Newcastle United vs Sunderland

It was a dour game, but the Magpies fans won't be talking about that down the Big Market tonight, like!

Newcastle seemed to be playing within themselves for much of the game, never needing to accelerate out of first gear

The game was never a contest after Bellamy fired home that early opener. Sunderland weren't at the races

Kieron Dyer leaves the field with a limp after picking up a knock to his ankle in injury time. Hopefully it's nothing serious

Mike Riley blows the final whistle

...but Shearer's shot it excellently blocked by the diving Babb

Speed tries to break into the box and finds his way shut off, but the ball falls to Shearer...

Two minutes to be added

Williams is booked for a foul on Shearer

Griffin has a shot from distance which Soresen keeps out and Williams can hack clear

Ameobi takes the short ball and shapes for the shot on the edge of the D. He looks to shift the ball, but trips over it

Shearer is held down by Williams. Free-kick

A late flurry of attacking action from Sunderland. But it must be too litle too late

And a change for Newcastle as well. Craig Bellamy departs and Shola Ameobi is introduced

Finnaly Peter Reid makes a second change, Marcus Stewart coming on for Tore Andre Flo

Newcastle will be relieved to get out of the bottom three tonight - which they surely will now

Viana looks to nip the ball past McCann but is brought down with a late challenge. That's a booking for McCann

Viana has looked lively after coming on, finally a chink of light in an otherwise dull affair

Why Reid hasn't made another change since the break is a mystery. With Marcus Stewart on the bench they could have changed tactics from the mind numbing long ball trash

The service to Shearer and Bellamy has been woeful, and the strike duo have been forced to drop deep on numerous occasions to look for the ball

Dabizas pushes Quinn and it's a fre-kick in the centre of the park to Sunderland

Newcastle start to put some pressure on the Sunderland defence - do they have a third in the locker?

Another change for Newcastle, Hugo Viana comes on in place for Laurent Robert

Bellamy tries a shot from the edge of the D which is comfortable for Sorensen to deal with

Almost on cue there's a melee in the Newcastle box following a cross from Quinn. The Magpies get in a couple of blocks and Given isn't troubled