Alan Pardew: “The stadium could be very buoyant on Saturday, and maybe for the first time since I took over.
“It’s basically all about the game with Bolton for now and nothing else.
“We’ve had such tough games at home in recent times. We’ve had Arsenal, Man City and Liverpool in my home games.
“But this is just as tough. Bolton absolutely smashed us last time out.
“They have monster confidence and have won four out of the last five, with four clean sheets in that time.
“It’s a proper game.
“It’s way above the level of Blackburn and Birmingham – with all due respect to them.”
“This is our first game at St James' Park since Arsenal, and on reflection it was astonishing.
“I can’t remember a comeback like it.
“There have been many days in my career that were great but not like this and against the quality of opposition that we were up against.
“You just got a feeling that once we got that first goal the momentum had swung, and the crowd got involved.
“We were in dreamland when the third one went in as the whole stadium knew we were in with a chance, and we almost won it.
“The contrast is unbelievable to most other games.”
LAST TIME WE MET AT ST. JAMES' PARK ...
2008/9 NEWCASTLE 1 BOLTON 0
NEWCASTLE: Given, Beye, Taylor, Coloccini, N'Zogbia, Milner, Butt, Guthrie, Gutierrez, Martins (Owen 53), Duff (Geremi 46).
Subs Not Used: Harper, Jose Enrique, Bassong, Smith, Edgar.
BOLTON: Jaaskelainen, Steinsson, Cahill, Andrew O'Brien, Samuel, Joey O'Brien (Mustapha 85), Nolan, Muamba, Taylor (Gardner 65), Davies, Elmander (McCann 15).
Subs Not Used: Al Habsi, Hunt, Dzemaili, Shittu.
Att: 47,711
Michael Owen sent a timely reminder of his goalscoring prowess to Newcastle owner Mike Ashley to kill off Bolton's stubborn resistance.
The 28-year-old, whose contractual situation will be at least one of the topics for discussion between Ashley, manager Kevin Keegan and executive director of football Dennis Wise on Wednesday, came off the bench to claim the headlines with a precious winner.
Owen missed most of pre-season as he recovered from a bout of mumps and a calf injury, but he made the difference here.
On as a substitute for the injured Obafemi Martins, he glanced a deft header past Jussi Jaaskelainen from Geremi's cross in the 71st minute to snatch victory.
However, if Owen's contribution was decisive, goalkeeper Shay Given was also hugely influential.
He had earlier kept out Kevin Nolan's penalty with Bolton threatening to spoil the party in front of a crowd of just 47,711.
Nolan's misery was compounded when he sent a late header wide of the post to leave Keegan and his players breathing a huge sigh of relief.
The three points were celebrated warmly, but left the manager with plenty to say when he discusses his remaining transfer targets with Ashley.
Charles N'Zogbia once again had to play out of position at left-back, while injuries limited the manager's striking options to just Martins and Owen, who is still returning to match sharpness.
The air of pessimism which had surrounded Newcastle in the run-up to last Sunday's difficult opener at Manchester United had all but dissipated in the wake of events at Old Trafford as Keegan's men suggested there was cause for optimism.
However, it should have come as no surprise to dedicated Newcastle followers that a game which might have been perceived as a home banker proved more than tricky.
Bolton, of course, have a track record on Tyneside, having spoiled Keegan's arrival by scrapping their way to a goalless draw on his return to the club in January.
As the teams left the pitch at the break, the scoreline was exactly the same, as was the sense of frustration among the home fans.
The Trotters were committed and well-organised and worked desperately hard to deny their hosts space and time on the ball, which proved a hugely effective ploy.
On the few occasions they were threatened, central defenders Gary Cahill and and former Magpie Andy O'Brien were equal to the task.
Cahill blocked a goal-bound sixth-minute flick from Martins and O'Brien did the same to deny Damien Duff 12 minutes before the break.
In the meantime, both James Milner and Charles N'Zogbia saw efforts cut out as the sped through a packed penalty area to leave goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen under-employed.
Bolton, who lost £8million summer signing Johan Elmander through injury with just 15 minutes gone, played thereafter with Kevin Davies as a lone striker, and caused Newcastle concern on more than one occasion.
