Shearer double gives Newcastle win

Newcastle Utd 2, West Brom 1 (full-time)

Alan Shearer served up a timely double to fire Newcastle to victory over plucky West Brom.

The 32-year-old levelled from a controversial 45th-minute free-kick after Igor Balis had put the visitors ahead and then won the game with a 69th-minute second from close range.

Megson had earlier sent on Lee Hughes in place of Dobie, and was only feet away from getting a touch on Balis’ 71st-minute cross after Roberts had found the defender on the overlap.

The Albion boss introduced Jason Koumas as a 77th-minute replacement for Lee Marshall and the visitors enjoyed a sustained period of pressure without looking likely to trouble Given.

Shearer thought he had completed a hat-trick 11 minutes from time after Murphy had failed to hold Bellamy’s stinging drive, but an offside flag correctly halted his celebrations.

Hughes almost made his mark with a rising 82nd-minute strike which Given had to turn away, and was then just inches away from reaching Clement’s corner as it sped across the six-yard line.

But it was Roberts who wasted his side’s best chance three minutes from time when he twisted his way through the United defence but shot wide.