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Match Report
 

Sparrowhawk Opens His
Account

                 Newcastle United                         2
                                         Shearer '78 (pen)
                                         Gavilan '84

                                   Coventry City                              0
 

                                        A debut goal for newboy Diego Gavilan and an Alan Shearer penalty gave Newcastle
                                        a comfortable win over Gordon Strachan's away-day slackers.

                                      The Magpies ended a four-game run without a win - the midlanders have now failed
                                       to score in six of their last seven away matches.

                                     Newcastle started well and Shearer, in particular was proving a handful
                                     for the Sky Blues' defence. The England skipper, with 32 goals to his
                                     credit, combined well with the Paraguayan Gavilan wide on the righ
                                     after just 42 seconds but his left-foot shot flew wide of Magnus
                                     Hedman's right post.
 
                                     Hedman denied Shearer once again three minutes later after Gavilan
                                     picked out his run into the box with a curling ball and although the
                                     striker sent in a powerful header the keeper was able to parry his effort
                                     away.
 
                                     Richard Shaw almost put through his own net with 10 minutes gone
                                     after Warren Barton and Gavilan linked to allow Kieron Dyer to cross
                                     from the right, the defender nodding just wide of his own goal as he tried
                                     to clear. The Magpies were then denied what they felt was a clear
                                     penalty three minutes later when Dyer went down under Paul Telfer's
                                     challenge, with referee Peter Jones certain.

                                     However, after weathering the storm, Coventry finally started to force
                                     their way into the game as Youssef Chippo began to pull the strings in
                                     central midfield. It was the Moroccan who started the 20th minute move
                                     which allowed his compatriot Mustapha Hadji to set up Gary McAllister
                                     to cross from the right, but Rob Lee got back to clear up like a flustered
                                     maid.

                                     United started to turn the screw as they tried to stamp out City's
                                     resurgence, but Didier Domi was unable to control Lee's flick into the
                                     box on 26 minutes as the visitors' defence panicked.
 
                                     Gavilan and Shearer combined well on 56 minutes to find Dyer on the
                                     left edge of the box, but his attempt to play the ball back inside for the
                                     South American allowed Shaw to snuff out the danger. The game
                                     deteriorated as the half wore on with neither side able to create any
                                     clear openings and Newcastle in particular lacking shape as Domi's
                                     departure left a gap on the left. But it was the home side who went close
                                     to the opening goal on 68 minutes when Shearer laid Gavilan's ball back
                                     for Lee, who shot over from 26 yards.
 
                                     Shearer equalled his best ever tally of 29 from the spot with 12 minutes
                                     to go. Nikos Dabizas steamed into the box and the referee saw the ball
                                     come off a defender's hand.

                                     Shearer kept calm as Coventry appealed half-heartedly before smashing
                                     the ball high to Hedman's right to make it 1-0. The striker also played a
                                     key role in his side's second when he found Ketsbaia and the Georgian
                                     rolled a pass into the path of Gavilan, who shot low past Hedman for his
                                     first Newcastle goal.