Newcastle vs Blackburn – Roberts to ensure shock of the weekend

Jason Roberts loves playing against Newcastle and he can step off the bench to extend Blackburn’s fine recent record at St James’ Park.

On paper, this may look like the banker of the weekend, with unbeaten Newcastle at home to struggling Blackburn.

However, Blackburn will be buoyed by beating Arsenal, their first Premier League victory of the season, and lesser so by continuing their winning mentality by defeating League One Leyton Orient in the Carling Cup.

Blackburn are unbeaten in their last seven trips to St James’ Park and have impressively won on their last five visits.

Newcastle are made of stern stuff this season under Alan Pardew, sitting in the dizzy heights of fourth in the table after remaining unbeaten through the opening five games.

They have also only lost one on their last 11 at home and are 10/11 to beat Blackburn.

Blackburn may be worth a punt at a big 3/1 to catch Newcastle on an off day, with the draw available at 5/2 in the Premier League odds.

Although Yakubu will almost certainly start in attack for Blackburn, it is Roberts who could have the bigger say on the outcome.

Roberts has three goals in his last three appearances against the Magpies and is 3/1 to score at any time.

But as he is liable to start on the bench, taking the 9/1 that he scores the last goal of the game could be a money maker.

For Newcastle, Leon Best has scored nine times in his last 12 appearances and is 6/5 to extend his fine scoring run with a goal in the 90 minutes.

Meanwhile, there is a chance that Hatem Ben Arfa could be ready to make a first Premier League appearance in almost a year and he is 9/4 to cap this achievement with a goal.