Alan Shearer's 300th and 301st career goals, at the ground where he made his name, counted for nothing as an inconsistent Newcastle side were beaten by Blackburn.
Shearer smashed home two goals, one a penalty he had won himself and the second a thumping header from a corner. However, Blackburn scored five at the other end.
The visitors' woe began as early as the third minute when Nikos Dabizas was dismissed for deliberate handball on the goalline and David Dunn fired home the penalty.
Dunn doubled the lead just six minutes later, racing onto Keith Gillespie's pass to fire under Shay Given.
That appeared to be that but Shearer's fighting spirit was unquenchable. The referee gave a spot-kick just after the half hour mark for a foul by Lucas Neill on the former England captain and Shearer stepped up to bang in his landmark goal.
Soon after the break he levelled matters when he met Robert's corner and powered his header into the top corner.
Ten-man Newcastle were after an improbable victory before Dunn's 54th minute volley was deflected into the path of Martin Taylor, who coolly steered the ball home.
A crazy goal just ten minutes later, Gillespie's header helped into the net by a combination of Dwight Yorke, Andy Griffin and Given set Blackburn on their way for the three points.
Matt Jansen came off the subs bench for his first appearance of the season and was given a hero's welcome and almost scored, but Given pulled off an excellent stop from his low shot.
Taylor made it five and sealed the point for Rovers after 74 minutes, when he headed home a David Thompson corner.
Blackburn boss Graeme Souness explained: "It was great entertainment. We started very well but let them back into it. It was all in all a good performance from us though, as sometimes it's difficult to play ten men."
His opposite number Bobby Robson simply said: "We lost it in the first five minutes."