Newport 1 - Blackburn 2: Jordan Rhodes scores 10th of season to sink 10-man Exiles

JORDAN RHODES scored his 10th goal of the season to rescue 10-man Blackburn against Newport County.

 

Jordan Rhodes scoring the winning goal for Blackburn in the 2-1 victory over Newport

 

The Scotland international has been tipped for a £12million move to Sheffield Wednesday or Middlesbrough this month but proved his worth with a second-half winner for the Championship side.

Ben Marshall put Rovers in front with an early penalty before Mark Byrne equalised for the home side after Chris Brown had been sent off for the visitors.

 

Marshall had given the visitors the best possible start when he won and scored a penalty after just six minutes following a push in the back from defender Scott Barrow.

But Blackburn's ecstasy quickly evaporated when Brown was sent off for a horror challenge on Medy Elito which left the midfielder unable to continue.

The red card allowed Newport to get a foothold in the contest and they were soon level thanks to a stunning strike from Byrne from the edge of the area.

 

Blackburn boss Paul Lambert called upon Rhodes for the second half and he was soon causing problems for the Newport defence.

The 25-year-old then got the winner with a superb header from Tom Lawrence's free kick from the left to book their fourth-round clash with Oxford United.

Newport's misery was then compounded when goalkeeper Joe Day was sent off in the final moments for a foul on Craig Conway.