Newcastle secure away win

Birmingham City 0 Newcastle 2

Newcastle registered their first away Premiership victory of the season thanks to Nolberto Solano’s stunning first half strike and Shola Ameobi’s injury-time clincher at St Andrews.

The Peruvian international fired home his second goal of the campaign to give Steve Bruce’s side a reality check after their stunning home victories over Leeds and Aston Villa.

It was just the tonic that Bobby Robson was looking for after his French midfielder Laurent Robert had been reported as saying the club were in crisis after their defeat by Feyenoord in midweek.

Newcastle have struggled to find their best form in the Premiership after the euphoria of qualifying for a Champions League spot last season.

But Bruce had predicted that his home town club would quickly climb the table and in the first half the visitors dominated proceedings.

Blues found inspirational Magpies skipper Alan Shearer and Lomana Lualua hard to contain while Solano had one of his more influential performances of the season.

Blues looked more purposeful after the break with Stern John full of life and endeavour, although the goals continue to desert him, and Paul Devlin lively on the flank.

But this will act as a wake-up call as to how difficult it will be to survive in the top flight particularly with the bookings to the likes of Robbie Savage and Aliou Cisse continuing to mount.

Newcastle seized the initiative from the first whistle and Nico Vaesen was quickly called into action to parry away a flick-on from Andy O’Brien at the near post following a corner from Solano.

Jeff Kenna then got in an important block to deny Robert when he had found himself in space inside the area and Blues struggled to make any sort of impression in the first quarter.

Bruce’s side briefly came to life with Newcastle ’keeper Shay Given making two saves in quick succession to deny Paul Devlin and Stern John.

The Republic Of Ireland player beat out a fierce free-kick from Devlin some 25 yards out and then parried away a left-footed effort from John which contained plenty of power after good play by Clinton Morrison.

Savage collected his fourth yellow card of the campaign after a touch-line challenge on Aaron Hughes although it appeared a harsh decision which leaves him one booking away from a suspension.

Most of the class came from the visitors and after 35 minutes they went ahead courtesy of a splendid goal from Solano – his second of the campaign.

Gary Speed started the move in his own half and Alan Shearer and Robert were also involved before the ball came to Solano some 25 yards out and his low shot flew past Vaesen into the corner of the net.

It was no more than Bobby Robson’s side deserved and the best that Blues could manage after that before half-time was a curling effort from Devlin which drifted just over Given’s bar.

Blues showed more purpose after the break and Given tipped over a rising effort from Devlin. John then turned sharply in the box and saw his shot deflected over the bar.

But Bruce would not have been pleased with the actions of defender Darren Purse when he collected his fifth booking of the campaign after 70 minutes.

Purse threw down the ball in protest at a free-kick awarded against City and his yellow card will mean he will receive a one match suspension.

Bruce brought on Jovan Kirvoski for Carter and then followed that by introducing Geoff Horsfield and Daryll Powell for Purse and John.

But it was Newcastle substitute Ameobi who sealed the result in injury-time after playing a one-two with the impressive Shearer.