Newcastle edge out Everton

Striker Craig Bellamy gave Newcastle a vital lead

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Everton 1-3 Newcastle United

Newcastle United put a halt to Everton's winning run at Goodison Park as they battled to a vital victory.

Bobby Robson's side were forced to fight a rearguard action for long periods as Everton attempted to build on their promising start to the season.

But Newcastle hit Everton with devastating counter-punches from Craig Bellamy and Nolberto Solano to establish a two-goal lead early in the second half.

It's a massive win for us, but a slightly flattering scoreline and they certainly played better than a 3-1 defeat

Newcastle manager Bobby Robson

Everton also lost defender Abel Xavier when he collided with goalkeeper Paul Gerrard to gift Bellamy Newcastle's first.

And even though Everton hit back with a goal from David Weir, they still slumped to their second home league defeat of the season.

Newcastle confirmed the win with another sweeping break that saw Bellamy and Laurent Robert set up Clarence Acuna for the third four minutes from time.

Everton were aiming for a third successsive home win after impressive victories against West Ham United and Aston Villa.

And they started in style as in-form Dane Thomas Gravesen twice went close early on.

Solano scored Newcastle's second

Niclas Alexandersson was also narrowly off target before Newcastle went ahead in farcical circumstances in the 19th minute.

Acuna's hopeful 50-yard pass saw Everton goalkeeper Gerrard race from his area, only to collide hopelessly with defender Xavier.

The pair lay flat out on the Goodison turf, leaving Bellamy to gratefully accept the gift and tap into an empty net.

The catastrophe had further consequences for Everton as Xavier went off with a head injury.

We have made and wasted so many chances, which has been happening too frequently for us - and if we had taken half those chances we would be in the top six rather than stuck where we are

Everton manager Walter Smith

It was a cruel double blow for Everton, who completely dominated the first half.

Everton piled forward, and £4.5m striker Tomasz Radzinski was denied by heroic Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given as the visitors were under siege.

Walter Smith's side were stunned three minutes after the break when Newcastle doubled their advantage, Solano scoring with a diving header after good work by Alan Shearer and Gary Speed.

Everton got the goal their play deserved after 51 minutes when Weir powered Niclas Alexandersson's corner past Given.

Bellamy could have snuffed out the Everton revival as Shearer played Bellamy clear, but Gerrard made amends for his earlier calamity with a brilliant save.

Newcastle had further opportunities to punish Everton, and finally killed the game off in the closing stages when they broke clear and Acuna added a third.

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Everton: Gerrard, Pistone, Weir, Unsworth, Naysmith, Alexandersson, Gravesen, Gemmill, Xavier, Radzinski, Campbell. Subs: Stubbs, Ferguson, Simonsen, Gascoigne, Hibbert.

Newcastle United: Given, Elliott, O'Brien, Dabizas, Hughes, Solano, Acuna, Speed, Robert, Shearer, Bellamy. Subs: Bassedas, Harper, Lua-Lua, Ameobi, Distin.

Referee: J Winter (Stockton-on-Tees)