Newcastle United began life after Alan Shearer in the same way
as their talisman's career had ended as a resounding victory over
West Bromwich Albion maintained their late charge for Europe and
left the visitors near-certainties for relegation.
On the day the 35-year-old Magpies skipper confirmed his career had
been brought to a premature conclusion by a knee injury, Nolberto
Solano and Shola Ameobi took up the baton to fire their side to a
comprehensive win.
The Peruvians 30th-minute strike set the ball rolling and Ameobis
penalty nine minutes later capped an impressive first-half display
by the Magpies.
West Brom rallied after the break but were propelled to the brink
of relegation by Newcastles fifth successive league win as Ameobi
sealed the victory in injury time.
That form could yet see them rewarded with European football next
season and land caretaker boss Glenn Roeder the job on a permanent
basis.
Chairman Freddy Shepherd has been hugely impressed by a revival
which has seen his side take 28 points from a possible 39, two more
than Graeme Souness managed from 69 before he was sacked in
February.
It was perhaps fitting that the game which marked the start of
Shearers retirement also saw 20-year-old midfielder Matty
Pattison, who has already had to fight his way back from two
serious knee injuries, make his first senior start.
Shearers status on Tyneside is such that, with vital Barclays
Premiership points and a European place up for grabs, the Geordie
nation turned up to salute their hero for the last decade.
There is little doubt the former England striker will be missed
badly, but in his absence for the first time since confirming his
premature retirement there were other men ready to step up and take
over his mantle.
Shearer was joined on the sidelines by Michael Owen, Scott Parker,
Emre, Steven Taylor and, with a hamstring injury which seems
certain to end his season and his World Cup hopes, Kieron Dyer, six
men whose names would be among the first on the team-sheet.
Despite Newcastles relative lack of strength, they overwhelmed the
visitors before the break.
It was Michael Chopra, who scored his first top-flight goal for the
club at Sunderland on Monday, who created the first, cutting in
from the left to fire in a low drive which defender Neil Clement
could only block to Solano.
The Peruvian, who had earlier rattled Tomasz Kuszczaks crossbar
with a dipping shot, steered the rebound into the empty net to give
his side a deserved lead.
Clement was booked for a trip on Amady Faye as he raced in on goal,
and then pushed Chopra in the 39th minutes as the pair challenged
for a through-ball, referee Howard Webb pointing to the spot after
glancing towards his assistant.
Solano has taken penalties before when Shearer has been missing but
Ameobi grabbed the ball and hammered it low to Kuszczaks right to
make it 2-0.
Baggies boss Bryan Robson opted for radical change at the break,
withdrawing Diomansy Kamara, Kevin Campbell and former Magpie Steve
Watson and sending on Nathan Ellington, Junichi Inamoto and
Kanu.
With Ellington and Kanu teaming up in attack, West Brom had a more
positive shape and both Nigel Quashie and Inamoto fired in
long-range efforts within the opening five minutes of the
half.
A somewhat lethargic Newcastle were forced to endure an
uncomfortable spell and skipper Shay Given was relieved to see a
57th-minute Zoltan Gera header fly wide after he met Jonathan
Greenings near-post corner.
The Magpies were unable to reproduce the flowing football they had
served up before the break as they scrapped their way through a
testing spell but, as West Brom faded again, they stepped up a
gear.
Ameobi saw a 72nd-minute shot blocked by Curtis Davies but
Shearers brief emergence from the dug-out three minutes later
sparked a crowd of 52,272 into full voice.
Chopra was unable to direct Ameobis 80th-minute cross towards
goal, but the home fans were already celebrating and gave Pattison
a warm ovation when he was replaced by Lee Clark seconds
later.
But it was left to Ameobi to further his claims on the now vacant
number nine shirt with a third in injury-time as an emotional day
came to a satisfactory end.