Souness finally tastes defeat

Nine games tasting only victories and draws - ten if you include the win over Blackburn when he was not officially in charge - had pushed the Magpies back into contention for a Champions League place.

But Souness had insisted the trip to Bolton was always going to be Newcastle's most difficult test so far, after witnessing Sam Allardyce transform his charges from a team normally hailed as relegation fodder into genuine candidates for a UEFA Cup place at least.

And if Bolton are to be regarded as the benchmark for how far Newcastle have improved since the new manager was installed then there is still plenty more work to be done.

Not even a world-class second half strike from midfielder Darren Ambrose - his first of the season and his first since scoring at Southampton in May - could stop the Magpies from losing their unbeaten sequence.

Bolton struck through El-Hadji Diouf and Kevin Davies either side of Ambrose's bullet, with question marks over the reaction of goalkeeper Shay Given to both.

It was the Trotters third victory in a row. It also preserved their unbeaten home record - where they have already avoided defeat against Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal this season.

The hustle and bustle approach from Bolton paid dividends and deserved to claim a victory and it was a result that had all the hallmarks of an Allardyce team - proving why Newcastle earmarked him among their top targets to succeed Sir Bobby Robson.

Newcastle's failings yesterday were achieved despite Souness laying down his attacking intentions from the start.

Shola Ameobi's reward for slotting the match-winning penalty away in the Carling Cup win over Norwich in midweek was to make way for the return of skipper Alan Shearer.

Ameobi's disappointment could have been predicted but the omissions of both Jermaine Jenas and Olivier Bernard were more of a surprise.

Bernard, offered a new contract late last week, was named on the bench but Jenas woke up with a back complaint and was overlooked - meaning Lee Bowyer was handed the chance to shine against former Magpie Gary Speed.

Bowyer was part of a three man midfield sent out by Souness, who chose that approach to allow Shearer, Patrick Kluivert and Craig Bellamy to form the mouth-watering three-pronged attack that should have offered so much.

But it was Bolton's style of play that caused the more problems. Lone striker Davies was well supported by the inventive wing play of Diouf and Stelios Giannakopolous.

Had Diouf - on a season-long loan from Liverpool - been able to deliver a crucial final ball Bolton could have been in front before half-time.

On a few occasions his trickery - never produced on a consistent basis since turning on the style for Senegal in the 2002 World Cup - got beyond makeshift left-back Aaron Hughes but a poor final ball let Bolton down.

They were also failing to test goalkeeper Given and a prime example was when Davies shot woefully wide after being put clean through on goal by a delightful defence splitting pass from Diouf.

That chance arrived on 23 minutes and was by far the most glorious of the half. The mercurial Jay-Jay Okocha failed to produce one of his trademark goals from distance when he pulled a shot well wide, while Stelios also fired off beam when trying his luck from all of 25-yards.

Despite Newcastle's adventurous forward line, Bolton's commitment in the centre of the field and spirited display had Souness' side thanking the hosts for their lack of killer touch in the final third.

It would have been understandable for Souness to be demanding an improvement from his players but the fiery Scot was calling for referee Graham Poll to raise his own level of performance.

The pair have history, last season it was Poll who sent Souness to the stands when he was in charge at Blackburn during a match with Tottenham - an occasion that led to the former Rovers chief receiving a touchline ban.

And the row seemed to continue in Lancashire yesterday, with the Newcastle manager fuming and emerging from his technical area a couple of times to voice his frustrations at the Tring official - starting when Diouf's high leg caught Hughes and enraged the fiery Scot.

But Poll did frustrate the home supporters when he rightly dismissed claims for a penalty when Stelios was sent to ground by a last-ditch tackle from Andy O'Brien inside the area after a poor back pass from Bowyer.

If Newcastle wanted to take charge of proceedings some of that anger needed to be transferred on to the pitch after the restart - having not forced Trotters goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen into a meaningful save.

Bolton proved just why they have enjoyed their best ever start to a Premiership campaign with their display. Allardyce's team never allowed Newcastle to settle and they were finally rewarded on 52 minutes.

Okocha's long throw into the area was headed high into the air by Speed. Defender Radhi Jaidi leaped above Given, who punched the Tunisian instead of the ball, and Diouf's bravery got him down on the line to head Bolton into the lead.

The eccentric forward burst into delirious celebrations with the supporters and was duly booked while Jaidi lay on the floor to receive treatment.

The powerful Jaidi was still off the field when Newcastle kicked-off and Ambrose grabbed his incredible strike that will be a contender for goal of the season never mind goal of the month.

It may have only been the 20-year-old's third league goal for the club but it was achieved in sensational style. Evading two challenges he firing high into Jaaskelainen's top left hand corner from 25 yards.

From having little to offer, Newcastle sensed the three points could have been their Halloween treat. Winger Laurent Robert came on for the largely ineffective Kluivert but within three minutes of the change Bolton reclaimed the lead.

This time Davies was first to react to Diouf's header across the face of goal and, with Given hesitant in trying to dive at the feet of the striker, the ex-Blackburn and Southampton front-man stroked the ball underneath the Irish keeper.

Given did make amends when he turned away a powerful Davies strike and then got down well to save a blistering low drive from Okocha, but the damage had already been done.

And not even a bursting late run into the box from Robert and a left foot strike that had to be turned away for a corner could spare Newcastle from their first defeat during the Souness reign and their third successive reversal at the Reebok Stadium.

Result: Bolton Wanderers 2 Newcastle United 1.

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