Toon add to Bolton's woes

Shearer celebrates his first goal for Newcastle

Newcastle United 3-2 Bolton Wanderers
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Newcastle twice came from behind against Bolton before scoring a late winner in a scintillating encounter at St James' Park.

Alan Shearer equalised twice for the Toon after goals from Ricardo Gardner and Nicky Southall had put the visitors ahead in an end-to-end first half.

Bolton - desperate to bounce back from their midweek 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Manchester United - defended stoutly in the second half.

But Bobby Robson's team took all the points thanks to Craig Bellamy's late header.

The win moves Newcastle up to second in the Premier League after Arsenal dropped two points at home to Southampton.

  Key moments

19 mins: Gardner scores for Bolton

23 mins: Shearer equalises

34 mins: Southall scores for Bolton

43 mins: Shearer equalises again

79 mins: Bellamy scores Newcastle's winner

But the problems mount for Sam Allardyce's team - who have not won in 12 Premier League games and are being sucked deeper into the bottom three.

Newcastle should have scored in the first minute.

Craig Bellamy timed his run perfectly, beating the offside trap before collecting Nolberto Solano's through ball and charging towards the Bolton goal.

But Jussi Jaaskelainen - quickly off his line - forced the Newcastle striker wide and the ball drifted out of play for a goal-kick.

To say I'm gutted is an understatement. I have not seen one of those decisions in any game in any division all season and I probably won't see one again

Sam Allardyce

And it was Bolton who took the lead.

Gardner caught Jamie McGlen in possession deep in the Newcastle half.

The Jamaican sped into the Newcastle area before shooting past Shay Given from 18 yards.

Newcastle equalised in controversial circumstances minutes later.

Jaaskelainen was penalised by referee David Elleray for not releasing the ball quickly enough and Newcastle were awarded an indirect free-kick inside the Bolton area.

Jaaskelainen was penalised for holding on to the ball

Solano knocked the ball to Shearer, who smashed it low and hard into the Bolton goal for his 16th goal of the season.

The visitors took the lead again through Nicky Southall.

Solano's poor clearance fell to Southall 25-yards out and the former Gillingham defender smashed the ball past Given.

A minute later Sylvain Distin's cross was headed goalwards by Bellamy but Jaaskelainen athletically tipped over to deny the Wales striker.

I am delighted with our team, I think it's a massive victory for us because we are not going to win all our games

Bobby Robson

Bolton then hit Newcastle on the break, Gardner's quick thinking picking out Simon Charlton, whose shot was parried to safety by Given.

Newcastle equalised through Shearer minutes before half-time.

The former England captain headed home at the far post from a Solano cross.

Southall scored from 25 yards

Shearer had two chances to complete his hat-trick early in the second-half.

But he pulled a shot wide from 10 yards and just failed to connect with a Bellamy cross.

The winner eventually came from Bellamy, who headed home Hughes' cross.

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Newcastle: Given, Hughes, O'Brien, Dabizas, Distin, Solano, McClen (Acuna 81), Speed, Robert, Shearer, Bellamy.

Subs Not Used: Elliott, Harper, Ameobi, Bernard.

Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Barness, Bergsson, Whitlow, Southall, Farrelly, Nolan (Pedersen 81), Charlton, Gardner, Bobic (Holdsworth 85), Ricketts (Hansen 88).

Subs Not Used: Forchelet, Poole. Booked: Jaaskelainen.

Att: 52,094

Ref: D Elleray (Harrow-on-the-Hill).