of the ball to block an effort from N'Zogbia, whilst Stephen Warnock twice had to make important clearances.

It was then Morten Gamst Pedersen's turn to see an effort flash narrowly wide, Tugay's sublime ball forward was pounced upon by the Norwegian who flung himself full-length towards the ball, it was a great diving header but alas the ball rolled the wrong side of the post.

Two minutes from time referee Martin Atkinson inexplicably gave a free-kick against Samba when he'd been kicked accidentally. In a similar position to the free-kick from which Newcastle had taken the lead, Geremi again played the ball in, but thankfully this time Mark Viduka was static and Friedel claimed the ball.

Newcastle became all the more desperate, time after time high balls were pumped into the Rovers box, and when four additional minutes were shown it looked like we were all set for a nervy ending to the game.

But the unlikely figure of Tugay settled any tension by adding a third. Hesitant defending from Beye saw Morten Gamst Pedersen take full advantage, he fed Roberts who seemed in two minds what to do in front of goal, thankfully he found Tugay and the maestro stroked the ball home. It was possibly his first goal for Rovers from inside the area, the 37 year-old certainly proving there is still life in his old boots.

After the disappointment of November, Rovers can look forward to a successful December, as we know, it is usually the month when their season gets going, who knows where it will take us this season?

ROVERS: Friedel (c), Emerton, Ooijer, Samba, Warnock, Bentley, Tugay, Mokoena (sub Reid 66 mins), Dunn (sub Pedersen 58 mins), McCarthy (sub Roberts 61 mins), Santa Cruz.

Subs not used: Brown (GK), Savage.

NEWCASTLE: Given, Rosehnal, Barton, Martins, N'Zogbia, Milner, Smith, Geremi (c), Beye, Butt, Faye (sub Carr 24 mins (sub Viduka 72 mins)).

Subs: Harper (GK), Enrique, Emre.

Booked: Bentley, Tugay (Rovers), Butt, Barton, Milner (Newcastle)

Attendance: 27,477