SHOLA AMEOBI handed Newcastle all three points as his side edged out Wigan in a tense encounter at St James' Park. The 24-year-old drilled home a 64th-minute winner to stake his claim on Alan Shearer's mantle, although the home side had to survive a nail-biting conclusion to the game.

Captain Scott Parker had put the Magpies ahead seven minutes before the break, but Lee McCulloch levelled for the visitors on 59 minutes.

The game kicked off on a rain-soaked pitch with Shola Ameobi operating as a lone frontman and Duff supporting from the left side of a fiveman midfield. The Dubliner turned up on the right wing with two minutes gone to send in a cross which Landzaat just managed to reach ahead of Scott Parker.

Wigan's front two of Heskey and Henri Camara were starting to combine well, and did so to good effect on 25 minutes to force two corners in quick succession which the Magpies struggled to defend.

They were under pressure again a minute later when Valencia slid the ball into Heskey's path on the left side of the penalty area, but Parker did well to get in a block to take the sting out of his shot as he cut inside.

The opening goal arrived on 38 minutes when Ameobi controlled Stephen Carr's long ball and then picked out Parker, who powered a header past the helpless Kirkland.

The home side started the second half brightly with Nolberto Solano and N'Zogbia prominent. But Wigan were back on terms within four minutes when the Magpies were made to pay for not clearing their lines. Carr made a mess of heading a long ball out of the penalty area and Heskey found McCulloch, who made space for himself before firing past the helpless Given.

Newcastle were in disarray and struggling to regroup as the visitors sensed their time had come. But order was restored with 64 minutes gone when Kirkland could only parry N'Zogbia's blistering shot and Ameobi scored.