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England: Shearer and Owen fire Newcastle to first win [Mon Sep 19th, 2005]
Blackburn (AFP) - Michael Owen claimed his first goal since returning to the Premiership as 10-man Newcastle United secured their first win of the season with a 3-0 victory over Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park.
The England striker converted a neat header in the 66th minute after Alan Shearer had broken the deadlock with a powerful free kick against his former club just four minutes earlier.
Charles N'Zogbia struck a third with five minutes remaining, to bring much-needed relief to the under pressure Newcastle manager Graeme Souness.
Souness' tenure at St James' Park is reportedly under threat and this result will go a long way towards alleviating the growing frustration that has marred Newcastle's campaign despite the costly acquisition of Owen.
The forward arrived in the North East on transfer deadline day following a 17 million pounds (US$31.4 million) transfer from Real Madrid, where the forward had grown tired of occupying the substitutes' bench.
Owen's first pledge to the his new employers was to deliver much-needed goals, although the striker's promise appeared unlikely to be fulfilled before he connected with N'Zogbia's hanging left-wing cross to cap a game-changing four-minute spell for the visitors.
Before Newcastle's new-look strike force had demonstrated the finishing skills that made them England's first-choice forward pairing in the late 1990s, the best Souness' side could hope for was a share of the spoils in a desperately disappointing game.
Owen had scuffed an early chance and Rovers' Robbie Savage come close with a curling free kick, but that was virtually the sum total of action in a frustrating opening half.
The game was jolted into life shortly after the break when Rovers' full-back Lucas Neill clambered all over Owen to gift Newcastle a free kick 20 yards out.
Lee Clarke rolled the dead ball to Shearer who, suffering from a cold that made him look like a spent force for much of the match, unleashed a vicious shot that flew through the defensive wall and gave Blackburn keeper Brad Friedel no chance as it sped inside the far post.
Moments later N'Zogbia tricked his way past Neill before launching a tempting cross that Owen met after muscling himself in front of Ryan Nelsen to send a neat header inside Friedel's near post.
And the victory became emphatic when N'Zobia was sent clear on Friedel before cleverly rounding the US keeper to add the third goal.
Not even the 74th-minute dismissal of Steven Taylor for a second yellow card could detract from United's display.
The result was a bitter disappointment for former Newcastle striker Craig Bellamy who left St James's after a fall-out with Souness.
The Welshman started the game for Rovers but was unable to make any impact.
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