Evergreen Shearer heads Newcastle to victory

A trademark header from former England captain Alan Shearer helped Newcastle to a deserved 2-1 victory over Spurs.

Shearer's goal in his 250th match for the Magpies added to a fine first-half effort by Gary Speed gave them a 2-0 lead which was reduced to 2-1 when Greek international Nikos Dabizas headed an own goal with 17 minutes remaining.

Sunday's victory lifted Newcastle to fourth in the table, though should out-of-form Liverpool pull off a shock win at Arsenal - seven points to the good of Newcastle - in Sunday's later match, they will slip to fifth.

Speed pounced in the 17th minute after a sustained period of Newcastle pressure saw a weak defensive header fall to him and he rifled it home from 10 yards out past the United States' number two keeper Kasey Keller.

Newcastle stamped their authority on the match in the 58th minute when Craig Bellamy's chipped cross passed over Ledley King's head and was headed home by Shearer into the far corner.

Dabizas then handed Spurs some hope as under no pressure whatsoever his spectacular diving header from Teddy Sheringham's right wing cross left Shay Given with no hope.

Shearer had a great chance of restoring the two-goal advantage in the 76th minute when he was found unmarked by Bellamy but his rasping right-footed shot went wide of the post.

Robbie Keane had the best of the opening chances as he broke into the penalty area, turning Steven Caldwell inside out.

However instead of passing it across goal where Gustavo Poyet was unmarked he went for glory himself only for Given to beat it away for a throw-in, leaving Poyet yelling in frustration.

Newcastle had an even better chance five minutes later as a dreadful backheader by King let in Craig Bellamy but with only Keller to beat he snatched at his shot and it went wide of the far post.

Another error by a jittery King when he passed straight acorss his goal to Laurent Robert went unpunished as the Frenchman's shot took a deflection to go for a corner - but Speed meted out deserved punishment a minute later.

Speed's goal spurred on Newcastle more as Spurs found it difficult to get out of their half, Keller producing a stunning save to deny Aaron Hughes and then from the resulting corner Massimo Taricco cleared off the line from Shearer.

Taricco lifted some of the pressure off the Londoners when he let rip with a bending 25-yard effort, though Given was equal to the task in fisting it over the bar.

Newcastle had Given to thank in the 29th minute when he saved from Poyet's point-blank volley as Spurs came back into the match helped by Speed having to go off because of a leg injury and being replaced by the promising youngster Jermaine Jenas.