West Bromwich Albion against Newcastle United

Newcastle enjoy a spell of keep-ball, knocking the ball around in front of the West Brom defence with some confidence.

The Newcastle fans are in great voice now; "Are you Sunderland in disguise?" they ask.

Shearer wins a free-kick decision when he and Moore tumble to the grass on the half-way line. The Newcastle skipper wants to take the free-kick quickly - he wants a fourth.

The scoreline is tough on West Brom, who have threatened on numerous occasions; they could, and probably should, have equalised when the game was at 1-0. They didn't, and Newcastle have punished them.

I think we can say with some certainty that that's game over. It's only Shearer's second league goal of the season, and his first at the Hawthorns.

GOAL! Shearer slides in to turn home Ramage's cross from the right wing.

SUB: Boumsong off, Bramble on for Newcastle. Boumsong appeared to have an injury; he was limping as he left the field.

That goal should clinch the game, although West Brom have had much of the better of the last twenty minutes or so.

GOAL! Dyer sprints to the by-line after being found by Shearer's reverse pass; he cuts the ball to the near post where Owen clips it in to the roof of the net.

Emre has such good strength; he very rarely loses the ball when challenged, and his distribution is usually very clever and precise.

Ellington was top-scorer for Wigan three years in succession; I wonder how he feels about his former club's start to the season?

SUB: Ellington replaces Kanu for West Brom. The former Wigan striker comes on as Robson searches desperately for an equaliser.

Inamoto does well to nick the ball off Emre as the Turkish midfielder made a rare burst forward.

Dyer is playing on the left side of Newcastle's midfield, but he is a lot narrower than N'Zogbia and is giving Emre and Parker some defensive support.

Shearer controls Solano's clearance wonderfully to buy his side some time.

This will be a tricky final twenty minutes for Newcastle; West Brom are usually very strong in the second half and the fans will be right behind them.

SUB: Dyer replaces N'Zogbia for Newcastle. Dyer will give his side plenty of pace and energy as they try to see out the game.

Emre curls a free-kick in to the area. Taylor attempts to steal in behind the West Brom defence, but he can only put his header high over the bar.

Moore gets his head on the corner, but he can't quite direct it goalwards and Newcastle win the goalkick.

...Earnshaw strikes it, right-footed, attempting to bend it around the wall and inside the near post. Corner, as it deflects off the edge of the Newcastle wall.

West Brom win a free-kick as Boumsong holds back Kanu. It's 30 yards out, slightly right-of-centre. Earnshaw and Clement stand over the ball...

Newcastle are having to do plenty of defending at the moment. Boumsong and Taylor are struggling to compete with Kanu and Earnshaw.

SUB: Ameobi off, Shearer on. Newcastle send on their skipper to try and hold the ball up better and give the visitors some breathing space.

SAVE! Owen sprints on to a through-ball; Kuszczak comes flying out of his area, and the ball strikes the Polish keeper on the chest as Owen tries to flick it over him.

West Brom are enjoying a good spell with the ball, sending over some dangerous crosses towards Kanu and Earnshaw.

There's some activity on the Newcastle bench; it looks like Shearer is getting ready to come on.

Solano finds himself in space, 30 yards out, but his lofted pass trying to find N'Zogbia is too strong.

OOOH! Earnshaw smashes a left-foot shot a yard wide of the post, with Given well beaten. West Brom are creating chances every time they go forward.

Ramage heads away the free-kick, and Newcastle attempt to break, though N'Zogbia's long ball towards Owen is too strong.

Ameobi is booked for a culmination of fouls, the latest on the half-way line on Scimica. The first yellow card of the afternoon.

Souness will be furious with the way his side have defended since going in front; they are making big errors at the back and allowing Earnshaw far too much space.

OFF THE LINE! Emre's corner is headed goalwards by Owen, but a West Brom defender climbs to head clear. Solano then fires a shot in on goal, though it is blocked inside the six-yard box.

Parker clips a clever ball over the top of Davies as Ameobi looks to sprint in behind the home defence; Newcastle corner.

What a fantastic start to the second half; the first 45 minutes were a little stale, but this has been excellent after the interval. Lots of chances; it's really open.

Parker goes down inside the penalty area after a great flick from Owen. Replays showed Moore had a hand on Parker, but he went down very easily.

More desperate defending from Newcastle as the home side press forward; Emre is forced in to a fantastic slide-tackle in his own area as Carter pulled the trigger.

West Brom have responded really well to going behind. They created three great chances in the space of a couple of minutes, and should have equalised.

