Newcastle edged to a valuable first win under Kevin Keegan 2-0 at home to Fulham thanks to goals from Mark Viduka and Michael Owen.

Amid heavy rain the Magpies took the lead on six minutes with an excellent turn and strike from 18 yards by Australia striker Viduka after Geremi fed him from the right.

Fulham were on top for long periods but Owen nodded home from eight yards with only seven minutes left on the clock to ease the worried minds of the restless home supporters.

If the season ticket holders packed into St James' Park were worried that their men would lose confidence the longer they went without a goal, their fears were unfounded.

With the first meaningful foray forward - bar a Jimmy Bullard strike that was blocked - Geremi passed to the feet of Viduka and he had time to turn and stroll along the edge of the penalty area before drilling a low strike into the far bottom corner.

There was surprise mixed with euphoria in the celebrations, but Newcastle were given a stark warning two minutes afterwards when Bullard cracked a dipping shot at goal that had goalkeeper Steve Harper scrambling across his goal.

From there the Cottagers had a deal of the territorial possession and often worked the ball intelligently down the right-hand side with Paul Stalteri, whose final ball was poor.

The lack of end product must have had manager Roy Hodgson tearing his hair out on the touchline, especially when he witnessed Owen striking from outside the box - Kasey Keller tipping over.

Danny Murphy then saved his team from going two down by clearing Owen's close-range effort off the goal-line. When the ball fell to the by-line a few yards from the post, Abdoulaye Faye hooked it back over his head - and with Keller stranded it bounced across goal and just past the far post.

Fulham were unfortunate not to level when, with half-time approaching, Stalteri cut into the box, only to see the ball break luckily for Faye, who cleared.

In the second half there were signs of improvement from Newcastle, but little evidence of a second goal until Viduka tried to play in Obafemi Martins - the third prong of their attack - and won a corner.

When it came out to Joey Barton 30 yards from goal, he shot hard a couple of yards off the ground - and the ball shaved the post.

Fulham's influence was on the wane and Owen brought a fabulous reaction save out of Keller before Martins smashed the ball home. However Viduka was offside and may have got a nick on the ball from the England striker's shot.

There were various substitutions for both sides before Owen rose highest to meet a Geremi set-piece and score his fourth goal in seven games and set his manager's mind at rest, at least for now.

Fulham substitute Moritz Volz was booked at the death for a foul on Toon sub Charles N'Zogbia, the only card in a good-natured clash - but perhaps Fulham will need a bit more grit if they are to find their way out of 19th place.

Bolton drew above them, but Birmingham's loss at Reading means they are still four points from safety. Newcastle are now six points in front of the relegation zone.

Jonathan Symcox / Eurosport