Full-back Jlloyd Samuel might have done better with a curling shot in the 38th minute, and Steven Taylor was at full stretch to divert Fabrice Muamba's effort away from goal two minutes later.
There was muted applause from the home fans as their side left the pitch, but Keegan had fresh problems at the break when Duff, who had been hurt in a collision with Andy O'Brien shortly before the break, failed to re-appear.
Geremi was drafted in on the right wing as Milner pushed up alongside Martins.
Just as the home crowd started to anticipate Owen's introduction, the England international was called from the bench to rapturous applause.
With Martins limping, it was he who made way, with Keegan's striking options stretched to the limit.
Things might have got even worse for him when, with 59 minutes gone, Gretar Steinsson's cross flicked off Joey O'Brien's head and hit Taylor's arm, and referee Steve Bennet pointed to the spot.
Nolan drilled the ball low to Given's left, and the Irishman pulled off a fine save to spare his side further punishment.
Owen headed straight at Jaaskelainen two minutes later with anxiety levels rising inside the stadium, but salvation was close at hand.
Danny Guthrie recycled an N'Zogbia corner to Geremi, whose right-footed cross allowed the unmarked Owen to glance a header past the stranded Jaaskelainen to set his side on their way to three points.
Milner might have made sure five minutes later but headed over from Habib Beye's cross, and the unmarked Nolan headed wide four minutes from time and then saw Taylor block a rasping volley as Bolton finished strongly, but to no avail.
TOON v TROTTERS - THE HISTORY ...
2010/2011 Sat 20 Nov Bolton Wdrs. 5 - 1 Newcastle Utd. Premier League
2008/2009 Sun 01 Mar Bolton Wdrs. 1 - 0 Newcastle Utd. Premier League
Sat 23 Aug Newcastle Utd. 1 - 0 Bolton Wdrs. Premier League
2007/2008 Sat 19 Jan Newcastle Utd. 0 - 0 Bolton Wdrs. Premier League
Sat 11 Aug Bolton Wdrs. 1 - 3 Newcastle Utd. Premier League
2006/2007 Tue 26 Dec Bolton Wdrs. 2 - 1 Newcastle Utd. Premiership
Sun 15 Oct Newcastle Utd. 1 - 2 Bolton Wdrs. Premiership
2005/2006 Sat 04 Mar Newcastle Utd. 3 - 1 Bolton Wdrs. Premiership
Wed 24 Aug Bolton Wdrs. 2 - 0 Newcastle Utd. Premiership
2004/2005 Sun 27 Feb Newcastle Utd. 2 - 1 Bolton Wdrs. Premiership
Sun 31 Oct Bolton Wdrs. 2 - 1 Newcastle Utd. Premiership
2003/2004 Sun 28 Mar Bolton Wdrs. 1 - 0 Newcastle Utd. Premiership
Sat 20 Sep Newcastle Utd. 0 - 0 Bolton Wdrs. Premiership
2002/2003 Wed 22 Jan Newcastle Utd. 1 - 0 Bolton Wdrs. Premiership
Thu 26 Dec Bolton Wdrs. 4 - 3 Newcastle Utd. Premiership
2001/2002 Sat 02 Feb Newcastle Utd. 3 - 2 Bolton Wdrs. Premiership
Sat 13 Oct Bolton Wdrs. 0 - 4 Newcastle Utd. Premiership
1997/1998 Sat 17 Jan Newcastle Utd. 2 - 1 Bolton Wdrs. Premiership
Mon 01 Dec Bolton Wdrs. 1 - 0 Newcastle Utd. Premiership
1995/1996 Sat 20 Jan Newcastle Utd. 2 - 1 Bolton Wdrs. Premiership
Tue 22 Aug Bolton Wdrs. 1 - 3 Newcastle Utd. Premiership
1982/1983 Mon 03 Jan Newcastle Utd. 2 - 2 Bolton Wdrs. Second Division
Sat 04 Sep Bolton Wdrs. 3 - 1 Newcastle Utd. Second Division
1981/1982 Wed 03 Feb Newcastle Utd. 2 - 0 Bolton Wdrs. Second Division
Tue 29 Sep Bolton Wdrs. 1 - 0 Newcastle Utd. Second Division
1980/1981 Sat 31 Jan Newcastle Utd. 2 - 1 Bolton Wdrs. Second Division