SAVE! An incredible save from Given as he throws himself at Earnshaw's point-blank shot and blocks on his goal-line.

OOOH! The Newcastle defence go to sleep as Greening gets in behind them and fires a low cross over to Earnshaw. Unfortunately for the home side, the Welsh striker mis-kicks from two yards out.

Ramage pulls at the shirt of Clement; West Brom free-kick. The Newcastle fans are in good voice now.

GOOD EFFORT! Earnshaw does well to win a long ball over the top. He holds off two Newcastle defenders before cutting in to the area, though his shot is easily saved.

N'Zogbia wins his side a throw in a dangerous area, but the home side stay strong and clear through Scimica.

Earnshaw does well as he breaks down the left wing. He holds off Boumsong, but his high cross is easily claimed by Given.

Really good goal from Owen and Newcastle will have really high hopes of building on it and closing out a third win in a week.

GOAL! Superb goal from Owen. Newcastle build nicely through Ameobi and N'Zgbia, who sends over a great cross; Owen makes a textbook run to the near post and finishes with a stunning volley.

West Brom kick off the second 45 minutes. No changes at half time.

West Brom are first out of the tunnel as they prepare for the second half.

HALF-TIME: Newcastle perhaps had the better of a scrappy half. Not much in it though. Emre has impressed me. Earnshaw hasn't.

Boumsong requires some treatment when he catches a boot in the face from Kanu as the pair tussled on the by-line. A splash of water, and he's fine.

Ameobi shows good upper-body strength to hold off Davies out on the left wing, before he puts a low cross in to the penalty area. Moore reads it, and hoofs clear.

Parker cuts in from the right wing and fires a left-foot shot high and wide from 20 yards out.

SKILLED! N'Zogbia brilliantly flicks the ball through Scimica's legs and wins his side a free-kick when the defender hauls him down.

...This time Greening takes the corner from the left, but Davies puts his header over the bar. Goalkick.

...Carter aims for Watson in the penalty area, but Babayaro climbs well. Another corner...

Clement's cross in to the penalty area flicks off the head of Babayaro and skips out of play; West Brom corner...

Newcastle have enjoyed a good spell of sustained pressure over the last couple of minutes, but West Brom seem to have weathered the storm.

Amoebi earns himself a long chat with the referee after committing another foul as he challenged Moore for a header. That might be his last life before he goes in the book.

HEADER! Boumsong plants a header well wide of the far post after he had been found by a cross in to a crowded penalty area. He should have done a lot better there.

Emre finds N'Zobia in the area, but as he tries to shift the ball on to his favoured left foot, a West Brom boot puts the ball out for a corner.

CHANCE! Solano slides a great ball down the right channel for Owen to sprint on to, but the goalkeeper comes off his line very quickly to smother the ball as Owen tried to lift it over him.

Solano again drifts from the wing as he tries to get some meaningful possession; Newcastle really need him to give them some width.

Parker tracks back well and puts a good tackle in as Earnshaw began to work up a head of steam in a run towards goal.

...It's a good delivery from Carter, but the ball flies across the face of goal without any West Brom player really attacking it. Goal-kick.

West Brom are enjoying a good spell of pressure at the moment. They win a corner when a cross is deflected behind...

Inamoto slide a good ball in to the feet of Kanu inside the Newcastle penalty area, but Boumsong and Parker combine to rob him as he tried to turn.

The free-kick is lofted high in to the penalty area. Ameobi collides with Kuszczak, who drops the ball as he tried to make the catch. Free-kick.

Parker is kicked in the chest by Inamoto as he tried to break over the half-way line. Free-kick, and referee Webb has a quiet word with the midfielder.

Newcastle combine well inside the West Brom final third. Emre shows great composure and control as he works the ball out to Ramage, but the cross from the right is much to strong.

The set-piece again goes long, and Babayaro climbs highest to clear the danger.

Greening attempts to beat Babayaro on the right wing. N'Zogbia comes to help his full-back, and puts the ball out for a corner.

Kanu and Earnshaw combine well as West Brom launcha a counter-attack, but Ramage covers well from right-back and prods the ball back to Given.

Solano flicks a short pass over the top of Clement's head towards Owen, but the former Real Madrid player mis-controls and the chance passes. He should have done a lot better there.

...Solano lofts the ball in towards Owen, in plenty space just six yards out, but the England striker can't direct his header goalwards and the ball skips out for a goal-kick.

Emre and Solano stand over the ball. It's slightly left-of-centre, so probably best for the right-footer...

Free-kick to Newcastle as Scimica barges N'Zogbia, 25 yards out. Dangerous position.

