NEWCASTLE .... 1 BLACKBURN .... 1

said. “To be fair, my previous club wasn’t of the same standard as Blackburn but we struggled that day.

“I remember thinking afterwards, ‘I’m a long way off from this kind of level’.

“But against Newcastle, I proved to myself that I can play at this level and this team can. That says a lot.”

While it also highlighted much about the Magpies’ own inadequacies and just where the cup lies in Rafa Benitez’s list of priorities, it confirmed Rovers are on an upward curve.

Tony Mowbray’s fluid side took a deserved lead when Dack headed in his 13th goal of the season on 56 minutes and only a late penalty from Matt Ritchie earned the hosts a replay.

Chance

Benitez described the outcome as the “worst-case scenario” but should have known Toon hopes of a win would be diminished by his team selection.

With his struggling side facing relegation rivals Cardiff just days after the replay, there’s little chance of him calling in the cavalry at Ewood Park either. He admitted afterwards that Newcastle only ever looked like scoring once he introduced Jonjo Shelvey,

Christian Atsu and Ayoze Perez, who won the 85th-minute spot-kick, were also thrown on.

But they probably will not start the replay even though Ritchie – captain on the day he broke his duck this term – admits the regular first-teamers would love the chance to finish the job off.

The Newcastle midfielder said: “We were in the Championship not so long ago so we’re used to Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday. Your body adapts to it.

“Personally, I’d rather play. Any footballer would rather do that than train.”