Newcastle 3, Wanderers 2: How the drama unfolded

14:43: SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2002

FA BARCLAYCARD PREMIERSHIP

NEWCASTLE UTD V Wanderers

BRUNO N'Gotty failed a fitness test on an ankle injury and missed his second Premiership start in five days, leaving Sam Allardyce once again with a depleted squad as Wanderers looked desperately to end a run of 11 Premiership games without a win in the 100th league meeting between the famous old adversaries.

Simon Charlton, who started the midweek derby with Manchester United on the subs' bench, was restored to the starting line-up - Bo Hansen dropping to substitute.

Allardyce sprang a surprise when he gave one of the subs' shirts to 20-year-old Tahiti-born French midfielder Gerald Forchelet just 24 hours after securing his signature fram Cannes.

Magpies' boss Bobby Robson recalled fit-again Gary Speed in midfield with ex-Wanderer, Robbie Elliott, having to content himself with a place on the bench after being substituted at half time in Wednesday night's 3-1 win at Spurs.

NEWCASTLE UTD: Given; Hughes, O'Brien, Dabizas, Distin; Solano, Speed, McClen, Robert; Shearer, Bellamy. Subs: Elliott, Acuna, Ameobi, Bernard, Harper.

WANDERERS: Jaaskelainen, Whitlow, Bergsson, Charlton, Southall, Farrelly, Nolan, Barness, Gardner, Bobic, Ricketts. Subs: Hansen, Pedersen, Holdsworth, Forchelet, Poole.

Referee: David Elleray (Harrow-on-the Hill).

15:22: SCOREFLASH

NEWCASTLE 0 WANDERERS 1 (Gardner 19 mins)

15:26: SCOREFLASH

NEWCASTLE 1, WANDERERS 1 (Shearer 23 mins)

15:37: SCOREFLASH

NEWCASTLE 1 WANDERERS 2 (Southall 34 mins)

15:49: SCOREFLASH

NEWCASTLE 2, WANDERERS 2 (Shearer 43 mins)

15:52: NEWCASTLE 2 WANDERERS 2

Half-time

Ricardo Gardner and Nicky Southall both scored their first goals of the season as Wanderers stunned Newcastle twice in the first half at St James' Park.

Gardner, who had a lively first period, pounced on 19 minutes when he robbed Jamie McClen and darted into the box to beat Shay Given with a shot that cannoned in off the keeper's left hand post.

Newcastle were level in controversial fashion four minutes later when Jussi Jaaskelainen was penalised for holding the ball too long and Alan Shearer drilled in the resulting 17-yard free kick.

Jaaskelainen was booked for disssent and Sam Allardyce joined his assistant, Phil Brown, on the touchline to remonstrate with the officials but calm was restored and Wanderers got their reward for applying pressujre in the Magpies' box on 34 minutes.

Newcastle managed a desperate clearance but only as far as Southall, who hit a screamer into the top corner from 20 yards.

Shearer got Newcastle back on terms for the second time two minutes before the break when he beat Gudni Bergsson to head home an Aaron Hughes cross.

16:39: SCOREFLASH

NEWCASTLE 3, WANDERERS 2 (Bellamy 79 mins)

16:53: NEWCASTLE 3 WANDERERS 2

A CRAIG Bellamy header 11 minutes from time left Wanderers smarting from a controversial defeat at St James' Park.

Sam Allardyce and his players left Tyneside fuming after referee David Elleray penalised Jussi Jaaskelainen for holding the ball over the six second limit.

Alan Shearer scored from the 23rd minute free kick to cancel out Ricardo Gardner's 19th minute opener then netted his 17th of the season two minutes before half-time after Nicky Southall had given Wanderers the lead for the second time nine minutes earlier.

A solid rearguard action frustrated Newcastle's second half efforts until Bellamy latched onto an Aaron Hughes cross from the right to pile on the relegation pressures.

NEWCASTLE UTD: Given; Hughes, O'Brien, Dabizas, Distin; Solano, Speed, McClen, Robert; Shearer, Bellamy. Subs: Acuna for McClen 81 mins. Not used: Elliott, Ameobi, Bernard, Harper.

WANDERERS: Jaaskelainen, Whitlow, Bergsson, Charlton, Southall, Farrelly, Nolan, Barness, Gardner, Bobic, Ricketts. Subs: Pedersen for Nolan (81 mins), Holdsworth for Bobic (85 mins), Hansen for Ricketts (87 mins) . Not used: Forchelet, Poole.

Referee: David Elleray (Harrow-on-the Hill).

Attendance: 52,094.