Sat 23 Aug Bolton Wdrs. 4 - 0 Newcastle Utd. Second Division
1975/1976 Mon 23 Feb Newcastle Utd. 2 - 1 Bolton Wdrs. F.A. Cup
played at neutral ground
Wed 18 Feb Newcastle Utd. 0 - 0 Bolton Wdrs. F.A. Cup
after extra time, 90 minutes 0-0
Sat 14 Feb Bolton Wdrs. 3 - 3 Newcastle Utd. F.A. Cup
1964/1965 Mon 19 Apr Bolton Wdrs. 1 - 1 Newcastle Utd. Second Division
Fri 16 Apr Newcastle Utd. 2 - 0 Bolton Wdrs. Second Division
1960/1961 Sat 22 Apr Newcastle Utd. 4 - 1 Bolton Wdrs. First Division
Sat 03 Dec Bolton Wdrs. 2 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1959/1960 Sat 12 Mar Bolton Wdrs. 1 - 4 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 24 Oct Newcastle Utd. 0 - 2 Bolton Wdrs. First Division
1958/1959 Wed 22 Apr Newcastle Utd. 2 - 0 Bolton Wdrs. First Division
Sat 13 Dec Bolton Wdrs. 1 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1957/1958 Sat 19 Apr Bolton Wdrs. 1 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 07 Dec Newcastle Utd. 1 - 2 Bolton Wdrs. First Division
1956/1957 Sat 09 Mar Newcastle Utd. 4 - 0 Bolton Wdrs. First Division
Sat 08 Dec Bolton Wdrs. 3 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1955/1956 Sat 14 Apr Bolton Wdrs. 3 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 03 Dec Newcastle Utd. 3 - 0 Bolton Wdrs. First Division
1954/1955 Sat 23 Apr Newcastle Utd. 0 - 0 Bolton Wdrs. First Division
Sat 20 Nov Bolton Wdrs. 2 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1953/1954 Sat 16 Jan Bolton Wdrs. 2 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 05 Sep Newcastle Utd. 2 - 3 Bolton Wdrs. First Division
1952/1953 Sat 25 Apr Newcastle Utd. 2 - 3 Bolton Wdrs. First Division
Sat 06 Dec Bolton Wdrs. 4 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1951/1952 Wed 29 Aug Newcastle Utd. 0 - 1 Bolton Wdrs. First Division
Wed 22 Aug Bolton Wdrs. 0 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1950/1951 Wed 18 Apr Newcastle Utd. 0 - 1 Bolton Wdrs. First Division
Sat 27 Jan Newcastle Utd. 3 - 2 Bolton Wdrs. F.A. Cup
Sat 21 Oct Bolton Wdrs. 0 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1949/1950 Sat 25 Mar Newcastle Utd. 3 - 1 Bolton Wdrs. First Division
Sat 05 Nov Bolton Wdrs. 2 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1948/1949 Sat 16 Apr Newcastle Utd. 1 - 1 Bolton Wdrs. First Division
Sat 23 Oct Bolton Wdrs. 1 - 5 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1934/1935 Sat 20 Apr Newcastle Utd. 1 - 3 Bolton Wdrs. Second Division
Sat 08 Dec Bolton Wdrs. 1 - 0 Newcastle Utd. Second Division
1932/1933 Sat 31 Dec Newcastle Utd. 3 - 1 Bolton Wdrs. First Division
Sat 27 Aug Bolton Wdrs. 2 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1931/1932 Wed 17 Feb Newcastle Utd. 3 - 1 Bolton Wdrs. First Division
Sat 03 Oct Bolton Wdrs. 2 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1930/1931 Sat 31 Jan Newcastle Utd. 4 - 0 Bolton Wdrs. First Division
Sat 27 Sep Bolton Wdrs. 0 - 3 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1929/1930 Wed 09 Apr Bolton Wdrs. 1 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 26 Oct Newcastle Utd. 2 - 3 Bolton Wdrs. First Division
1928/1929 Sat 13 Apr Bolton Wdrs. 1 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 01 Dec Newcastle Utd. 4 - 1 Bolton Wdrs. First Division
