Toon Hope To Keep Albion Record Intact!

WEST BROM: Kuszczak, Scimeca, Curtis Davies, Moore, Clement, Greening (Horsfield 78), Watson, Inamoto, Carter, Kanu (Ellington 75), Earnshaw.
Subs Not Used: Hoult, Gaardsoe, Chaplow.

NEWCASTLE UTD: Given, Ramage, Boumsong (Bramble 79), Taylor, Babayaro, Solano, Parker, Emre, N'Zogbia (Dyer 71), Owen, Ameobi (Shearer 66).
Subs Not Used: Harper, Faye.

Att: 26,216

There was talk about the return of Michael Owen, but how many expected it to be at the expence of Alan Shearer? But at the end of the day it was two-goal Michael Owen ... and substitute Alan Shearer ... that destroyed West Brom at The Hawthorns. Owen took his tally to four goals in five games and Shearer came off the bench to notch his 197th goal for the Magpies and he is now only three short of Jackie Milburn's club record tally of 200.

It was 37 minutes before either keeper made a worthwhile save but chances came and went for both sides.

The second half got off to an explosive start as Emre supplied the cross from left flank and Owen reacted first at the near post to send an unstoppable volley past Kuszczak from eight yards.

Ameobi was replaced after 66 minutes by Alan Shearer and he had a hand in the goal which wrapped up the points with 13 minutes left. Shearer found fellow substitute Kieron Dyer on the right flank and his low cross was converted by the alert Owen.

It was a similar move which led to Newcastle striking again three minutes later. Owen fed the overlapping Ramage and this time Shearer slid in at the near post to make no mistake.