Newcastle 2-1 Middlesbrough

Premiership photos Defeat mystifies McClaren Robson praises Shearer

A penalty from Alan Shearer gave Newcastle the spoils against Middlesbrough at St James' Park.

Shearer smashed home the winner late in the second-half after Darren Ambrose was fouled by Gareth Southgate.

Earlier, Boudewijn Zenden handed Steve McClaren's side the lead with an ambitious effort from the left-edge of the 18-yard area.

Newcastle equalised shortly after the break when Craig Bellamy tapped home after Ugo Ehiogu's mistake.

The win puts Sir Bobby Robson's side temporarily in the all-important fourth Champions League spot, with rivals Liverpool playing Portsmouth in their FA Cup fifth-round replay on Sunday.

A home win seemed an unlikely result after the Magpies' dismal first-half performance.

Their north-east rivals, who despite being eight places behind them in the table, played with a lot of conviction in the first-half and deserved to go into the interval ahead.

KEY MOMENTS 33 mins: Zenden scores from the left-edge of the area 63 mins: Bellamy taps home the equaliser 83 mins: Shearer scores from the spot

Newcastle were limited to just speculative chances, the best coming from Shearer's 20-yard free-kick that was easily saved by Mark Schwarzer.

Middlesbrough on the other hand looked a potent force, with George Boateng and Doriva acting as good foils for Gaizka Mendieta and Zenden.

And it was the Boateng-Zenden combination that led to the opener.

Boateng found his fellow Dutchman who ran to the edge of the area before unleashing a drive past the reach of keeper Shay Given.

Whatever team-talk Newcastle received from their 71-year-old boss seemed to do the trick as the home side came out with all guns blazing.

They got their reward for some early pressure when winger Laurent Robert delivered a teasing ball from the left that Boro defender Ehiogu failed to deal with, leaving poacher Bellamy with a simple task.

We played well in second half and never gave the Smoggies a sniff! From Robert Ovens Have your say on 606

Midfielder Gary Speed then came close to giving the Magpies the lead, but saw his stunning shot deflected away by his own team-mate Ambrose.

With the minutes ticking down it was all hands to the pump for Middlesbrough.

Ironically, it was the most calm and experienced member of the Boro backline who fell foul to some rash thinking.

With Ambrose moving away from goal inside the penalty area, Southgate rushed in and fouled the former Ipswich man.

Shearer, who had not scored in the last five league outings, made no mistake from the spot to send the Toon Army into raptures.

---

Newcastle: Given, Hughes, O'Brien, Bramble, Bernard, Ambrose (Bowyer 85), Dyer, Speed, Robert, Shearer, Bellamy.
Subs Not Used: Harper, Elliott, Ameobi, Viana.

Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, Mills, Ehiogu, Southgate, Parnaby (Downing 85), Mendieta, Boateng, Doriva (Ricketts 85), Zenden, Juninho Paulista, Job.
Subs Not Used: Jones, Maccarone, Riggott.

Booked: Job, Doriva, Mills.

Attendance: 52,156

Referee: G Poll (Hertfordshire).