Newcastle won the 140th Tyne-Wear derby by beating Sunderland 2-0 at St James' Park.

Michael Owen scored at either end of the first half to make his team mathematically safe from relegation and keep their rivals five points above the bottom three.

Owen broke the deadlock after just four minutes when he rose to head Geremi's deep cross past goalkeeper Craig Gordon.

The England striker then scored his sixth goal in as many league appearances from the penalty spot just before the break, after he exchanged a one-two with Mark Viduka and Danny Higginbotham handled inside the area as he slid in to challenge. Gordon almost managed to save the spot-kick, but the shot was powerful enough to slip under the Scotsman's body and into the back of the net to double the lead.

Kevin Keegan's side thought they had gone two goals up after just nine minutes, when Sunderland defender Paul McShane glanced a corner into his own net, but the Irishman's blushes were spared as referee Mike Dean had already blown his whistle for some pushing in the box.

Sunderland started with former Newcastle striker Michael Chopra on the bench and Kenwyne Jones as the lone front man, and the Trinidad and Tobago international spent most of the first half isolated.

Andy Reid was deployed to supply the big target man, but Newcastle's Nicky Butt was exemplary in snuffing out any nascent attacks Sunderland tried to mount.

Meanwhile, Newcastle boss Keegan continued to play the strike trio of Owen, Mark Viduka and Obafemi Martins that had helped his side in winning three of their last four matches going into this game.

Martins had penalty claims of his own turned down after he was bundled over by McShane on 36 minutes, but the officials would not credit his appeals.

The Nigerian striker also had a shot from a tight angle inside the box when both Owen and Viduka were well placed to receive a pass, but his selfish effort went straight into the arms of Gordon.

Sunderland came out the more determined after the break, and dominated the possession, silencing the passionate home support.

Captain Dean Whitehead had a solidly-struck half-volley deflected wide, and from the resulting corner McShane charged in with a powerful header, but that effort rebounded off of defender Steven Taylor's chest.

Roy Keane's side began to get frustrated with their lack of a breakthrough, and they picked up a total of five yellow cards in the second half.

Both goalkeepers were called into action to make fine saves within a minute of each other, as Gordon stood up well to block Martins's shot before Jones had a header expertly turned round the post by Harper.

Owen was denied the chance to score his hat-trick by a timely interception from Nyron Nosworthy late on, and Newcastle survived a late rally to secure the win.

Tony Mabert / Eurosport