KIERON Dyer made his return to action at Ipswich Town - but Newcastle United hardly needed him.

The 22-year-old, who has been out since February, came off the bench for the last ten minutes at Portman Road - purely for the task of helping the visitors hold on to their slender one-goal lead given them by Nolberto Solano.

Dyer, along with the rest of his teammates, duly obliged as Newcastle kept up the pressure on the teams in the top three of the Premiership.

A late, dazzling run was all the former Ipswich midfielder could muster to excite during his time on the pitch.

But that darting run vindicated Bobby Robson's decision to throw him into Premiership action after just one reserve game.

Robson named the same side that drew 1-1 at Charlton, but as expected Dyer was named on the bench after recovering from his ten-month injury nightmare.

Struggling Ipswich boss George Burley dropped England Under-21 international Titus Bramble and John McGreal came in. Skilful Nigerian Finidi George made his first appearance since October 21.

Neither side settled well and it was difficult to see where a goal would come from until a moment of magic from Solano lit up the game.

The Peruvian, with his back to goal on the edge of the Ipswich box, knocked the ball over his head for the advancing Gary Speed.

Speed's shot was saved by 'keeper Matteo Sereni but Solano was first to react and he had the simple task of tapping the ball in just inches from the goalline.

Ipswich were spraying passes around nicely but were failing to trouble the Magpies' defence - something the home crowd have come to expect after scoring just 14 goals in 15 top-flight matches.

When they finally did break down the visitors' backline, Shay Given produced a world-class save to deny a delicate chip from Geordie Alun Armstrong.

With only seconds remaining before half time, Ipswich put Newcastle under heavy pressure.

But the wall of black and white stood firm and the best Burley's men could achieve was a Jermaine Wright shot that blazed over.

At the other end Hartlepool-born defender Mark Venus superbly blocked a blast from Bellamy as Robson's side went to their dressing room one up.

The break benefited Newcastle the most as the hosts were unable to maintain their first-half momentum.

Alan Shearer went close to capitalising when he volleyed goalwards only for Sereni to block.

Just after the hour Given was on hand to make another impressive stop to deny Ipswich an equaliser.

The Republic of Ireland No 1 saved an Armstrong drive from close in after the ball fell to the ex-Newcastle pro, who was rejected by the St James' Park club as a teenager when he was discarded by Kevin Keegan.

This is a different time and a different era, though, and under the current leadership Newcastle are making progress towards a return to those exciting days.

And with 11 minutes remaining Robson's men should have extended their narrow lead when Shearer put through Bellamy. The young Welshman, who was booed every time he touched the ball for his days at Ipswich's arch-rivals Norwich, placed the ball straight at Sereni with only the Italian to beat.

Seconds later, the moment came for Dyer's introduction - much to the delight of the travelling Toon Army.

The England international failed to have a great effect, as Ipswich enjoyed more of the possession during his time on the pitch.

However, the Tractor Boys' failure to convert their play into goals ensured that Newcastle took all the points.

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