Blackburn vs Newcastle LIVE: FA Cup result after thrilling penalty shoot-out

Alan Shearer blasts Newcastle for showing a “terrible attitude” in the 4-1 defeat at Arsenal on Saturday (he’s not wrong).

He says tonight is an opportunity to get over a “terrible performance” - but there will be further questions should Newcastle crash out.

They have to improve defensively.

There have been issues with the turnstiles at Ewood Park, leading to the delay in kick-off.

Alan Shearer’s statue is the best part of 100 miles from Alan Shearer Way. The former is famously just outside St James’ Park, a bronzed right arm up in trademark celebration which, it is to be hoped, he performed after all 206 of his goals for Newcastle United. But the road named after Newcastle’s local hero is on the other side of the Pennines, a stretch of A666 that runs past Ewood Park as far as Shearer’s Island; which, it has to be said, is a rather grandiose name for a roundabout.

Blackburn Rovers against Newcastle is a meeting of six-time FA Cup winners, but when they have not triumphed since 1928 and 1955 respectively. It is also the Shearer derby, a clash of clubs united by their love for a prolific No 9. Shearer became Newcastle’s record goalscorer, dislodging another prolific Geordie, in Jackie Milburn. He made history of a different sort with Blackburn: not merely with his scoring feats, but by making them champions of England for the first time since World War 1.

As two of Shearer’s former clubs meet in the fifth round of the FA Cup tonight, Richard Jolly salutes a No 9 whose goals and records meant more because of who he scored them for.

There has been a delay of kick-off tonight due to fans being unable to get into the ground at Ewood Park.

The FA Cup tie will now begin at 8pm.

Road to the fifth round:

Blackburn, meanwhile, have been among the goals so far in the FA Cup.

Rovers beat League One’s Cambridge United 5-2 before knocking out League Two’s Wrexham with a 4-1 win.

Sammie Szmodics is the joint-top scorer in the FA Cup this season with five goals so far during Blackburn’s run.

Now he and they take on Premier League opposition...

Road to the fifth round:

Newcastle have won both matches in the FA Cup away from home so far, and are going for a third tonight.

Eddie Howe’s side defeated rivals Sunderland before knocking out Fulham at Craven Cottage.

Eddie Howe on the importance of the injured Joelinton, who has been missing for the majority of Newcastle’s poor form:

We’ve missed Joe’s qualities, especially physically, his robustness, his abilities in duels, set-plays for and against.

“We’re very lucky to have a midfielder that’s as big as he is and as competitive as he is and whenever you lose those qualities, you notice when they’re not there.

“He’s a very unusual midfielder, really, a prototype. You don’t get many like him and it’s certainly been missed, what he can bring.”

Eddie Howe makes five changes for tonight’s FA Cup trip to Blackburn. Martin Dubravka has recovered from illness and replaces Loris Karius, while Dan Burn, Jamaal Lascelles, Joe Willock and Jacob Muphy also come in.

Making way are Sven Botman, Lewis Miley, Tino Livramento and Miguel Almiron.

Blackburn make two changes with the injured Sondre Tronstad and Ryan Hedges missing out, and Ben Chrisene and Andrew Moran coming in.

Team news!

Blackburn XI: Pears, Hyam, McFadzean, Wharton, Brittain, Buckley, Moran, Chrisene, Szmodics, Dolan, Gallagher

Newcastle XI: Dubravka, Trippier, Lascelles, Schar, Burn, Longstaff, Guimaraes, Willock, Murphy, Isak, Gordon

We’ll have team news in the next 10 minutes or so!