EWCASTLE survived a late Bolton onslaught as caretaker manager Glenn Roeder extended his unbeaten run to six games. First-half goals from Nolberto Solano and the fit-again Alan Shearer put the home side in the driving seat, and Shola Ameobi wrapped the points up. Kevin Davies pulled one back in the 72nd minute to spark a late surge, but the home side held firm to take a fourth league win in five attempts.

Wanderers arrived on Tyneside not having won a league game at St James' since 1959, but protecting a seven-game unbeaten Premiership run. The visitors started brightly with lone striker Davies turning up wide on the right early on to pull the home defence out of shape, but Stelios Giannakopoulos mistimed his run into the box.

In a lively opening quarter both sides hit the woodwork and Abdoulaye Faye came close to opening the scoring in spectacular style on 28 minutes when he let fly from 40 yards and whistled a shot just wide of Shay Given's left post. Shola Ameobi also missed a glorious chance to give the home side the lead but he made some amends by winning the freekick that lead to the opening goal. Ten minutes before the reak Ameobi was fouled by Faye 23 yards out, and Nolberto Solano stepped up to curl the perfect free kick over the defensive wall and past the helpless Jussi Jaaskelainen to give his side the lead.

Irish international Joey O'Brien had to get in a 41stminute block to prevent Charles N'Zogbia's wellstruck effort reaching Jaaskelainen as Newcastle began to dominate. And it was no surprise when they added a second on the stroke of half-time when Parker's industry and Emre's superb pass allowed Babayaro to feed N'Zogbia down the left, and his deep cross was headed home, despite Jaaskelainen's best efforts, by that man Shearer.

It could have been 3-0 on 68 minutes when Shearer saw a piledriver deflected over and it was a minute later when Ameobi controlled Emre's long-range effort and then blasted it past Jaaskelainen.

The visitors pulled a goal back in the 72nd minute when Jaidi rose to head over Given from beyond the far post and Davies slid in.For the first time in the game, Newcastle were wobbling, and Nolan had an 87th-minute strike ruled out for handball, but they drew on their resources to see the game out.