ALAN Shearer and the Newcastle United fans have endured their fair share of problems in the capital over the past few years.

Two Wembley defeats and a 29-game run without a win spring to mind, but last night their first problem was anything but the fault of Shearer's men.

A bomb scare near BBC headquarters at White City almost put paid to the Magpies' chances of stretching a four-game unbeaten run.

Then the efforts of two former Newcastle United players threatened to end any hopes of a victory after just eight minutes.

But after Lee Clark and Louis Saha had given the home side a 2-0 lead the seemingly ageless 33-year-old Shearer decided the chance to overhaul Magpie legend Len White's tally was too good an opportunity to miss.

The former England captain struck twice after Laurent Robert's first-half effort - set up by Shearer - to take his Newcastle total to 154.

Now only the legendary Jackie Milburn stands in front of Newcastle United's finest centre-forward since 1940s and 50s legend Wor Jackie.

Shearer always says the win is more important than any record.

Last night's efforts at Loftus Road put Newcastle in the top half of the Premiership for the first time this season.

A win on Saturday at home to Portsmouth and the Magpies would be on the tails of the top six.

Crisis? What crisis?

Injuries to Kieron Dyer and Andy Griffin forced a reshuffle with Lee Bowyer switching to the right.

In the first minute a sweeping move from right to left involving Bowyer, Robert and Olivier Bernard ended with a Bowyer header that flashed past the near post.

But it was Fulham who drew first blood with a goal out of nothing.

Aaron Hughes was caught in possession by Steed Malbranque on the left when in no real danger.

The Frenchman skipped down the wing and crossed for - who else? - former Magpie Clark to hold off Gary Speed and fire in from a tight angle eight yards out.

Two minutes later Newcastle's defence was again unlocked with consummate ease.

A long ball from Sylvain Legwinski was controlled by Saha, and the Frenchman easily held off a limp challenge by Titus Bramble to make it 2-0 with a similar goal to Clark's, only this time on the right of the box.

The game was now in full flow. Two tough challenges from Speed brought a booking for the Welsh skipper before the Magpies hit back.

It was just after the quarter hour when a cross from Shola Ameobi was missed by Zat Knight.

Robert exchanged passes with his skipper, Shearer, then fired past Edwin van de Sar.

The two sides maintained a frenetic pace with both midfields fighting for supremacy.

That tenacity got the better of Bowyer after 25 minutes when a late challenge on Malbranque earned him the second booking of the game.

Bowyer was having an impressive opening half and after Shearer's cross was deflected behind it was the former West Ham, Leeds and Charlton midfielder's corner that was met by Bramble only for the header to drift wide.

After 41 minutes Ameobi had a great chance to bring the scores level after super work from Robert.

The French winger held off three challenges to cross for the England Under-21 international. Although Ameobi was able to get in between Jerome Bonnisel and Alain Goma he couldn't keep his effort on target.

The second-half started at the same rate as the first. Within 11 minutes of the restart Newcastle were level thanks to their talismanic skipper.

Firstly Ameobi was ajudged to have been brought down in the box by Goma. Shearer stepped up and it was all square.

Then Hughes linked up well with Jermaine Jenas on the right side of the penalty box.

Jenas held the ball up for a scond before a magnificent flicked ball through allowed the captain to lift the ball over van der Sar for a 3-2 lead.

As comebacks go it was as entertaining as they come for the passionate away following.

Something suggested the scoring was not about to end there.

But despite the play continuing to ebb and flow the chances started to dry up.

There was time for Bramble to clear off the line from substitute Junichi Inamoto after 82minutes, and Given to save from Legwinski, but no-one was taking the glory from Shearer.

Result: Fulham 2 - 3 Newcastle United

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