Boro in Dyer straits as Newcastle rise to third

Former England skipper Shearer showed the finishing finesse his nation are missing now he has retired from the international arena.

Having gone nine games this season without a goal in open play, Shearer has rediscovered his appetite with a vengeance.

This was his second in successive games and his third of the campaign and it laid the platform for a resounding win for Bobby Robson's resurgent Geordies.

Namesake Bryan, on the other hand, was left to reflect on another wretched Riverside result.

Boro have now failed to win in five home Premiership outings this term.

And Robson, incredibly, is still seeking his first success in a North-East Premiership derby.

This was unlucky 13 for the Boro boss, who is also without a win as a manager against boyhood favourites Newcastle in five League meetings, and the writing was on the wall as soon as Shearer struck in the 38th minute.

Alain Goma doubled United's lead ten minutes into the second half with his first goal for the club and Shearer was in the thick of things when Kieron Dyer made it 3-0 two minutes from time with his season's first.

Shearer crossed from the right and substitute Lomana Lualua headed the ball down for Dyer to drive home.

Boro scrambled a goal back in the final minute when Argentinian teenager Carlos Marinelli centred from the left for fellow substitute Brian Deane to bundle the ball in.

Goalkeeper Mark Crossley came into the Boro side to make his home debut. It was only his second appearance since his free-transfer move from Nottingham Forest.

Boro also welcomed back defensive king-pin Gary Pallister after over a month out with groin trouble.

But left wing-back Keith O'Neill was ruled out with a hamstring injury which is likely to sideline the Republic of Ireland international for six weeks.

Newcastle's defence was bolstered by the return of Goma after a two-match lay-off with a broken nose.

Boro went into the game with only one clean sheet to show from their previous 18 games - and none in ten outings this season.

It's no surprise that boss Robson has had his knockers in recent times - but nothing like those on display in the East Stand at the Riverside last night.

In an apparent attempt to make Slovakian Wonderbra model Adriana Sklenarikova - wife of Boro midfielder Christian Karembeu - feel more at home on Teesside, a giant banner featuring her in familiar pose with the slogan "Wonderboro'' was unfurled by fans.

If the Boro faithful were hoping for an uplifting experience courtesy of their heroes, they didn't have long to wait.

Dean Gordon, recalled in place of O'Neill, delivered an in-swinging corner from the right in the third minute and Gianluca Festa was afforded a free far-post header which Shay Given did well to claw away.

Newcastle, however, soon upped the tempo and when Dyer crossed from the right, Shearer was unusually wayward with his first-time finish, much to the amusement of the home crowd.

An anxious silence then descended as Crossley spread himself to touch wide Goma's shot after Dyer had performed a delightful dummy to set up the opening from Nolberto Solano's cleverly disguised free-kick.

Solano, restored to United's starting line-up after reaffirming his commitment to the club by turning his back on Peru in the wake of his axing as skipper, was the chief architect of the Magpies' early moves.

When the winger floated the ball in from the right in the 16th minute, left-back Didier Domi wasn't far away with a looping header which dropped wide of Crossley's far upright.

Ten minutes later, Newcastle thought they had taken the lead when Domi surged deep into the Boro penalty area to send a low ball across goal, which Daniel Cordone tapped in from close range, only to be flagged off-side.

The Argentinian striker raced towards the assistant referee to vent his fury.

But while Newcastle were still protesting, Boro returned the pressure, with Laurent Charvet's mistake letting Alen Boksic in to release Hamilton Ricard, who suffered a rush of blood and blazed disappointingly wide of the near post.

It proved a costly miss as Newcastle finally broke through seven minutes before the interval.

Inevitably, Solano was the source of the move with a right-wing cross which Gary Speed knocked down for Shearer to bring the ball under control before firing right-footed past Crossley.

Boro brought on Phil Stamp in place of Curtis Fleming at half-time, with Karembeu switching to right wing-back.

There was still a greater urgency about Newcastle's game and Colin Cooper resorted to strongarm tactics in the 50th minute in a bid to stop Shearer.

But the Boro defender's challenge brought him a booking and Shearer was typically unruffled.