Another West Brom free-kick is lofted in towards the back post, but again Newcastle deal with the aerial threat very well.

Both sides are working very hard off the ball, pressing their opponents and forcing a few mistakes.

Scimica makes a good challenge on the half-way line as N'Zogbia tries to break down the left wing.

Taylor shows good strength as he out-muscles Kanu inside his own penalty area. Goal kick.

Watson, playing against a former club, is doing some good defensive work in midfield for West Brom, breaking up a lot of what Newcastle are trying to create.

Solano is coming off his position on the right wing and is starting to cause a problem or two for the home side.

Newcastle are just beginning to get the better of the match now; their midfielders are far more creative and the front two are starting to make dangerous runs.

Owen makes another good run in behind Davies, but Solano's cute through-ball is a little strong and the goalkeeper collects on the pentlty spot.

Good spell of pressure from Newcastle as they fire some good low crosses in to the penalty area. The West Brom defence stand firm, however.

Owen wins Newcastle's second corner of the match when his attempted cross is deflected behind.

Kanu slides a good ball in to the feet of Inamoto, but Boumsong makes a crucial tackle as the Japanese international attempts to break in to the area.

Solano lofts a long cross-field ball over the top of the West Brom defence, trying to find Owen's run; the ball skips off the turf and Kuszczak collects.

The corner is sent long towards the back of the area, but Owen, back on defensive duty, clears with his right boot.

But the ball is pumped back in, and West Brom win their first corner of the game when the ball is put behind.

Carter lofts a free-kick in towards Curtis Davies inside the Newcastle penalty area, though Babayaro shows good strength in the air to head clear.

It's been a fairly bright opening, though both sides are struggling to string more than a couple of passes together; the midfield looks to be very congested.

Ameobi had a very impressive game against Sunderland in the North East derby last week; he'll be keen to continue to impress his manager as Shearer winds down in his final season.

Ameobi is bundled over by Watson on the edge of the West Brom penalty area, though the referee rules play-on.

Kanu controls a long throw in to the area, and tries to trick his marker with a quick turn. Taylor stays on his feet, and prods the ball clear.

A mis-placed pass from Watson goes out of play, to ironic cheers from the visiting fans.

West Brom win a free-kick, 45 yards out. Greening aims it towards Moore at the back post, but Newcastle clear the danger.

West Brom have scored AND conceded in every home match this season, so we should be in for some goals this afternoon.

Ameobi fires in the first shot of the afternoon; he rather scuffs his effort, but Newcastle win a corner when it is deflected behind by Moore.

Earnshaw throws himself lamely to the ground as he tries to collect a pass from Greening. Babayaro was somewhere close to the little Welsh striker, but he certainly didn't touch him.

Carter lofts a ball in towards Kanu inside the Newcastle penalty area, though it's too long and Given collects.

The West Brom fans are in good voice as the game begins. They are a proud and vocal bunch and always get behind their side.

It's a mild and dry afternoon in the West Midlands as Newcastle kick off.

Some team news: Newcastle have left out Alan Shearer as Graeme Souness choses to partner Michael Owen with Shola Ameobi up front.

Hi, and welcome to our coverage of Newcastle's trip to West Brom.

This will be a tricky final twenty minutes for Newcastle; West Brom are usually very strong in the second half and the fans will be right behind them.

SUB: Dyer replaces N'Zogbia for Newcastle. Dyer will give his side plenty of pace and energy as they try to see out the game.

Emre curls a free-kick in to the area. Taylor attempts to steal in behind the West Brom defence, but he can only put his header high over the bar.

Moore gets his head on the corner, but he can't quite direct it goalwards and Newcastle win the goalkick.

...Earnshaw strikes it, right-footed, attempting to bend it around the wall and inside the near post. Corner, as it deflects off the edge of the Newcastle wall.

West Brom win a free-kick as Boumsong holds back Kanu. It's 30 yards out, slightly right-of-centre. Earnshaw and Clement stand over the ball...

Newcastle are having to do plenty of defending at the moment. Boumsong and Taylor are struggling to compete with Kanu and Earnshaw.

SUB: Ameobi off, Shearer on. Newcastle send on their skipper to try and hold the ball up better and give the visitors some breathing space.

SAVE! Owen sprints on to a through-ball; Kuszczak comes flying out of his area, and the ball strikes the Polish keeper on the chest as Owen tries to flick it over him.

West Brom are enjoying a good spell with the ball, sending over some dangerous crosses towards Kanu and Earnshaw.

There's some activity on the Newcastle bench; it looks like Shearer is getting ready to come on.

