Premier League - Shearer conjures vital win

Eurosport - Tue, 12 May 15:35:00 2009

Alan Shearer made two inspired substitutions as Newcastle United beat Middlesbrough 3-1 at St James' Park to climb out of the Premier League relegation zone.

FOOTBALL 2008-2009 Premier League Newcastle United Newcastle-Middlesbrough Obafemi Martins after scoring in 3-1 relegation battle over local rivals Middlesbrough - 0

The Newcastle manager introduced strikers Obafemi Martins and Peter Lovenkrands in the second half, and both scored to earn his team a precious victory against their North East rivals.

A Habib Beye own-goal put Middlesbrough ahead inside five minutes, before Steven Taylor's powerful header saw the relegation battle into the break at 1-1.

Martins scored with his first touch after replacing Michael Owen on 71 minutes to put United ahead, and Lovenkrands sealed all three points with a convincing finish five minutes from time.

The result moves Newcastle above Hull City on goal difference and outside the bottom three.

Boro, meanwhile, slide deeper into the mire and are now three points from safety with just two matches of the Premier League season remaining.

It all started so well for Gareth Southgate's team when Tuncay's sharp turn in the box created space for a shot on three minutes

Steve Harper saved the Turkish striker's stabbed effort, but the Newcastle goalkeeper could only watch on in anguish as his parry was deflected into the net by the helpless Beye.

Boro's lead would last just six minutes.

Newcastle drew level when Taylor lost his marker and glanced home Danny Guthrie's right-wing corner with a firm header.

The goal gave the home side belief and on 27 minutes Brad Jones made a fine reaction save to stop Owen's goalbound header.

Boro's Marvin Emnes then shot wide after Harper saved his initial effort, but the teams went into the break all square.

The first genuine chance of the second half also fell to Boro, but once again Harper came to the rescue, parrying a powerful drive from Gary O'Neill.

With a draw no good for either side, Shearer then shuffled his pack - first introducing Lovenkrands for Jonas Gutierrez and then Martins for Owen, who once again delivered a low-key performance.

Martins had been on the field for just 55 seconds when he took possession inside the Boro box and shot past Jones, despite falling over in the process.

Lovenkrands sealed victory for Newcastle, blasting home Kevin Nolan's right-wing cross to send the St James' Park crowd into hysteria.

Shearer's team face Fulham at home next, before a trip to Aston Villa completes their season.

Boro, meanwhile, face Villa at home on Saturday, followed by a visit to West Ham on the final day.

Will Tidey / Eurosport

Comment 104 - 123 of 183

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  1. Well done, Newcastle. Shearer knew who to bring on! I­ hope they'll stay up, yet it ain't over...

    From gordon.merk, on Tue 12 May 5:03AM

  2. Middlebrow plays Villa and then visits West Ham, so I­ don't see them staying up. Bromwich will lose to­ Liverpool next week so they will be out. Hull are­ playing Bloton next week, which is a game they can draw­ or win. Their last game is against ManU so consider­ that a loss. Nucastle receive Fullham and then go to­ Villa. So the rule for Nucastle to stay is to do the­ same or better than Hull in next week's game.­ Simple but not easy. Fullham is a tough customer.

    From Half A Brain, on Tue 12 May 4:18AM

  3. well done the magpies you are to big of a club to go­ down .........sorry borough ..lfc fan

    From neil., on Tue 12 May 4:12AM

  4. Finally.......

    From fabregas, on Tue 12 May 3:16AM

  5. well done shearer and all of the team a little bit a­ breather keep that up and me and every toon fan will­ have some to smile about next season but on a lighter­ note ha ha
    middlesbrough enjoy the championship only­ the mackoms to go down then we are only northeast team­ left in premiership a very good look to team on next 2­ games .

    From shane big toon fan, on Tue 12 May 2:09AM

  6. Respect to all of those who give a little love to­ Newcastle. You know the Prem would be a darker place­ without us.

    From Charlie G, on Tue 12 May 1:59AM

  7. Shearer needs to have Lovenkrands and Martins start.­ Viduka while good hanging back didnt look like getting­ a scoring chance and Owen is way over the hill.
    Martins­ and Lovenkkrands are younger and can get around the­ pitch quicker.
    Nucastle probably wont go down now as­ Hull FC and Middlesborough are playing so appalling I­ cant se them getting anything from their last matches­ while NUFC has just enough quality to get out of­ trouble.

    From ninja_king_returns, on Tue 12 May 1:54AM

  8. Shearer needs to have Lovenkrands and Martins start.­ Viduka while good hanging back didnt look like getting­ a scoring chance and Owen is way over the hill.
    Martins­ and Lovenkkrands are younger and can get around the­ oitch quicker.
    Nucastle probably wont go down now as­ Hull FC and Middlesborough are playing so appalling I­ cant se them getting anything from their last matches­ while NUFC has just enough quality to get out of­ trouble.

    From ninja_king_returns, on Tue 12 May 1:54AM

  9. go on newcastle i knew you could do it,,,blue mooners­ in manchester

    From big10, on Tue 12 May 1:39AM

  10. Hull City...bwahahahahahaha!
    Pointless city, pointless­ football club!

    From joestone99uk, on Tue 12 May 1:28AM

  11. Well done Alan

    From Patsy, on Tue 12 May 12:28AM

  12. donneysbeck u comment on every game, & u write­ stupid, hav u got sum problem?
    ur a sad person & i­ would like to shut u up for gud!

    From tinywirral, on Tue 12 May 12:24AM
  13. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    A SAY OM AWAY TAY ME BEED. NEET NEET AVARYWAN. SLEEP­ TEET DINNAY LAT THA BEED BUGS BEET.

    From donneysbeck, on Tue 12 May 12:11AM
  14. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    SARRAY TAY BE A PURTAY POPAR BAT YEES UR STIL GOAN­ DOON. OM VERAY SARRAY.

    From donneysbeck, on Tue 12 May 12:08AM
  15. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    YEES UR STILL GOAN DOON. OM SARRAY.

    From donneysbeck, on Tue 12 May 12:07AM

  16. well done necastle, am a villa supporter!! shearer is­ all about playing with your heart and soul, i wish­ villa players would learn this, get rid of heskey, i­ know he is ur mate from leicester, but why replace­ donkey harewood with another donkey heskey?? carew­ needs a partner to complement him not play the same­ style. albagonghar dont get so big headed yet, your not­ as good as ronaldo yet, cos ur too lazy

    From rahul s, on Mon 11 May 11:53PM

  17. Gratz on the win Newcastle! Good work.

    From BozinT, on Mon 11 May 11:41PM

  18. Shearer didn't conjure up a win for newcastle. The­ newcastle team did. DON'T BE STUPID

    From codonnell95, on Mon 11 May 11:40PM

  19. Well done Newcastle,
    I've watched Boro most of this­ season, one good thing about relegation is that Downing­ will finally be off, his inability to kick with his­ right foot showed once again tonight. If every boro­ player showed only half as much passion as Tuncay then­ the result would have been different. Viduka played­ brilliantly, deserved man of the match.

    From Mal Function, on Mon 11 May 11:34PM
  20. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Fulham is going to win come Saturday so you Castle fans­ better hope Hull loses as well.

    From AndrewJ, on Mon 11 May 11:33PM
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