Magpies’ run eases pressure on Shepherd to find full-time boss

Newcastle 3 Bolton 1

From the moment Graeme Souness was axed, Shepherd has insisted on taking his time in finding the right man.

And a month down the line he continues to bide his time, with Roeder - whether or not he wants it - currently making a good case to be handed the job permanently.

“We always intended to take our time over the appointment of a full-time manager and that is still the case as we consider our options very carefully,” wrote Shepherd in his programme notes for the clash with Bolton.

“But the good run of the team has eased any pressure upon us to do so.”

Roeder’s side extended their unbeaten run to six games with victory against Sam Allardyce’s Bolton.

European qualification is no longer a far-fetched ambition, although it remains unlikely and depends on Newcastle keeping their good run going in their final 10 matches.

Roeder has started to side-step questions over whether he stands by his earlier claims he is not a candidate for the job on a permanent basis.

The problem of obtaining the necessary UEFA Pro Licence is not insurmountable, and the Toon Army showed their support for Roeder after his team’s latest triumph.

However, the former West Ham boss remains modest.

“I expect there are people who like patting themselves on the back, who like banging their own drum. Fair enough, if that’s how they want to be, that’s how they want to be.

“Fortunately, I think I’m doing a decent job at the moment, but I couldn’t do it without the players. I’m not the most important person, the most important people are the players.”

Roeder’s Newcastle have now collected 13 points from a possible 15 to drag themselves to mid-table.

They made Bolton play ugly football from the moment of Jay-Jay Okocha’s 17th-minute substitution until the last 20 minutes of the game. The tone was set by a midfield in which Scott Parker was immense - both Roeder and skipper Alan Shearer later renewed their calls for him to be given his chance for England - Emre was sublime and Nolberto Solano and Charles N’Zogbia were full of menace.

Solano’s 34th-minute free-kick edged his side in front, before Shearer’s header, which was bizarrely scooped over the line by goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen, and Shola Ameobi’s strike made the game safe.

A late flurry sparked by Kevin Davies’ 71st-minute strike could not repair the damage done to Bolton by a confident home side.

Opta Fact: Bolton’s defeat to Newcastle was their first loss in 2006 in domestic competitions (11 games).

Opta Fact: The Magpies have scored more goals from direct free-kicks than any other Premiership team this season (four).