Solano finds himself in space, 30 yards out, but his lofted pass trying to find N'Zogbia is too strong.

OOOH! Earnshaw smashes a left-foot shot a yard wide of the post, with Given well beaten. West Brom are creating chances every time they go forward.

Ramage heads away the free-kick, and Newcastle attempt to break, though N'Zogbia's long ball towards Owen is too strong.

Ameobi is booked for a culmination of fouls, the latest on the half-way line on Scimica. The first yellow card of the afternoon.

Souness will be furious with the way his side have defended since going in front; they are making big errors at the back and allowing Earnshaw far too much space.

OFF THE LINE! Emre's corner is headed goalwards by Owen, but a West Brom defender climbs to head clear. Solano then fires a shot in on goal, though it is blocked inside the six-yard box.

Parker clips a clever ball over the top of Davies as Ameobi looks to sprint in behind the home defence; Newcastle corner.

What a fantastic start to the second half; the first 45 minutes were a little stale, but this has been excellent after the interval. Lots of chances; it's really open.

Parker goes down inside the penalty area after a great flick from Owen. Replays showed Moore had a hand on Parker, but he went down very easily.

More desperate defending from Newcastle as the home side press forward; Emre is forced in to a fantastic slide-tackle in his own area as Carter pulled the trigger.

West Brom have responded really well to going behind. They created three great chances in the space of a couple of minutes, and should have equalised.

SAVE! An incredible save from Given as he throws himself at Earnshaw's point-blank shot and blocks on his goal-line.

OOOH! The Newcastle defence go to sleep as Greening gets in behind them and fires a low cross over to Earnshaw. Unfortunately for the home side, the Welsh striker mis-kicks from two yards out.

Ramage pulls at the shirt of Clement; West Brom free-kick. The Newcastle fans are in good voice now.

GOOD EFFORT! Earnshaw does well to win a long ball over the top. He holds off two Newcastle defenders before cutting in to the area, though his shot is easily saved.

N'Zogbia wins his side a throw in a dangerous area, but the home side stay strong and clear through Scimica.

Earnshaw does well as he breaks down the left wing. He holds off Boumsong, but his high cross is easily claimed by Given.

Really good goal from Owen and Newcastle will have really high hopes of building on it and closing out a third win in a week.

GOAL! Superb goal from Owen. Newcastle build nicely through Ameobi and N'Zgbia, who sends over a great cross; Owen makes a textbook run to the near post and finishes with a stunning volley.

West Brom kick off the second 45 minutes. No changes at half time.

West Brom are first out of the tunnel as they prepare for the second half.

HALF-TIME: Newcastle perhaps had the better of a scrappy half. Not much in it though. Emre has impressed me. Earnshaw hasn't.

Boumsong requires some treatment when he catches a boot in the face from Kanu as the pair tussled on the by-line. A splash of water, and he's fine.

Ameobi shows good upper-body strength to hold off Davies out on the left wing, before he puts a low cross in to the penalty area. Moore reads it, and hoofs clear.

Parker cuts in from the right wing and fires a left-foot shot high and wide from 20 yards out.

SKILLED! N'Zogbia brilliantly flicks the ball through Scimica's legs and wins his side a free-kick when the defender hauls him down.

...This time Greening takes the corner from the left, but Davies puts his header over the bar. Goalkick.

...Carter aims for Watson in the penalty area, but Babayaro climbs well. Another corner...

Clement's cross in to the penalty area flicks off the head of Babayaro and skips out of play; West Brom corner...

Newcastle have enjoyed a good spell of sustained pressure over the last couple of minutes, but West Brom seem to have weathered the storm.

Amoebi earns himself a long chat with the referee after committing another foul as he challenged Moore for a header. That might be his last life before he goes in the book.

HEADER! Boumsong plants a header well wide of the far post after he had been found by a cross in to a crowded penalty area. He should have done a lot better there.

Emre finds N'Zobia in the area, but as he tries to shift the ball on to his favoured left foot, a West Brom boot puts the ball out for a corner.

CHANCE! Solano slides a great ball down the right channel for Owen to sprint on to, but the goalkeeper comes off his line very quickly to smother the ball as Owen tried to lift it over him.

Solano again drifts from the wing as he tries to get some meaningful possession; Newcastle really need him to give them some width.

Parker tracks back well and puts a good tackle in as Earnshaw began to work up a head of steam in a run towards goal.

...It's a good delivery from Carter, but the ball flies across the face of goal without any West Brom player really attacking it. Goal-kick.

West Brom are enjoying a good spell of pressure at the moment. They win a corner when a cross is deflected behind...

