Given a hero at the Riverside

Middlesbrough 0 Newcastle 1

Shola Ameobi’s first goal of the season handed Newcastle the derby spoils at Middlesbrough as the Magpies climbed away from the Premiership drop zone.

The 22-year-old converted from close range after 21 minutes to snatch all three points from a game in which the visitors were forced to defend for dear life.

The much-maligned Titus Bramble was a tower of strength as the Teessiders mounted attack after attack, but it was keeper Shay Given who stole the show with three outstanding first-half saves to ensure that his 99th consecutive league appearance ended with a clean sheet.

But if Sir Bobby Robson left the Riverside Stadium a happy man, opposite number Steve McClaren could not have asked an awful lot more of his players, who might also have had a penalty, after a stirring display which could have resulted in more.

Gareth Southgate and Colin Cooper limited Alan Shearer and Ameobi to scraps, while Gaizka Mendieta was always a threat, but with Gary Speed and Kieron Dyer leading the way, Newcastle simply refused to crumble.

It was a game both sides really needed to win to climb away from the Premiership’s basement, and although Boro boss Steve McClaren headed for the dressing room at half-time with his side trailing, he could not have had too many complaints about his players.

Indeed, had it not been for the brilliance of Given in the Newcastle goal, the Teessiders would have been the ones relishing their half-time cup of tea.

The Republic of Ireland international had already staked his claim for the man of the match award within the opening eight minutes with two outstanding saves.

Mendieta must have thought he had opened the scoring on three minutes when he met Danny Mills’ cross with a powerful header, only for Given to throw out a hand and claw it away.

And he was back in action five minutes later when a mix-up in the United rearguard allowed Malcolm Christie to toe the ball into the path of the unmarked Szilard Nemeth, the keeper standing tall to block his attempted chip and save the visitors.

But by the time he excelled himself for a third time with another instinctive stop from Frank Queudrue's 43rd-minute header, Newcastle had taken the lead.

The breakthrough came from United’s first fluent attack with 21 minutes gone when Shearer headed down Lee Bowyer’s cross and Speed chested the ball towards goal, where Ameobi turned smartly to fire past the helpless Mark Schwarzer.

It was harsh for Boro, who had prospered in midfield through Mendieta and George Boateng, but the pace of the Magpies, and Dyer in particular, on the attack became an increasing threat as the game wore on.

If anything, it was the visitors who started the second half the better, although their hosts gradually started to exert greater pressure without seriously threatening.

Doriva’s wayward left-foot strike was as close as they came to troubling Given again in the opening 15 minutes of the half, although the home supporters were appealing for a penalty after 61 minutes after Nemeth’s cross appeared to hit Olivier Bernard’s arm.

United began to relax as their defence soaked up what pressure there was, but their task became more difficult when McClaren opted for change with 21 minutes remaining.

The Boro boss decided to withdraw Doriva, Bolo Zenden and Nemeth in favour of Juninho,

Jonathan Greening and record signing Massimo Maccarone, and the switch almost had the desired effect immediately.

Maccarone was in the mix as United managed to scramble a Mendieta cross clear, and Mills headed the resulting corner straight at Given as Boro pressed once again.

Christie flicked a Greening pass over the crossbar after 75 minutes, but Queudrue really should have levelled five minutes later when he rose unopposed to meet Mills’ cross but headed wastefully high.

Boro threw everything they had at United as the clock ran down, but the visitors were not about to surrender their lead as Shearer used all his experience to guide his side through the final excruciating seconds.