WHO did what and when, by Neil Bonnar.
Wanderers (4-3-3)
JUSSI JAASKELAINEN...7
No chance with the goal, great save late on from Robert's free kick and fine all round show.
ANTHONY BARNESS...7
Some excellent defending frustrated the Newcastle forwards. Kept their left flank quiet.
GUDNI BERGSSON...8
Finished with a bloody eye and four stitches and another top class show to add to the collection.
BRUNO N'GOTTY...8
Thrown in at deep end after injury. Outstanding apart from getting done for the goal.
SIMON CHARLTON 8
Immaculate performance on the ball and defending. Ran himself into a frenzy.
KEVIN NOLAN...6
Not at his best but stuck to the task. He's digging in without getting much glory.
PER FRANDSEN...6
Losing such an influential and consistent player after ten minutes was the worst possible start for Wanderers.
Ricardo Gardner...6
Got through bags of work on a heavy pitch. Should have done better with a glorious chance before they scored.
BERNARD MENDY...8
A big positive. Newcastle could not handle his pace in the second half.
YOURI DJORKAEFF...6
Worked hard and his skill shone through but caused few problems for their defence.
HENRIK PEDERSEN...6
Should have had a penalty when Nikos Dabizas mugged him in the box. Typically workmanlike.
Subs: Ivan Campo 8 (for Frandsen 10 mins)
Sprayed the ball around well. Top Class.
Other subs: Kevin Poole, Akin Bulent, Michael Ricketts 5 (for Pedersen, 67 mins), Delroy Facey (for Nolan, 81 mins).
Newcastle United
(4-4-2)
SHAY GIVEN...6
AARON HUGHES...6
STEVEN CALDWELL...7
NIKOS DABIZAS...7
OLIVIER BERNARD...6
NOLBERTO SOLANO...6
KIERON DYER...7
JERMAINE JENAS...8
LAURENT ROBERT...7
ALAN SHEARER...8
CRAIG BELLAMY...7
Subs: Stephen Harper, Robbie Elliott, Lomana Lualua, Shola Ameobi, Brian Kerr (for Solano, 84 mins).
Referee: Phil Dowd (Stoke-on-Trent).
Attendance: 52,005.
Shots/headers on target: Newcastle 4, Wanderers 2.
Corners: Newcastle 7, Wanderers 3.
Offsides: Newcastle 4, Wanderers 14.
Fouls: Newcastle 13, Wanderers 6.
Goals: Newcastle: Jenas (18 mins).
Bookings: Newcastle: Dabizas (67 mins, foul), Wanderers: Bergsson (foul 52 mins), Campo (87 mins).
Action shots
4 mins: Craig Bellamy launches a low drive which is well smothered by Jussi Jaaskelainen.
5 mins: Kevin Nolan makes a good run at goal to head Simon Charlton's cross straight at Shay Given.
11 mins: Strong run by Henrik Pedersen who finds Ricardo Gardner in space but his shot is wayward.
GOAL
18 mins: Steven Caldwell's through ball unleashes Bellamy who darts towards the by-line before stopping and pushing the ball through Bruno N'Gotty's legs to present Jermaine Jenas with the easiest of chances.
43 mins: Alan Shearer is a yard away from connecting with Bellamy's dangerous cross. A half chance but about the best Wanderers have allowed Newcastle since the goal.
Half time:
Newcastle 1 Wanderers 0
49 mins: Mendy is inches wide with a rasping daisy cutter from 25 yards at the end of a lightning run.
50 mins: Wanderers have a great shout for a penalty turned down after Nikos Dabizas bundles Pedersen to the ground.
53 mins: Mendy is at it again as he takes on the Newcastle defence with another darting run only to shoot high and then gesticulate in disgust at the taunts from the home crowd.
60 mins: Whites are in complete control so far in the second half. The Newcastle fans are going mad because their team is getting the runaround. Pedersen is first to Charlton's cross but turns it round the near post.
62 mins: Well against the run of play Newcastle almost score with their second chance of the game as Shearer beats Anthony Barness to Nolberto Solano's cross and thumps it against the bar.
65 mins: Newcastle so close again as Dyer fires inches wide at the end of a lightning quick attack.
67 mins: Michael Ricketts comes on to a hail of boos from the travelling Wanderers fans.
69 mins: How did Mendy miss? Charlton's cross is headed towards his own bottom corner by Caldwell, Given parries at full stretch but only as far as Mendy who looks like he cannot miss but hits the side netting.
72 mins: Ricketts' deflected shot is palmed over by Given and from the corner Gudni Bergsson heads agonisingly wide.
88 mins: Jaaskelainen gets down in a flash to claw away Laurent Robert's powerful free kick in the bottom corner.
Full time:
Newcastle 1 Wanderers 0
Man of the match
IVAN
CAMPO
Yes. It is as big a surprise to me as well. But credit where it is due, he was absolutely magnificent with some great passing around the midfield.
Moan of the match
HOW such a blatant foul on Henrik Pedersen by Nikos Dabizas cannot result in a penalty is beyond me. Wanderers were robbed of a cast-iron spot-kick.
Magic moment
SEEING the magnificent St James' Park stadium for the first time was fantastic. If you have never been, as I hadn't, then go. It blows you away.
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