MATCH REPORT

MARK Viduka was Newcastle United's hero as his double helped the Magpies to a 3-1 victory over West Ham at St.James' Park.

The Aussie star took just two minutes to open the scoring, powering a close range header beyond the despairing Robert Green from Charles N'Zogbia's left-wing centre.

Steve Harper denied Mark Noble with a low, finger-tipped save in the 27^th minute, but within five minutes of that super stop the Hammers were level.

Dean Ashton fired his second goal in as many games after a Carlton Cole header dropped kindly for the striker just eight yards from goal.

The Hammers probably deserved their leveller but found themselves behind as Viduka notched his second four minutes before the break.

N'Zogbia was again the architect, this time surging into the visitors penalty area before squaring across goal for Viduka to convert from inside the six-yard area.

The Magpies had Harper to thank for preserving their lead in the second period, the Toon stopper at full-stretch to palm away Lee Bowyer's goalbound drive from outside the area.

But the points were safe in the 76^th minute, N'Zogbia getting his goal from close range after Martins drilled across the face of goal for the young French star to grab his third of the campaign.

Martins, on for the injured Owen, should have made it four late on but fired into the side-netting from a narrow angle after rounding keeper Green.

SECOND HALF ACTION (click refresh for latest)

It's all over at St.James' Park as Mark Viduka's brace and Charles N'Zogbia's second-half effort move United to fourth in the Premiership.

The fourth official announces three minutes added time.

88min - Oba Martins should make it four as he intercepts McCartney's loose ball infield, the Nigerian rounds Robert Green but with the narrow angle against him he shoots into the side-netting much to the despair of the home fans and the Magpies No.9 himself.

85min - Bowyer tries a speculative volley from outside the area which Harper is only too happy to gather with ease.

82min - Oba is looking for a fourth and lashes goalwards from 25 yards from Smith's lay-off, the left-footed effort is always rising however and ends up high in the Gallowgate End.

81min - Bowyer is next in the book for a trip on N'Zogbia on the East Stand touchline.

79min - Jonathan Spector comes on for Matt Etherington.

78min - Steven Taylor comes on for Claudio Cacapa. Geremi is booked for time-wasting as he prevents West Ham from taking a quick free-kick.

76min - NEWCASTLE GOAL (3-1): Smith has possession with his back to goal on the edge of the area and lays it back into the path of CHARLES N'ZOGBIA, he slips it wide to Martins who gets to the Gallowgate by-line before drilling low across goal for N'Zogbia who had continued his run into the box and he finishes from close range.

75min - N'Zogbia has moved up to left-wing and immediately torments full-back Neill, the French star driving to the touchline before flashing across goal and it's only the head of Anton Ferdinand which prevents Oba Martins nodding into an empty net.

73min - Jose Enrique replaces two-goal hero Mark Viduka.

72min - Harper is United's saviour once more as the ball drops for Bowyer after a game of head tennis in the penalty area, his low volley is heading for the bottom corner until the Toon keeper's strong, out-stretched arm saves the day for the Magpies.

69min - Camara steals a yard on Rozehnal on the right and his cross is headed behind at the near post by Cacapa. Viduka wins amid a crowd of bodies inside the area from Etherington's corner, Bowyer tries to return the loose ball but slices high into the Leazes End.

68min - Henri Camara replaces Carlton Cole.

66min - McCartney is checked by Smith on the Milburn Stand touchline and Noble delivers a wicked ball from the free-kick, Ashton's glancing header beats everyone but fortunately for the Magpies it also evades the far post.

62min - The hosts on the counter attack from Harper's throw and Milner lobs a ball forward into the path of Martins, the Nigerian only has eyes for goal and works a yard to the left of Lucas Neill before firing towards target, Neill recovers to get a foot on the effort and the Hammers are able to clear. They are straight on the attack and McCartney is felled 25 yards out as he tries to go in-between Butt and Rozehnal. Ashton has a crack from the free-kick and it's a difficult one for Steve Harper as the ball bounces just in front of him, the United keeper does well however to hold the vicious effort with Hammers players closing in expecting a rebound.

62min - Freddie Ljungberg replaces Hayden Mullins.

59min - Bowyer is arrving at the far post to get on the end of Etherington's left-wing centre, N'Zogbia does enough to put him off and Harper claims as the ball loops in the air off the back of the West Ham player.

56min - Butt and Noble receive a stern talking to from Mike Riley after a clash on halfway in which TV replays suggest Noble lashed out at the Toon midfielder.

55min - Viduka sets off on a mazy run along the edge of the area and lays off to Nicky Butt who fires goalwards from 20 yards, Green is forced to dive low to keep the stinging effort out.

54min - The ball is worked short from the free-kick and Rozehnal sends a low, skidding shot goalwards, with Green rooted to the spot it looks like the ball might find the bottom corner but much to the relief of the Hammers keeper it evades his post by a matter of inches.

53min - N'Zogbia blocks Cole as he tries to move West Ham forward on halfway, in his frustration the striker hauls down the Frenchman and rightly receives a yellow card.

51min - Michael Owen signals to the bench that he wants to come off and he is replaced by Oba Martins who receives a big welcome from the home crowd.

48min - Viduka's quick feet out-foxes Mullins on halfway and the Hammers midfielder catches the Aussie with a stray leg for which he enters Mike Riley's book.

46min - Owen is checked as he nips the ball around McCartney and United have a free-kick 25 yards out. N'Zogbia doesn't get any height on his delivery and Ferdinand is able to fire away.

