Bolton victory takes the shine off Shearer record
Michael Ricketts bagged a brace for Sam Allardyce's side in a thrilling encounter with Nigerian striker Jay-Jay Okocha, in the seventh minute, and Ricardo Gardiner two minutes later giving them a great start.
The Wanderers striker scored his first goal in open play since January in the 1-1 draw against West Ham and was rewarded with a place in the starting line-up.
Yesterday he was the catalyst in a vital victory for a Bolton side, anxious to avoid the drop. They raced into a 4-1 lead only to fall away and hang on nervously for only their second home league win.
Solano picked out Ameobi and his shot appeared to take a deflection off Dyer and wrong-foot Jaaskelainen.
Newcastle set up a grandstand finish by getting a third goal in the 78th minute. Robert played a short free kick to Shearer who lashed an unstoppable shot into the corner from 25 yards.
But both Newcastle and Shearer had nothing to show at the end of a rousing encounter.
The game got off to a blistering opening with three goals in the opening nine minutes and Bolton having the advantage.
Newcastle manager Bobby Robson is set to lodge a complaint against referee Uriah Rennie.
The controversy surrounds Shearer, who was also handed a yellow card late in the game after complaining about Lomano Lualua being booked for allegedly diving following a challenge from Mike Whitlow. The former England striker will now serve a one-match ban. The incident occurred with Newcastle down 4-3 and anxious to salvage a point.
Robson said: "Shearer said to the referee 'before you take a card, go and have a word with Whitlow'.
"I have to hold up my hands to Whitlow. He told the referee he had fouled him, he had tripped Lualua.
"But he still gave him a yellow card for diving. Shearer, speaking plainly, got a yellow card as well.
"Can you explain that to me? Because I will be explaining it to the FA and the Premier League.
"I will now lose Shearer for the West Ham match after his fifth yellow card.
"Not only that we might have got a point if we had got the free kick we had deserved. Instead we got two yellow cards which I find absolutely outrageous but there is nothing we can do about it."
Shearer scored twice one a 25-yard screamer to reach his landmark and was baited throughout by the Bolton supporters.
Their verbal assaults annoyed Robson who said: "I can't understand fans making obscene chants at Alan.
"He is a nice guy, a great professional and he has captained his country.
"You can talk about your Peles, your Maradonas, all your great hitters but that is a stunning strike."
Bolton hung on to chalk up only their second home league win of the season thanks mainly to two goals from Ricketts.
Manager Sam Allardyce said: "It was a magnificent victory and one that was long overdue at home.
"I always felt that once Michael got back on target more goals would come and so it has proved."
BOLTON: Jaaskelainen, Charlton, Bergsson, Whitlow, Barness, Frandsen, Okocha, Djorkaeff (Nolan 66), Gardner, Pedersen (Facey 75), Ricketts.
NEWCASTLE: Given, Griffin, O'Brien, Caldwell, Hughes, Solano (Jenas 73), Dyer, Speed, Robert, Ameobi (LuaLua 73), Shearer.
Referee: U Rennie (S Yorkshire).





