The Magpies will head for Owen's former club Liverpool next Saturday sitting just three points clear of the drop zone and knowing another defeat - they have not won in 11 Barclays Premier League games - could see that cushion evaporate.

Their plight deepened markedly on Saturday afternoon when a game they had dominated for long periods blew up in their faces with just seconds remaining when Blackburn substitute Matt Derbyshire made the most of a lightning break to snatch victory.

But had Owen taken any of the chance which had earlier come his way, Kevin Keegan could have been celebrating a first win since his return.

However, he did not, in part as a result of the excellence of Rovers keeper Brad Friedel, and Derbyshire's late strike, coupled with Reading's last-gasp success a few miles down the A19 at Middlesbrough, punished his side in cruel fashion.

But as manager and captain alike reflected upon a disappointing conclusion to an afternoon which for so long had the scent of a revival, they were able at least to take some positives.

Owen said: "It doesn't get any easier, going away to Anfield, but if we can play like that, we have got a chance.

"After Liverpool, we have got some games which are going to be vitally important against teams who are in and around us, so if we can take that performance and build on it.

"We have played well under the new manager is spells, but that is the first game where we have really played well for the whole game, so we will take the positives out of that."

Newcastle's plight could get much worse yet with the trip to Anfield being followed by a visit to Birmingham, who beat Carling Cup winners Tottenham 4-1 at St Andrews yesterday to close to within two points of the Magpies.

Keegan's next two home games are against fellow strugglers Fulham and Reading, and victory in both is essential if his side is to avoid the unseemly scramble at the foot of the table.

Things might have been so different had they taken their chances on Saturday to cap what was arguably their best performance of a disastrous season to date.

On another day, Owen would have claimed the match ball with a hat-trick, but a glaring 35th-minute miss and two excellent second-half saves from Brad Friedel kept him at bay.

Alan Smith too had two glorious chances to finally open his Newcastle account, but headed over from close range before the break and dragged a shot harmlessly wide after it to extend his personal drought.

Owen is too experienced to allow his misses to get to him, but he was acutely aware of the implications after seeing Derbyshire snatch all three points with a last-minute break-away winner.

He said: "It was a cruel end. We had plenty of chances, myself being the main culprit.

"I probably had more chances in that game then I have in the last 10, so it is frustrating not to get one and frustrating not to get at least a draw. We deserved to win.

"But there are positives even though we are nearer the relegation zone now and we have lost another game.

"Everyone was far happier after this game than they have been after the last couple of games.

"After Manchester United and Aston Villa, there really was little to take out of the game, but on Saturday, we played really well and I blame myself for not converting any."

The win maintained Rovers' charge for Europe and kept manager Mark Hughes' long-term plans on track.

Hughes said: "We try every year to achieve something. European football is something we feel will help us develop as a team and as a club.

"We have enjoyed the last two seasons when we have been involved in Europe.

"We didn't do as well in the actual competition this year as we would have liked, so that has made us possibly more determined to get into the competition next year as well."