1927/1928 Sat 18 Feb Newcastle Utd. 2 - 2 Bolton Wdrs. First Division
Sat 08 Oct Bolton Wdrs. 1 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1926/1927 Sat 22 Jan Newcastle Utd. 1 - 0 Bolton Wdrs. First Division
Sat 04 Sep Bolton Wdrs. 2 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1925/1926 Sat 02 Jan Newcastle Utd. 5 - 1 Bolton Wdrs. First Division
Sat 29 Aug Bolton Wdrs. 2 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1924/1925 Sat 18 Apr Newcastle Utd. 0 - 1 Bolton Wdrs. First Division
Sat 13 Dec Bolton Wdrs. 3 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1923/1924 Fri 18 Apr Bolton Wdrs. 0 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Wed 12 Sep Newcastle Utd. 1 - 0 Bolton Wdrs. First Division
1922/1923 Mon 16 Apr Newcastle Utd. 1 - 0 Bolton Wdrs. First Division
Sat 17 Mar Bolton Wdrs. 1 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1921/1922 Sat 11 Mar Newcastle Utd. 2 - 1 Bolton Wdrs. First Division
Sat 04 Mar Bolton Wdrs. 3 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1920/1921 Sat 16 Apr Newcastle Utd. 1 - 0 Bolton Wdrs. First Division
Sat 09 Apr Bolton Wdrs. 3 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1919/1920 Sat 28 Feb Newcastle Utd. 0 - 1 Bolton Wdrs. First Division
Sat 21 Feb Bolton Wdrs. 0 - 3 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1914/1915 Sat 10 Apr Bolton Wdrs. 0 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 05 Dec Newcastle Utd. 1 - 2 Bolton Wdrs. First Division
1913/1914 Sat 07 Feb Newcastle Utd. 4 - 3 Bolton Wdrs. First Division
Sat 04 Oct Bolton Wdrs. 3 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1912/1913 Wed 11 Sep Newcastle Utd. 2 - 1 Bolton Wdrs. First Division
Mon 02 Sep Bolton Wdrs. 1 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1911/1912 Sat 30 Dec Newcastle Utd. 5 - 2 Bolton Wdrs. First Division
Sat 02 Sep Bolton Wdrs. 0 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1909/1910 Tue 07 Sep Bolton Wdrs. 0 - 4 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Wed 01 Sep Newcastle Utd. 1 - 0 Bolton Wdrs. First Division
1907/1908 Wed 01 Apr Bolton Wdrs. 4 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 09 Nov Newcastle Utd. 3 - 0 Bolton Wdrs. First Division
1906/1907 Sat 20 Apr Bolton Wdrs. 4 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 15 Dec Newcastle Utd. 4 - 0 Bolton Wdrs. First Division
1905/1906 Sat 28 Apr Bolton Wdrs. 1 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 23 Dec Newcastle Utd. 2 - 1 Bolton Wdrs. First Division
1904/1905 Sat 04 Mar Bolton Wdrs. 0 - 2 Newcastle Utd. F.A. Cup
1902/1903 Mon 13 Apr Newcastle Utd. 2 - 0 Bolton Wdrs. First Division
Sat 11 Oct Bolton Wdrs. 0 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1901/1902 Sat 01 Mar Newcastle Utd. 4 - 1 Bolton Wdrs. First Division
Sat 02 Nov Bolton Wdrs. 3 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1900/1901 Wed 27 Mar Newcastle Utd. 3 - 0 Bolton Wdrs. First Division
Sat 20 Oct Bolton Wdrs. 3 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1898/1899 Sat 18 Mar Bolton Wdrs. 0 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 19 Nov Newcastle Utd. 4 - 1 Bolton Wdrs. First Division
1893/1894 Sat 10 Feb Newcastle Utd. 1 - 2 Bolton Wdrs. F.A. Cup