Evidence of that was provided almost immediately when Shearer found room for a right-foot effort which Crossley tipped away at his near post.

But United's second came from an unlikely source as Boro paid the price for a lack of understanding between Crossley and Pallister.

The keeper came to punch a high ball but Pallister beat him to it with a header which fell to Cordone on the left.

And when the pony-tailed front-runner knocked the ball across, Goma jumped imperiously to send a powerful header beyond the stranded Crossley.

Stamp limped off after only 13 minutes on the field to make way for Marinelli.

With Boksic and Ricard lacking support and service, Boro badly needed an injection of guile and flair.

The contrasting fortunes of Shearer and Boksic were crystalised by a rather tame attempt by the Croatia striker which failed to trouble Given as it cleared the bar.

But Boksic, with five goals in as many starts for Boro before this game, looked more like his normal self in the 70th minute when he drove narrowly over.

Dyer should have struck five minutes later when he side-footed a glorious chance straight at Crossley, but he made amends with the third goal.

Goals: Shearer (38mins, 0-1), Goma (56, 0-2), Dyer (88, 0-3), Deane (90, 1-3)

Bookings: Cooper (foul), Hughes (foul), Karembeu (foul)

Referee: Steve Dunn (Bristol)

Attendance: 31,436

MIDDLESBROUGH (3-5-2)

MARK CROSSLEY

NOT the best of nights on his Premiership debut for Boro. Was made to pay with the second goal for a missed punch. 6

CURTIS FLEMING

WORKED hard down the right with good work in defence and attack before being forced off. 6

DEAN GORDON

GIVEN a rough ride by Solano, but stuck to his task well in his first Premiership start this season. 6

GIANLUCA FESTA

UNLUCKY to be denied early goal, but mainly on the defensive after that. 6

GARY PALLISTER

HAD his work cut out with Shearer and never looked as comfortable and assured as he used to. 6

COLIN COOPER

DIFFICULT time with the rest of his defence after a solid start. 6

ROBBIE MUSTOE

TIRELESS work, but always on the defensive as Newcastle took charge of midfield. 6

CHRISTIAN KAREMBEU

WASTED possession on several occasions and became frustrated as his ideas didn't come off. 5

PAUL INCE

NEVER really imposed himself on the game with Boro missing his

usual bite. 6

ALEN BOKSIC

THE five-goal star was well-marshalled and had few chances to show. Went close with a blistering volley. 6

HAMILTON RICARD

ALSO found chances hard to come by, but still kept going. 6

Substitutes

CARLOS MARINELLI (for Stamp 58)

NEVER really got into the game, although is eager and willing and deserves a start. 6

PHIL STAMP (for Fleming 46)

Little time to make impact and injury trouble continues as he limped off. 6

BRIAN DEANE (for Mustoe 75)

(not used): Vickers, Beresford

NEWCASTLE UNITED (3-5-2)

SHAY GIVEN

MADE vital early save to keep Festa's header out, but rarely troubled. 6

LAURENT CHARET

SOLID and dependable and made some good runs forward. 7

ALAIN GOMA

A GREAT return as he shone both at the back and in attack with his first goal for the club as he made a nuisance of himself at set-pieces. 8

DIDIER DOMI

Marauding show from the stylish Frenchman 7

AARON HUGHES

continues to grow in stature with another confident display. 7

NOL SOLANO

A constant threat as the crosses rained in and showed he was getting back to his best form. 7

GARY SPEED

A driving force in midfield with his runs from the left, right and centre leaving Boro backpeddling. 7

ROBERT LEE

DID everthing simply, but effectively. Controlled performance from the former England man. 7

KIERON DYER

HIS pace frightened Boro and his strong running was rewarded with his first goal of the season. 7

DANIEL CORDONE

NOT at his best recently, but showed glimpses of his quality and set up Goma for the second goal. 6

ALAN SHEARER

SCORED one, had one disallowed when it should have counted, but showed you should never write him off. 7

Substitutes:

LOMANO LUA LUA (for Cordone 75)

(not used): Marcelino, Bassedas, Gallacher.

alam khan, Deputy Sports Editor