Premiership: Peruvian orchestrates Geordie win

Newcastle 2-1 West Ham

Cort 32, Solano 55 Lampard 80

Newcastle recorded their first league win since January 20 thanks to a goal and an assist from an inspired Nolberto Solano at St James' Park.

The diminutive midfielder provided the perfect ball for Carl Cort to open the scoring on 32 minutes, before fashioning a penalty award - a Nigel Winterburn handball off the Peruvian's cross - which he then converted himself on 55 minutes.

Frank Lampard gave the visitors a lifeline back into the game with a penalty of his own 10 minutes from time, but Bobby Robson's men finished the stronger and might have won by more.

It was exactly what Newcastle boss Bobby Robson would have wanted after witnessing his side's depressing run of form that had seen them win just three of 15 games without the services of Alan Shearer.

For West Ham, it was the latest episode in a season that has fallen away badly since the FA Cup defeat to Tottenham. Not that Newcastle can be too proud of their efforts in the league this season - Solano's sixth goal made him the club's highest league scorer this campaign.

Nevertheless, the home fans will be grateful that their side ended the holiday period in winning fashion. Both these sides began the day on 39 points and could afford to lose without needing to win.

Unfortunately for those in attendance, it showed.

Both sides began tentatively, prodding the ball around the back four.

West Ham's attacking ambitions were not helped by the exclusion of Paolo Di Canio, although his absence allowed Joe Cole the chance to take up his favoured position behind the lone striker Frederic Kanoute.

Cole influence was limited though, as Newcastle slowly emerged from their slumber to take the initiative.

Kevin Gallacher flashed a header wide on 24 minutes after good interplay by Cort and Steve Caldwell - on for the injured Warren Barton - before Gallacher then struck a tame shot straight at Shaka Hislop.

The visitors' resistance was broken on 32 minutes after an excellent first touch allowed Solano to tease a cross behind the retreating defenders and into the path of Cort, who volleyed home from a yard at the far post.

For all their huffing and puffing, West Ham failed to show any enterprise, Harry Redknapp's pedestrian side reduced to 35-yard efforts.

When Winterburn then handballed Solano's cross 10 minutes after the break, Solano's impudent chip from the spot seemed to the put the result beyond doubt.

Lampard's penalty conversion after Rigobert Song was brought down by home debutant Andy O'Brien gave the Londoners hope, but Shaka Hislop continued to be the busier keeper, denying Cort and Solano to ensure Newcastle leapfrog their opponents into 13th position.