Newcastle deny Barnsley

Bellamy has rediscovered himself at Newcastle

Barnsley 0-1 Newcastle

Craig Bellamy was again Newcastle's Worthington Cup hero, with a late winner over First Division Barnsley at Oakwell.

The goal provided timely relief for Magpies boss Bobby Robson, after he had seen his side defied by Barnsley keeper Andy Marriott.

But Bellamy had the final word, firing Newcastle into the last 16 of the competition with a 78th-minute winner.

It was his sixth goal of the season and his fourth of the tournament following his hat-trick to help beat Brentford 4-1 at St James' Park

Marriott, a free transfer signing from Sunderland, was the difference between the sides during the first-half.

His opposite number Steve Harper was barely troubled after a nerve-shredding start.

Early scares

The Newcastle defence was exposed with less than two minutes on the clock, with Lee Jones playing a piercing through ball behind the United backline for an alert Bruce Dyer.

As Harper approached, Dyer slipped a shot underneath the Magpies keeper, but Olivier Bernard whipped the chance off the line.

For the 22-year-old Bernard, who had arrived on a free transfer from Lyon 12 months ago, it was a defining moment which justified his first start for the club.

From that point Newcastle slowly took control, with Laurent Robert instrumental in almost every move.

But Marriott came into his own and Robert was left beating the ground in anger as the Barnsley keeper athletically pushed away the Frenchman's powerful drive.

Five minutes later it was Bellamy's turn to be thwarted after being superbly picked out by an incisive, deep through ball from Warren Barton.

Bellamy curled in a shot destined for the top corner only for Marriott - 31 this Thursday - to again brilliantly save.

But after the break it was a different story.

On-song Harper

Harper twice came to Newcastle's rescue in a much more even second half.

And Kevin Gallen was prevented from making an immediate impact following his introduction during the interval.

Harper acrobatically tipped over the bar Gallen's half-volley in the 49th minute, making amends after having flapped at a corner from Chris Lumsdon.

Ten minutes later Gallen, who had replaced Rory Fallon, latched onto a Kevin Donovan cross and hit a sizzling drive, but Harper was equal to the chance.

Either side of Gallen's second effort, Bellamy embarrassingly miscued a 10-yard shot in running onto a Solano cross.

But Bellamy was to have the final say in a frantic finish, slipping a 12-yard shot beyond the unfortunate Marriott, with Robert of course the supplier.

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Barnsley: Marriott, Crooks, Barker, Morgan, Parkin, Lumsdon, Sand, Donovan, Jones, Dyer, Fallon. Subs: Ghent, Regan, Neil, Gallen, Barnard.

Newcastle: Harper, Barton, O'Brien, Distin, Bernard, Solano, Speed, Lee, Robert, Bellamy, Shearer. Subs: Acuna, Given, Hughes, Lua-Lua, Ameobi.

Referee: C Foy