Toon survives the enormous fear to progress in the FA Cup and keep his trophy dream alive

EDDIE HOWE’s job prospects are all but safe for a while yet.

Honking Newcastle stunk at Ewood Park, but they are now three wins away from that elusive first domestic trophy since 1955.

Newcastle celebrate their FA Cup escape, winning on penaltiesCredit: Getty

Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dubravka saves Dom Hyam's final penalty — Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dubravka saves Dom Hyam’s final penaltyCredit: AP

Dubravka against Hyam, after being Toon's main man all night — Dubravka against Hyam, after being Toon’s main man all nightCredit: Getty

Sammie Szmodics and Co respond to Rovers' shootout woes — Sammie Szmodics and Co respond to Rovers’ shootout woesCredit: Getty

They may be in the hat thanks to penalty hero Martin Dubravka, but not all is well.

With their league form declining, the Magpies’ season continues to flicker.

Yet Blackburn, with just one Championship win in 13, gave them a huge scare and will be kidding themselves that they didn’t knock out the Saudi-funded Tynesiders.

Apart from Dubravka, the Geordies have been rotten here and Howe desperately needs to find the answers if he wants to stay in the post long-term.

Anthony Gordon fired them ahead but Sammie Szmodics held them back, with Dom Hyan missing the all-important penalty for the plucky Rovers.

And so did the penalties, with Newcastle’s Fabian Schar firing the first into the bottom corner.

Dubravka then saved from Szmodics before Pears gobbled up Barnes’ woeful effort.

Callum Brittain leveled the score, but Bruno Guimaraes made it 2-1.

Szmodics botched his deserved equalizer, but in vainCredit: Getty

HOW TO GET FREE BETTS ON FOOTBALL

Anthony Gordon scored the opener after 71 minutesCredit: Reuters

The pressure then came on Sigurdsson but he made no mistake, with Elliot Anderson and Yasin Ayari both scoring to leave the score at 3-3.

Newcastle’s Gordon shot through the middle for Dom Hyam to score, but Dubravka flung himself to the right and tapped the post.

Blackburn vs Newcastle STOPPED mid-match after protest forcing players to intervene during FA Cup match

Newcastle showed their relief as they celebrated wildly.

Fans – like Howe – are desperate for silverware, especially after slipping to 10th in the Prem.

Niall Ennis and Co hail Szmodics' 79th-minute equalizer for Blackburn — Niall Ennis and Co hail Szmodics’ 79th-minute equalizer for BlackburnCredit: Alamy

Anthony Gordon celebrates his Newcastle openerCredit: PA

HOW TO GET FREE BETTS ON FOOTBALL