Shearer gives Sven flashbacks with double strike

Fulham 2 Newcastle 3

Fulham were 2-0 up inside seven minutes, with goals from St James’ Park old-boys Lee Clark and Louis Saha, but Shearer was the hero as the Geordies powered back to clinch this thrilling 3-2 success.

Lee Clark fired the Cottagers into a fifth-minute lead with a superb strike.

Aaron Hughes miscontrolled a lofted pass forward down Fulham’s left-wing, chesting it into Steed Malbranque’s path.

The Frenchman cut inside and fed former Magpie Clark, who turned smartly and thundered the ball into the far corner from an acute angle.

And Fulham doubled their lead just two minutes later when Louis Saha, another St James’ Park old boy, produced an equally smart goal.

Sylvain Legwinski hoisted the ball up to the edge of the area where Saha brought it down, burst past Titus Bramble, and smacked a shot across Shay Given and inside the post.

But Bobby Robson’s men reduced the arrears to a single goal on the quarter-hour mark.

Ameobi crossed from the right, Laurent Robert and Shearer played a one-two and the Frenchman almost ripped the Fulham net with a screeching half-volley from 10 yards.

The pressure paid off for Newcastle five minutes into the second half.

Lee Bowyer slipped the ball down the inside-right channel to Ameobi. He raced beyond Alain Goma only to be sent tumbling by a slide-tackle from Fulham’s ex-Newcastle defender.

Referee Barry Knight pointed to the penalty spot, and Shearer sentvan der Sar the wrong way to level at 2-2.

And Shearer struck again after 56 minutes to put Newcastle 3-2 up, completing the visitors' comeback.

Jenas waltzed into the penalty area, shimmied as Zat Knight went to tackle, and poked the ball towards Shearer.

The former England man smacked the ball into the roof of the net from eight yards.

FULHAM: Van der Sar, Leacock, Bonnissel, Knight, Goma, Legwinski, Pembridge (Inamoto 79), Clark, Malbranque, Buari (Hayles 45), Saha.

NEWCASTLE: Given, Hughes, Bernard, O’Brien, Bramble, Jenas, Speed, Bowyer, Robert (Ambrose 87), Shearer, Ameobi.