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City Out Of Toon!

CITY's Euro credentials took another knock as they went down to a third defeat in four Premiership outings.

Shola Ameobi's scrappy 57th minute far post effort and a late brace from Alan Shearer were enough to separate two sides both well below their fluent best.

It allowed the Magpies to leapfrog their visitors into the top six and left Kevin Keegan's men hovering on the edges of the chase for the one Champions League place that doesn't already appear booked.

For large spells at a muted St James this contest was fought in midfield mediocrity with the Blues giving as good as they got.

Robbie Fowler twice unleashed snap shots that promised much but despite their combative edge through Joey Barton and Paul Bosvelt, the visitors failed to work Shay Given in the Newcastle goal.

Early on The Magpies were not any more productive in front of goal although they always carried the greater threat out wide where City missed the suspended Shaun Wright-Phillips.

Neither of Keegan's full backs looked comfortable and Newcastle finally made weight of possession tell in the 57th minute when Laurent Robert beat Sun and crossed for Ameobi to scramble home from three yards out.

Twenty minutes later Shearer rose unchallenged to nod home Olivier Bernard's cross from the left for his 99th goal under Sir Bobby Robson's stewardship and home fans didn't have to wait long for the century when Shearer scrambled home Ameobi's knock down.

A second consecutive 3-0 defeat left Keegan with a confidence-rebuilding job ahead of the UEFA Cup trip to Poland to face Groclin on Thursday.