By Peter Donnelly
October 25 2003

Newcastle United claimed their fourth league win in a row on Saturday afternoon, beating Harry Redknapps 'Pompey' 3-0. We are certainly on our way back now. Sir Bobby Robson kept the same side which won at Fulham on Tuesday night,
3-2.

Newcastle started very brightly and the crowd were up for it. Robert and Ameobi both had chances to open the scoring but failed.

After 16 minutes though Gary Speed scored a deserved opening goal and his first of 2003, after some excellent football from the Magpies. Nice one Speedo.

It was domination for United but still only 1-0. However, soon after Speed's goal we were awarded a penalty for hand-ball. Alan Shearer stepped up and got his 10th goal of the season. 2-0.

Just when you thought it was going to be a cricket score though Newcaste became a bit complacent and let Portsmouth come into the game. Sir Bobby's team hung on though until half-time.

Half-time: 2-0

Despite Bobby's team-talk, the second half wasn't as good as the 1st, as the standard dropped.

Portsmouth got a few corners and had some half chances, but never punished the Toon.

Later on, Shola Ameobi sealed the win and Pompeys fate. The Nigerian Geordie scored a pretty strange header, with ex-Magpie Shaka Hislop at fault, but it capped off an excellent peformance by the 22-year-old. He should have had more than one.

It was pretty much a none event afterward that, with everyone knowing the game was over.

Full-time: 3-0

Another win, another 3 points. Who said there was a crisis at Newcastle? In the league, we are definately back to where we can work from effectively and 4th place IS a possibility, trust me. And Sir Bobby Robson was right after all.