MATCHWINNER Charlie Mulgrew believes Blackburn Rovers’ inner belief helped them pull off a shock, but deserved, victory at league leaders Newcastle United.

Mulgrew scored the only goal of the game with 15 minutes to go as Rovers made it back-to-back wins to move out of the Championship relegation zone.

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Owen Coyle’s side had been written off in many quarters, not least by the bookmakers who priced them as wide as 9/1 to record victory at St James’ Park.

But despite Newcastle going in search of a club record 10th consecutive win, Rovers left victorious thanks to the Scotland international’s first goal for the club since his move in August.

He was part of a resolute defensive performance as Rovers moved up to 20th in the league as they followed up a 3-2 win over Brentford with three points at Newcastle.

“I don’t think anyone outside our changing room gave us a chance but we believed in ourselves and really took advantage of being underdogs,” Mulgrew said.

“We battled well, it was a great team performance and everyone fought to the end.

“That’s what it was going to take.

“We played well and defended well and we knew we would have to going there.

“The big thing was Newcastle and getting their 10th win in a row but we knew it was about us and that was our main aim.

“We managed to get the goal and then hold on. We are delighted.”

Mulgrew was making just his fifth Rovers start since joining the club in August, and only his second alongside Darragh Leihan in the centre of defence.

The pair helped Rovers chalk up just a second clean sheet in 21 outings in all competitions this season in a resilient team display.

And despite netting his first goal in Blackburn colours, it was the clean sheet that pleased the 30-year-old most.

“The main thing for me is keeping clean sheets,” he added.

“If I can get the odd goal I’m delighted.

“Everyone battled and everyone worked hard.

“It was a great team performance, everyone deserved a lot of credit, and that’s the minimum we need to give in the next games as well.”

Mulgrew turned the ball in from close range with 15 minutes remaining, as he met Liam Feeney’s cross to hook the ball beyond Karl Darlow.

But he admits his celebration didn’t quite go to plan.

“The ball came in from Liam Feeney and I just managed to hold off the defender to my right and throw my size elevens at it,” he said.

“It was great to see it go in the net.

“I gave it the knee slide. I tried to go to our fans, I thought they were on the left side, but I was just delighted to score to be honest.”

Coyle praised the travelling Rovers fans who backed the team from the first whistle to the last at a sold-out St James’ Park.

And Mulgrew echoed those comments, adding: “They were great.

“They couldn’t have put them any further away from the pitch but we could all hear on them on the pitch and that really helped us so we appreciate that.”