Newcastle 3 West Ham Utd 1:The stricken local bank, Northern Rock, used Newcastle's advertising hoardings to persistently flash up the message "Rock Steady" yesterday. If financial analysts might disagree with that most brazen assertion, it was difficult to argue with those cynics who have labelled Michael Owen Tyneside's "Northern Crock". The England striker, who was withdrawn after 52 minutes, was subdued in the extreme, seemingly afraid to accelerate and, as Sam Allardyce confirmed afterwards, may require a hernia operation this week.
Small wonder then that concerns about Owen's troublesome groin and the consequent implications for England overshadowed a wonderful performance from Mark Viduka, who scored twice and won virtually everything in the air during a home victory which suggested Allardyce's formidably functional side could yet end this season in Europe.
Moreover, the latest bulletins on Owen should not obscure the reality that this game contained some good news for Steve McClaren after all. Dean Ashton, scorer of a superb volley for a sporadically sweet-passing West Ham side badly betrayed by suspect defending, finally seems to be well on his way back to full fitness.
It was Ashton's second goal in as many games and Alan Curbishley, who said he would not discourage McClaren from including his attacking talisman in England's next squad, said: "Dean is looking stronger and stronger and getting sharper with every game. Unlike Michael Owen he has had no setbacks during pre-season. I don't know if he is quite ready for international football yet but Steve has been watching our games and we'll just have to see what happens."
It is, however, safe to assume there will not be two Ferdinands in the next national squad. A couple of years ago Anton enjoyed a purple patch which had people predicting he was poised to eclipse his brother Rio, but it proved a temporary peak and, here, the West Ham central defender was put firmly in his place by Viduka.
The game had barely begun when the Australian, thinking faster than his minder, stole in front of Ferdinand at the near post and, connecting with Charles N'Zogbia's left-wing cross, angled a powerful header beyond Robert Green.
"It was terrific, one of the best headed goals you'll see in the Premier League this season, from one of the very best centre-forwards," said Allardyce. "What we need to do now is learn to play to Mark a bit more."
Significantly, the same cast members were involved in Newcastle's second. Another N'Zogbia cross, Viduka muscling his way in front of his marker who, having lost him for a second time, saw the Australian stab a close-range shot into the bottom corner.
In mitigation, Ferdinand may have felt entitled to ask why Lucas Neill, Curbishley's right back, was positioned in a completely different part of the pitch when N'Zogbia slalomed his way around the desperately back-pedalling Lee Bowyer before setting up that second strike.
In between Viduka's goals Ashton reminded McClaren that Emile Heskey and Peter Crouch are not the only powerful English centre forwards around. Connecting with Carlton Cole's header after Neill's long throw, Ashton eluded Harper courtesy of a technically demanding but perfectly executed volley. That said, Newcastle's defending of the set-piece left much to be desired.
No matter: although Harper was required to save splendidly from Bowyer, Newcastle - who were a little fortunate that Mike Riley turned a blind eye to Nicky Butt's reckless "studs up" challenge on Mark Noble - had the edge. Such superiority was reinforced when the hugely impressive N'Zogbia decided he was not content with merely being a goal creator. Having exchanged passes with a lively Obafemi Martins, the young Frenchman's angled shot proved far too good for Green after Curbishley's defence had, once again, been found wanting.