Inamoto slide a good ball in to the feet of Kanu inside the Newcastle penalty area, but Boumsong and Parker combine to rob him as he tried to turn.

The free-kick is lofted high in to the penalty area. Ameobi collides with Kuszczak, who drops the ball as he tried to make the catch. Free-kick.

Parker is kicked in the chest by Inamoto as he tried to break over the half-way line. Free-kick, and referee Webb has a quiet word with the midfielder.

Newcastle combine well inside the West Brom final third. Emre shows great composure and control as he works the ball out to Ramage, but the cross from the right is much to strong.

The set-piece again goes long, and Babayaro climbs highest to clear the danger.

Greening attempts to beat Babayaro on the right wing. N'Zogbia comes to help his full-back, and puts the ball out for a corner.

Kanu and Earnshaw combine well as West Brom launcha a counter-attack, but Ramage covers well from right-back and prods the ball back to Given.

Solano flicks a short pass over the top of Clement's head towards Owen, but the former Real Madrid player mis-controls and the chance passes. He should have done a lot better there.

...Solano lofts the ball in towards Owen, in plenty space just six yards out, but the England striker can't direct his header goalwards and the ball skips out for a goal-kick.

Emre and Solano stand over the ball. It's slightly left-of-centre, so probably best for the right-footer...

Free-kick to Newcastle as Scimica barges N'Zogbia, 25 yards out. Dangerous position.

Another West Brom free-kick is lofted in towards the back post, but again Newcastle deal with the aerial threat very well.

Both sides are working very hard off the ball, pressing their opponents and forcing a few mistakes.

Scimica makes a good challenge on the half-way line as N'Zogbia tries to break down the left wing.

Taylor shows good strength as he out-muscles Kanu inside his own penalty area. Goal kick.

Watson, playing against a former club, is doing some good defensive work in midfield for West Brom, breaking up a lot of what Newcastle are trying to create.

Solano is coming off his position on the right wing and is starting to cause a problem or two for the home side.

Newcastle are just beginning to get the better of the match now; their midfielders are far more creative and the front two are starting to make dangerous runs.

Owen makes another good run in behind Davies, but Solano's cute through-ball is a little strong and the goalkeeper collects on the pentlty spot.

Good spell of pressure from Newcastle as they fire some good low crosses in to the penalty area. The West Brom defence stand firm, however.

Owen wins Newcastle's second corner of the match when his attempted cross is deflected behind.

Kanu slides a good ball in to the feet of Inamoto, but Boumsong makes a crucial tackle as the Japanese international attempts to break in to the area.

Solano lofts a long cross-field ball over the top of the West Brom defence, trying to find Owen's run; the ball skips off the turf and Kuszczak collects.

The corner is sent long towards the back of the area, but Owen, back on defensive duty, clears with his right boot.

But the ball is pumped back in, and West Brom win their first corner of the game when the ball is put behind.

Carter lofts a free-kick in towards Curtis Davies inside the Newcastle penalty area, though Babayaro shows good strength in the air to head clear.

It's been a fairly bright opening, though both sides are struggling to string more than a couple of passes together; the midfield looks to be very congested.

Ameobi had a very impressive game against Sunderland in the North East derby last week; he'll be keen to continue to impress his manager as Shearer winds down in his final season.

Ameobi is bundled over by Watson on the edge of the West Brom penalty area, though the referee rules play-on.

Kanu controls a long throw in to the area, and tries to trick his marker with a quick turn. Taylor stays on his feet, and prods the ball clear.

A mis-placed pass from Watson goes out of play, to ironic cheers from the visiting fans.

West Brom win a free-kick, 45 yards out. Greening aims it towards Moore at the back post, but Newcastle clear the danger.

West Brom have scored AND conceded in every home match this season, so we should be in for some goals this afternoon.

Ameobi fires in the first shot of the afternoon; he rather scuffs his effort, but Newcastle win a corner when it is deflected behind by Moore.

Earnshaw throws himself lamely to the ground as he tries to collect a pass from Greening. Babayaro was somewhere close to the little Welsh striker, but he certainly didn't touch him.

Carter lofts a ball in towards Kanu inside the Newcastle penalty area, though it's too long and Given collects.

The West Brom fans are in good voice as the game begins. They are a proud and vocal bunch and always get behind their side.

It's a mild and dry afternoon in the West Midlands as Newcastle kick off.

Some team news: Newcastle have left out Alan Shearer as Graeme Souness choses to partner Michael Owen with Shola Ameobi up front.

Hi, and welcome to our coverage of Newcastle's trip to West Brom.