A COUPLE from Alan Shearer helped Newcastle to a comfortable lead at St James' Park yesterday as the former England international showed that he still has what it takes to compete at the top level in what is his last season.

It was Wigan who took the lead with five minutes gone after Titus Bramble was penalised for a foul on Thompson 25 yards out.

Jimmy Bullard stepped up to curl the resulting free-kick high to the motionless Shay Given's right to open the scoring in superb style.

But Newcastle quickly began to dominate and it was no surprise when they struck an equaliser on 27 minutes. .

Michael Chopra was homing in on a cross when he was bundled over by Reto Ziegler, and referee Uriah Rennie had little hesitation in pointing to the spot. Shearer sent John Filan the wrong way to slam home his 12th of the season as an eventful first half took another twist.

The home side now stepped up a gear and, after Shearer forced Pascal Chimbonda to concede a 36thminute corner, Bramble arrived unmarked to head home Solano's cross for his first Premiership goal since January of last year.

Into the second half and Solano almost got his name on the scoresheet seconds later, but Filan blocked his powerfully-struck shot on the turn, and the ball span kindly back to him. But it was 3-1 on 65 minutes when Chopra's pass allowed Shearer to beat the offside trap and he rounded the keeper to fire home and end the contest.