Date:30/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/30/stories/2008103056661900.htm

Sport - Football

Newcastle out of bottom three after beating West Brom

LONDON: Newcastle United moved out of the English Premier League football’s bottom three on Tuesday with an edgy 2-1 victory over West Bromwich Albion at St. James’ Park.

Midfielder Joey Barton, starting his first match since serving a jail sentence for attacking a teenager, tucked away a penalty to give Newcastle an early lead and Obafemi Martins headed a second goal before half-time.

West Brom came to life after the break and for long periods dominated possession. It was rewarded midway through the second half when Ishmael Miller rounded goalkeeper Shay Given to shoot into an empty net.

Newcastle survived some anxious moments late on but held out for only its second league win of the season and its first in the four matches since Joe Kinnear became interim manager in the wake of Kevin Keegan’s resignation. Victory lifts Newcastle to 15th place with nine points, while West Brom is just one point better off after losing its last three matches.

The results: On Tuesday: Newcastle United 2 (Joey Barton 9-pen, Obafemi Martins 42) bt West Bromwich Albion 1 (Ishmael Miller 65). — Agencies