UEFA Cup q-f, first leg/Newcastle 1 Sporting Lisbon 0: Alan Shearer took back his thunder last night. Stolen from him last Saturday by Lee Bowyer and Kieron Dyer, Shearer belatedly marked his contract extension with the 192nd goal for Newcastle to leave him eight short of Jackie Milburn's club record.
It was belated good news, too, after a week the chairman Freddy Shepherd called "horrific". Bowyer and Dyer were responsible. The focus on the pair was inevitable once Graeme Souness declared on Wednesday both would be in his squad and it intensified when Dyer was named at right midfield. Bowyer was on the bench, but in the 63rd minute he came off as part of a substitution that could only happen at Newcastle: Bowyer for Dyer.
Whereas Bowyer's name had been greeted with displeasure before kick-off a fickle audience now half-cheered, half laughed. But there was no vocal opposition. Even when, six minutes later, Bowyer was booked for a tackle on Sa Pinto there was no vilification from the stands. Shearer's 37th-minute header had altered the crowd's mood.
The home fans soon had another villain to focus upon, at least in their eyes. When the Sporting goalkeeper Ricardo fell at the feet of Shola Ameobi in the sixth minute he sustained a head cut that required treatment. The Geordie public thought that treatment lasted overly long.
It was a more physical opening than had been anticipated and that, too, always pleases this audience. They also appreciate good, attacking football here and saw some from the visitors. Orchestrated by Fabio Rochemback, Sporting clipped the ball around for the first half-hour.
Though they threatened to break through on a few occasions, only once did they force Shay Given into action, a 17th-minute shot from Liedson skipping up off the surface to surprise the Irishman.
Newcastle struck the outside of Ricardo's woodwork via a corner from Laurent Robert. After a flurry of fouls saw Liedson and Aaron Hughes booked - Hughes misses the second leg - Newcastle won another free-kick on the left. Robert's cross was precise and Shearer, pulling away from goal, met the ball with his forehead to beat Ricardo easily from 10 yards.
Dyer had an inviting opportunity soon after but hit a weak shot and it felt as if Newcastle might need a second to depress Sporting. Evidence of their spirit came again when, after defensive errors by Robert and Dyer, Rui Jorge swerved a shot an inch outside a post. Given gave a rather rueful glance at those in front of him after that and it was the Newcastle keeper's last act. Having received attention for a hip problem, Given was replaced at half-time by Steve Harper.
Ten minutes after coming on Harper looked anxiously to his right as Rochemback finished a give-and-go with Sa Pinto with a drilled effort that flew wide.
But Newcastle were also sprightly. Shearer almost profited from some Ricardo cockiness and Robert was hungry for the ball on the left. The latter meant there was bemusement when Robert was hooked off by Souness on 57 minutes. Robert was not bemused but angry. Walking straight down the tunnel, he refused to shake Souness's hand.
NEWCASTLE UTD: Given (Harper 45), Carr, Andrew O'Brien, Taylor, Hughes, Dyer (Bowyer 63 mins), Jenas, Faye, Robert (Milner 57 mins), Shearer, Ameobi. Subs not used: Elliott, Butt, N'Zogbia, Ambrose. Booked: Bowyer. Goal: Shearer 37.
SPORTING LISBON: Ricardo, Rogerio, Beto, Anderson Polga, Rui Jorge, Rochemback, Carlos Martins (Mota 67 mins), Pedro Barbosa (Tello 82 mins), Joao Moutinho, Liedson, Sa Pinto. Subs not used: Tiago, Niculae, Miguel Garcia, Mario Sergio, Paito. Booked: Liedson.
Referee: Yuri Baskakov (Russia).
