Newcastle United 0:
Birmingham City 1: Dunn 58

Final Update: 90mins (3pm kick-off)

United: Given, Griffin, Solano (Bowyer 66), O'Brien, Jenas, Dyer, Shearer, Speed, Bramble, Ameobi (Chopra 66), Viana (Robert 66)  Subs (not used): Harper, Hughes

Birmingham: Taylor, Kenna, Upson, Cunningham, Clapham, Johnson, Savage, Clemence, Laziridis (Cisse 77), John (Horsfield 70), Dunn (Tebily 88)  Subs (not used): Bennett, Morrison

Referee: Matt Messias

Attendance: 52,006

SIR Bobby Robson rang the changes for the visit of Birmingham following the midweek defeat by Partizan Belgrade.

Aaron Hughes and Olivier Bernard were both left out, with Andy Griffin coming in at right back and Gary Speed dropping back to left back.

Jermaine Jenas replaced Speed in the centre of midfield alongside Kieron Dyer.

Newcastle got the game underway attacking the Gallowgate End, and there an bizarre incident in the first minute when the referee stuck out an arm to award a free kick - and caught Robbie Savagae full in the face!

The Welsh midfielder required lengthy treatment before he could continue, though he still lo0oked groggy when he returned to the field.

A foul by Upson on Ameobi saw Newcastle awarded a free kick 25 yards out to the right side of the box, and when Solano swung the ball in O'Brien got a touch but Taylor gathered.

On eight minutes a good flowing move from Newcastle saw O'Brien win a right wing corner, but Viana's inswinger was headed away by Kenna on the near post.

Two minutes later the Portuguese midfielder's shot was well off target after Dyer had a 20 yard drive charged down.

On 18 minutes Viana's cvareless backheel let in Laziridis, and the Australian's angled drive had to be tipped over by Given.

But Birmingham's corner was intercepted by Dyer, and he ran from his own box into the opposition penalty area but was eventually shackled by Upson.

Moments later Viana's cross took a deflection and fell to Ameobi at the back post, but when the striker headed the ball back across the face of goal the stretching Shearer just failed to connect with it.

On 26 minutes some great play from Dunn saw the ex-Blackburn man run at the United defence, but when he played in John the striker couldn't keep his effort down.

The same two players then combined on 32 minutes when Dunn slid a pass through to John, but again he could not his the target and his effort flew past Given's left hand post.

A minute later Jenas got the first yellow card of the match when he pulled Savage back in midfield.

Ten minutes before the interval Birmingham won a corner on the left when Griffin diverted the ball out of play, but Given eventually gathered the ball inside his six yard bos.

United won a corner at the other end a minute later when Upson put the ball out of play under pressure from Jenas, but again the set piece came to nothing, then Ameobi tried to dribble his way into space after getting the ball on the 18 yard line when a shot may have been the better option.

In the closing stages of the half Solano's powerful drive was blocked by Clapham, then Savage got in the way of Dyer's follow up as he tried to score with the rebound.

Right on the stroke of half time United were awarded a free kick on the left hand angle of the box, but Solano's curler was easily held by Taylor as the half ended goalless. 

Upson conceded aq corner a minute after the restart after Shearer's ball over the top sent Dyer racing away, but the visitors eventually hooked the ball toi safety after a spot of head tennis in the box.

Another corner was awarded when Taylor tipped Jenas's looping cross over his bar, but Ameobi headed Solano's flag kick wide.

Birmingham struggled to get the ball out of their half in the opening few minutes of the second period, and Shearer headed straight at Taylor after yet another corner.

On 58 minutes Speed's challenge on Johnson saw the referee award a penalty, and after Speed was cautioned Dunn stepped up to take the kick, and although Given saved it the ball broke loose and Dunn smashed in the rebound.

On 64 minutes Solano's volley with the outside of his right boot hit the sidenetteing after Birmingham failed to clear a cross from the left wing from Viana.

On 66 minutes, Sir Bobby made a triple change, bringing on Chopra, Bowyer and Robert for Ameobi, Solano and Viana.

Bowyer almost made an immediate impact when he chested down a cross from Robert and got in a shot, but Taylor saved at the foot of his post.

Steve Bruce made a chamnge on 70 minutes when he took off John and threw on Geoff Horsfield.

Newcastle tried to put on a bit of pressure as the game went into the final 15 minutes, and after a corner from Robert was cleared Savage then booted clear when the ball was played back into the box.

A counter attack from Birmingham after Bowyer lost possession saw Dunn found in space just inside the area, but Given got down well to save, then an error from Griffin saw Laziridis go one-on-one with the Irishman but Given made another great save.

With 13 minutes left Cisse replaced Laziridis for the visitors, then six minutes later Kenna was cautioned for hauling down Speed wide on the left.

Robert whipped the ball into a crowded box and it was cleared, but as United treid to win back possession Dunn fouled Bowyer on the edge of the box in a central position but Shearer could only hit the defensive wall.

Speed headed a Griffin cross over the bar in the last minute as streams of black and white shirts headed for the exits, then a corner in injury time saw Given at the opposite end of the field to highlight United's desperation. 

When the final whistle sounded the fans who were left in the stadium made their feelings clear as the players trooped off following their third defeat in the space of a week.