MATCH REPORT

NEWCASTLE United skipper Michael Owen was the Geordies hero with a match-winning double in the Tyne-Wear derby.

It took the Toon No.10 just four minutes to break the deadlock, nipping in front of Paul McShane to head home Geremi's right-wing delivery at the Gallowgate End.

And the black and white captain netted his second on the stroke of half-time, firing past Craig Gordon from the penalty spot after Danny Higginbotham had handled inside the area.

Oba Martins had a chance to wrap things up in the 68th minute but Gordon saved from his powerful, close range strike.

Steve Harper was then called into action at the other end as the United kepper threw himself the full length of his target to palm clear Kenwyne Jones' header.

But the day belonged to Newcastle United and Kevin Keegan with the Geordie Messiah's name ringing out around St.James' Park on the full-time whistle.

The win leaves the Magpies six points clear of their North East rivals and guaranteed of their place in the top flight next season.

SECOND HALF ACTION (click refresh for latest)

That's it, full-time at Gallowgate with Michael Owen the Geordies' hero.

90+3min - Kevin Keegan's name is ringing out around St.James' Park with just seconds left on the clock.

90+2min - Geremi tries to get his name on the scoresheet but fires well wide with a 30-yard free-kick.

There will be four minutes added time.

87min - Ian Harte replaces Paul McShane for the hosts while David Edgar comes on for Jose Enrique.

86min - Geremi lashes wide when Sunderland fail to clear Beye's wicked delivery.

82min - Andy Carroll is inches away from a first black and white goal when he narrowly misses out on connecting with Owen's chipped cross from the left.

80min - Sunderland fail to clear Duff's low cross and Geremi tees-up Butt 20 yards out, the midfielder tries to beat Gordon with a measured, curling effort and is unlucky to miss the target by inches.

79min - Another yellow for Sunderland as Nosworthy enters the book for a clumsy challenge on Carroll.

78min - Geremi is robbed by Richardson on the left and Butt is forced to hack behind when the winger crosses looking for Jones. Richardson floats over from the left, Higginbotham is first to it but his header clears the target by a good couple of feet.

76min - Geordie striker Andy Carroll comes on with Mark Viduka making way.

74min - Jones and Faye tangle 20 yards out and Mike Dean rules that the Senegal defender has man-handled the Sunderland striker and awards a free-kick. Richardson tries to clip an effort over the ball but can't beat the Magpie blockade and Faye eventually clears the loose ball.

72min - Andy Reid quickly follows Miller into the book for a wild, sliding challenge on Owen.

70min - Damien Duff replaces Oba Martins but not before Liam Miller is booked for a foul on the Nigerian.

68min - Martins and Owen play a quick one-two 25 yards out and the Nigerian is on goal, it's a chance to make the game safe but his powerful strike is kept out by the strong wrists of Gordon. The ball bounces clear and the Black Cats break on the right with Murphy, he delivers and the unmarked Jones is only denied a headed goal by a fanastic Harper save with the Toon stopper at full length to palm clear.

65min - Viduka is tripped by Collins as he gets away from the Sunderland defender midway inside the visitors half. Geremi delivers at speed from the right, Faye has crept in unnoticed around the back of the red and white rearguard but is always stretching and can only head high into the Leazes End.

61min - Again United squander possession cheaply on halfway allowing Andy Reid a crack on goal, it's a dipping effort from all of 30 yards but luckily for the hosts it clears the crossbar with Harper backpedalling.

58min - Carlos Edwards makes way with Kieran Richardson his replacement.

57min - The Black Cats are starting to enjoy the better of the play and have been camped in United's half for the majority of this second period.

50min - Sunderland have a corner as Whitehead's effort is deflected behind. Edwards takes and Collins wins in the air from Faye, Taylor is well-positioned in front of goal and the ball strikes his face before United hack to safety.

48min - Viduka sets Beye clear down the right, the Senegal star makes up 20 yards and attacks the by-line before crossing, his sharp pullback evades Martins but runs for Owen, the ball bounces up from the skipper's first touch and the chance is gone as he is crowded out by Black Cat defenders.

The visitors get the second period started with neither side having made any changes during the break.

FIRST HALF ACTION

45+2min - Daryl Murphy sees yellow for a late tackle on Owen.

45min - NEWCASTLE GOAL (2-0): MICHAEL OWEN swaps passes with Viduka inside the area and tries to lift the ball over Higginbotham, the ball strikes the arm of the sliding defender and Mike Dean points to the spot. It is the skipper who takes and he grabs his second of the game as his low strike defelcts into the Gallowgate End net off Gordon.

39mnin - There's been a bit of a lull in play these past five minutes or so but the game is brought to life when Andy Reid has a crack from distance,  it's not a bad effort and Harper does well to hold.

36min - Magpie penalty appeals are waved away as Martins tumbles inside the area under pressure from McShane - replays show it was the correct decision.

33min - United have a corner on the left which Geremi swings over, Taylor is arriving at pace and looks favourite to head on goal until Higginbotham climbs to power clear at the near post.

29min - Martins is sprung clear down the left flank by Barton, Owen and Viduka are scampering into the area but the Nigerian only has eyes for goal and cuts inside the challenge of McShane before firing low at Gordon's near post, the Scottish stopper is equal to the effort and gets down low to save and hold.

27min - Dean Whitehead is the first man in the book for a deliberate handball on halfway.

21min - Taylor does well to come and head clear for United but is caught out of possession as the visitors immediately pump the ball back downfield, Jones is one-on-one with Faye and has support arriving to his right, it is to the forward running Murphy which the striker looks but Barton has read the pass and slides to clear inside the area - it was an excellent intervention.

20min - Owen has possession on the edge of the Sunderland penalty area and skips by one challenge, it looks as though the angle is about to open up for a clear strike on goal but the ball runs away from his feet and the Black Cats hack clear.

15min - Again Dean keeps his cards in his pocket as this time Whitehead is late on Beye. Geremi crosses but it fails to beat Collins and he heads away to safety.

13min - United are enjoying much the better of the play and Habib Beye goes close to adding a second with a low drive from distance which Gordon has to get down to tip around the post. Geremi takes the flag-kick but the delivery is poor and Faye heads wide at the near post.

9min - Nosworthy barges into the back of Viduka 25 yards from goal on the left and United have a free-kick in a dangerous position. Taylor whispers a message into the ear of taker Geremi before dashing into the box, the Cameroon star looks for the run of the Geordie defender but it's a Black Cat head which wins at the near post at the expense of a corner. Geremi takes but Mike Dean blows for a foul - TV replays leave everyone in the press box bemused as to what the referee saw.

5min - The Black Cats go looking for an immediate response and win a corner on the right which Whitehead takes, the lofted ball is easy for United to deal with and Beye eventually clears.

4min  - NEWCASTLE GOAL (1-0): What a goal! St.James' Park is absolutely jumping as MICHAEL OWEN ghosts in front of Paul McShane 10 yards from goal to head home Geremi's whipped centre from the right - it's the skipper's 11th of the season.

2min - Paul McShane is extremely lucky not to enter Mike Dean's notebook for a late, rash challenge on Owen - if it hadn't of been after just two minutes you feel the full-back would have seen yellow.

The Magpies get the game started attacking the Gallowgate End. The atmosphere is absolutely electrifying inside St.James' Park with the Geordies in full voice.

TEAM NEWS

NEWCASTLE United remain unchanged for this afternoon's Tyne-Wear derby.

That means Kevin Keegan will again go with the three-pronged attack of Michael Owen, Oba Martins and Mark Viduka which has eight goals in the last five matches.