Suited Shearer ties Boro up in knots

Newcastle's record goalscorer was in suit, collar and tie, cavorting down the St James's Park track to herald not one, not two, but three Geordie goals which won a death-or-glory derby match before 51,000 frenzied fans.

This was Shearer the rookie manager tasting his first victory, his first goals avalanche, and United at last escaping the relegation dungeon which has threatened to imprison them for all time.

A man who, after trying every permutation of players, formations, and tactics, saw his substitutions bring the immediate impact of goals and at long last victory.

Oba Martins and Peter Lovenkrands on with the game locked at 1-1 and goals from both to send Boro hurtling towards the Championship.

Shearer was in his element. Constantly waving acknowledgement to the crowd which he hadn't done once in his previous two home fixtures, he stayed on at the end to greet and clap every single one of his heroes.

St James's was bathed in relief. In joy at the first home victory in four and a half months.

United gifted their Boro neighbours a goal after only two minutes and 35 seconds yet, instead of folding as before, showed enough character and determination to win a car crash of a derby.

Shearer naturally paid tribute to all of his 14 players on view, as he must after so rare a victory, but there were unexpected special heroes among the rank and file.

Mark Viduka was an outstanding line leader, by far the most gifted player on view, who used all his nous, strength and cleverness to lead his former club a merry dance.

Damien Duff, an emergency left- back, saw Gareth Southgate play England winger Stewart Downing on the right to take full advantage but instead played like the seasoned pro he is supposed to be. An excellent shift.

And Kevin Nolan was, believe it or not, a key figure in all three goals. He blocked off Matthew Bates to allow Steven Taylor a clear run at a Danny Guthrie corner to head a magnificent equaliser, backheeled a Viduka header into the path of Oba Martins to make it 2-1, and then crossed for Lovenkrands to smash in the decisive third.

Martins had replaced Michael Owen only 50 seconds before netting. United's skipper, dropped at Liverpool, had crucially missed a couple of chances and looked a shadow of the once fine striker he was, whereas Martins pounced and buried the ball in a blur.

He ran down the touchline straight for Shearer and jumped into his arms, all forgiven for his late withdrawal at Stoke with a groin strain that threatened to stain his time with the new boss.

A bizarre own goal had turned the match upside down right at the start when, with Tuncay closing in, the rapidly approaching Steve Harper inadvertently swept the ball against Beye, running back, and into the net.

Boro, however, wasted the rare opportunities that came their way while United chased and harried, spurred on by a crowd in full voice. The sea of black-and-white flags formed an unbelievable background to a pulsating game full of endeavour and mistakes which only heightened excitement.

Weeks and weeks ago I wrote that Hull City, Boro and West Brom could go down and save Newcastle. Well they are now the three cellar clubs for the first time with only two games to go.

However, United are far from safe. They have merely given themselves a lifeline and need to go out against a fine Fulham side on Saturday and, confidence restored, go for the jugular.

Last night was a draining, emotion- charged, see saw of a match, as subtle as an air raid, between neighbours in hell. One to be reprieved, temporarily at least, the other doomed to die on death row.

Let it not be wasted over the final two hurdles.