The black and whites get the second half started with no changes for either side.

FIRST HALF ACTION

It's half-time at St.James' with the Magpies leading thanks to two Mark Viduka goals.

The fourth official announces two minutes added time.

44min - United are beginning to exert their authority and Viduka goes looking for his hat-trick with a low, left-footed drive from the edge of the area, Robert Green dives and gets a clear fingertip to nudge the ball around the post but Mike Riley awards a goal-kick much to the displeasure of the Toon Army.

41min - NEWCASTLE GOAL (2-1): Geremi plays a short ball infield for Rozehnal and the Czech has no option other than to spear it forward, it actually turns into a great ball as N'Zogbia beats Bowyer for speed and races into the Hammers penalty area, the French star slides across goal for MARK VIDUKA at the far post who steers the ball into the empty net with his shins to restore the Geordie lead.

39min - Owen gets away from McCartney on the right channel, he works a yard to cross and Ferdinand challenges with Viduka at the near post, the Hammers defender does enough to put the Aussie forward off and West Ham clear. Milner quickly recycles possession and sees his cross deflect off Neill and behind for a corner. The young winger takes the flag-kick but Green claims at the far post while under pressure from Viduka.

37min - Etherington bursts forward and tries to play a one-two with Cole but his return his sliced and it loops up for Harper to collect eight yards from goal.

34min- United are looking to regain their lead but Milner's left-wing cross is poor allowing Mullins to clear on the penalty spot.

32min - WEST HAM GOAL (1-1): Mullins spreads the play wide for Cole on the Milburn Stand touchline, his early cross is hacked away for a throw-in by Rozehnal. Neill's long throw is met by DEAN ASHTON and the ball richochets in the air, Cole heads next amid a crowd of players and it drops kindly for Ashton eight yards from goal and he hooks into the far corner to bring the visitors level.

29min - Neill's long throw causes confusion at the near post and Harper has to dive at the feet of Cole as he tried to turn the ball goalwards. Noble takes the resulting flag-kick, Upson rises above everyone but mis-times his leap and can only head over .

27min - Noble surges forward and exchanges passes with McCartney before darting infield from the left, the England Under-21 star works an angle for a shot and it takes a brilliant stop from a diving Steve Harper to tip the 20-yard strike around the post. Etherington takes the corner and Ashton and Rozehnal clash heads with the West Ham striker penalised and United have a free-kick.

24min - Harper has to be quick off his line as Ashton looks to get on the end of Cole's flick, the Toon stopper gets there first and slides to gather at the feet of the striker just inside the area.

22min - Newcastle have possession on halfway and Smith feeds it out wide to Beye, he dashes past Etherington and McCartney and plays a cross to the far post but it misses everyone with Nicky Butt the man rushing in at the far post to try to get on the end of it.

21min - Smith charges down McCartney's attempted clearance and chases after the loose ball on the right-wing, Viduka is arriving in the area and Smith tries to find the striker with a first time cross but Ferdinand reads the situation and clears from inside the six-yard box.

19min - Mark Noble receives treatment from the Hammers physio after an innocuous clash with N'Zogbia as he slid to try to win the ball from the Frenchman.

16min - George McCartney's left-wing centre is charged down by Beye for a Hammers corner. Etherington floats over from the flag-kick and Viduka is the man who climbs highest to head away, the ball is immediately pumped back into the box and this time it's Smith who heads clear, the ball drops for Lee Bowyer and he elects to shoot first time, it's a fizzing effort but Nicky Butt is there to block before completing the clearance.

14min - It looks like Carlton Cole is going to get a clear run on the United goal but N'Zogbia recovers to get in front of the West Ham striker and Mike Riley blows for a free-kick as Cole catches the young Frenchman with a stray arm.

12min - Noble is tripped on the left and picks himself up to take the resulting free-kick. His delivery has too much on it however and Harper is able to watch the ball drift behind for a goal-kick.

9min - Viduka is winning everything for the hosts and his chested knock-down frees Alan Smith, the midfielder is quick to find Michael Owen but Upson denies him the space to shoot and the chance is gone.

2min - NEWCASTLE GOAL (1-0): The Magpies break and Milner tries to go by Neill on the left-wing, the United winger spins and lays the ball back for N'Zogbia, the French star whips over and MARK VIDUKA gets there ahead of Anton Ferdinand to steer his header past Robert Green at the near post for his second goal of the season.

1min - The visitors are immediately on the offensive as Bowyer chases down a long ball forward, Harper fails to clear and the former Toon midfielder seizes upon the loose ball, he slips it inside for Carlton Cole but the Hammers striker lashes over the bar when he should have tested Harper.

West Ham get the game underway attacking the Gallowgate End.

TEAM NEWS

SAM Allardyce welcomes back Mark Viduka into the starting line-up while Habib Beye is also handed his full Magpies debut.

Viduka missed the 1-0 defeat at Derby on Monday because of a hamstring injury, but will partner Michael Owen in attack for the visit of the Hammers.

Steven Taylor drops down to the bench as Senegal star Beye comes in at right-back, while Jose Enrique is also included among the substitutes after recovering from his hamstring injury.

Nicky Butt will make his 500th career appearance and young winger James Milner the 200th of his career.

For West Ham, only one of their legion of former Toon stars is included as two-goal Lee Bowyer starts in midfield for Alan Curbishley's side.

Scott Parker is still lacking match practice and did not travel, likewise Craig Bellamy who is suffering from a recurrence of a groin problem.