Newcastle United got back to winning ways after their hammering at Chelsea with a comfortable victory over Manchester City, on a return to St James Park their former manager Kevin Keegan will want to forget.
It was the man Keegan brought to Newcastle for £15 million, Alan Shearer, who sunk City, netting twice after Shola Ameobi had opened the scoring in the second half following a disappointing opening 45 minutes.
United boss Bobby Robson had welcomed Keiron Dyer and Jonathan Woodgate back from injury and the pair will have enjoyed their comebacks.
Both sides had early chances, with Laurent Robert's pace causing City problems and Robbie Fowler having two early efforts on goal, but the half deteriorated as it wore on.
Former England team-mates Shearer and David Seaman both needed treatment after a 28th minute collision as the United skipper raced on to an Ameobi pass.
But both were able to continue and eight minutes from the interval Seaman had to be at his best to deny a fierce left-foot drive from Robert.
And Robert, a constant menace, sent in a dangerous cross in the 43rd minute but the oncoming Dyer could not connect and the visitors breathed another sigh of relief.
Neither managers made any chances at half time and United started where they left off, with Robert twice shooting inches wide of the City goal and he was again in the thick of things when Newcastle's breakthrough finally came, with England under-21 striker Ameobi poking the ball home at the far post after the winger had swung the ball in from the left.
Newcastle had a lucky escape in the 70th minute when the ball rebounded to Nicolas Anelka in the box, but the French striker stumbled and Shay Given was able to save at his feet.
Two minutes later Keegan made a double substitution when he brought on Jonathan Macken and Eyal Berkovic in a bid to get City back into the game, but United stretched their lead in the 77th minute when Shearer sent a bullet header past Seaman after good work from Olivier Bernard down the left.
In the 80th minute Shearer's strike partner Ameobi was twice foiled by Seaman, but the former Arsenal goalkeeper could do nothing in the 85th minute as Shearer bundled in his second goal of the afternoon from close range after Bernard's cross had been headed into his path by Ameobi.