Newcastle Utd 3: Speed 16, Shearer (pen) 27, Ameobi 60
Portsmouth 0:

Final Update: 90mins (3pm kick off)

United: Given, Hughes, O'Brien, Bramble, Bernard, Bowyer (Ambrose 80), Jenas, Speed, Robert (Viana 80), Shearer, Ameobi (LuaLua 80) Subs (not used): Harper, S Caldwell

Portsmouth: Hislop, Stefanovic, Zivcovic (Foxe 71), De Zeeuw, Sheringham, Quashie, Faye (Sherwood 75), Stone, Yakubu, Berger, Schemmel (Taylor 50) Subs (not used): Wapaenaar, Roberts

Referee: Paul Durkin

Attendance: 52,161

SIR Bobby Robson kept the same side that beat Fulham in midweek for the visit of Portsmouth to St. James' Park.

United old boy Shaka Hislop was in goal for the visitors, though another former United keeper, Pavel Srnicek, was not in the Pompey squad.

United almost took the lead with just 27 seconds on the clock when Robert sent Ameobi free, but his shot was saved by the feet of Hislop and Pompey cleared the two corners that followed.

United looked to have strong claims for a penalty on seven minutes when Zivkovic bundled Shearer over inside the box, but the referee wasn't interested and gave a goal kick.

Bowyer was inches away from connecting aith an Ameobi cross from the left after 10 minutes, but a glancing touch from Jenas seemed to put him off and the chance went begging.

Bowyer then won United a corner after robbing Schemmel in front of the dug out and whipping the ball into the middle. There was a delay as Schemmel received treatment after being injured by Bowyer in the challenge prior tot he corner, and when Robert eventually took the flag kick Ameobi headed over the bar.

United had done virtually all of the attacking in the first 15 minutes, and Jenas was next to win a corner after Shearer's flick on, but the United skipper was penalised for a foul in the box when the kick was taken.

United took the lead on 16 minutes when Ameobi did well out on the left to get the cross in. The ball fell fell to Robert via Bowyer, and when the Frenchman laid the ball out to Speed on the edge of the box the Welshman drilled the ball low into the bottom corner.

Bowyer swung in a cross to the back post  on 23 minutes, and though Ameobi leapt above Schemmel to get on the end of it he could nbot divert his header on target.

Given was called into action on 26 minutes when Berger robbed Hughes and sent Yakubu free, but his shot was easy for the Irishman.

Play switched quickly to the other end, and when when Bowyer's shot was blocked by Stefanovic, the referee immediately pointed to the penalty spot and Shearer made no mistake from 12 yards to make it 2-0.

Sheringham glanced a looping header over the bar at the Gallowgate End as Pompey tried to find a way back into the game, then at the other end Bowyer made a galloping run from midfield but eventually ran out of legs and lost possession on the edge of the penalty area.

Pompey won their first corner of the game on 34 minutes when Bramble headed Stone's cross away, but Ameobi half cleared and when the ball came back into the area Bernard blocked Stone's shot.

Bowyer miskicked 16 yards out on 37 minutes, then Given had to race off his line to gather the ball as Faye tried to nip in between Bramble and O'Brien.

Given made a diving save tip Sheringham's 18 yard effort away five minutes before the restart, but The Magpies defended the corner well.

United had a couple of attacks as the half drew to a close, with Ameobi having an half chance blocked and Robert drilling a low free kick into a crowded box, and the score remained 2-0 at the interval.

United won a corner inside the first minute of the second peiod when Robert's cross was deflected, but the Frenchman's delivery was poor and Pompey cleared.

Portsmouth had a let off two minutes later when Ameobi showed great skill to turn his marker and send in a low cross across the face of goal, but no-one could get a decisive touch and the ball ended up in the arms of the grateful Hislop.

Harry Redknapp made a change on 50 minutres, with Matthew Taylor replacing Schemmel. Four minutes later Yakubu had the ball in the net when he nodded in Berger's cross, but the linesman's flag cut the celebrations short.

On 60 minutes, United went 3-0 up when Speed swung the cross in, and Ameobi got ahead of Zivkovic to send a looping header over Hislop into the net.

Hislop then got down low to keep out Bowyer's header on 66 minutes, then at the other end Berger won a corner after holding off Hughes but Speed headed away.

Pompey then won two more flag kicks in quick succession, and Sheringham wasn't too far away with a header from berger's corner from the left on 69 minutes.

On 71 minutes Portsmouth replaced Zivcovic with former West Ham defender Hayden Foxe, then four minutes later Sherwood came off the bench to replace Faye.

Sir Bobby made his three changes with 10 minutes remaining, with Ambrose and Viana coming on for Bowyer and Robert in midfield, and LuaLua getting a chance in attack as the outstanding Ameobi was given a breather.

United almost added a fourth two minutes from time when LuaLua did well out on the left and slid the ball across the face of goasl, but nobody could get a touch.