Pardew disappointed by draw

Alan Pardew hailed Newcastle's defensive display against Blackburn at Ewood Park but admitted his disappointment at failing to grab a victory.

Fabricio Coloccini brought a brilliant save out of Paul Robinson and Peter Lovenkrands hit the post, but the goalless stalemate consigned last week's 4-4 draw with Arsenal to distant memory.

Pardew joked: "I'm pleased with that after the performance against Arsenal. We've had enough excitement for one week. A dull game is just what we needed."

He added: "It's tinged with disappointment because our performance was really excellent. We stood up to them really well and bossed the movement and passing.

"The only disappointment was around the final third where our moment never arrived or we just made the wrong decision. Perhaps we should have worked their keeper a bit harder."

Pardew singled out Jose Enrique for special praise after his magnificent performance down the left flank which set up numerous chances including the one for Lovenkrands.

Pardew added: "If anyone deserved to win the game today it was Jose Enrique - he was magnificent. It just felt like one of those home games where you're disappointed to come away with a point."

Rovers boss Steve Kean sought solace in the fact that his side snapped their recent run of defeats, but admitted they had not done enough to claim all three points.

Kean said: "In the last three games we've been getting double-figure shots on goal but today it wasn't our day and we will have to respect a point.

"I felt we were edgy from the first minute and a little bit frantic. We rushed our passes and never got started. We never got any rhythm into our play.

"A few games ago we were playing fantastically and ending up with nothing. We dug in and to get a clean sheet against a team who scored four against Arsenal last week was pleasing."

But the point came at a price with both Roque Santa Cruz and Junior Hoilett forced off at the break with minor injuries, Santa Cruz feeling the groin strain which kept him out of recent games.

Kean added: "Roque felt the injury but it's only a small one. We've got a good break now so he can get some extensive treatment and get some tough work done."