Magpies ease relegation fears
Michael Owen now has nine goals this season
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Sunday, 14, Dec 2008 08:35
Newcastle United have climbed out of the relegation zone with a 3-0 win over Portsmouth at Fratton Park.
Second-half goals from Michael Owen, Obafemi Martins, and Danny Guthrie mean the Magpies have now moved up into 15th place.
The defeat for Tony Adams' men condemns them to their first league loss since November 1st.
And Pompey will feel they should have got at least a point after spurning a host of chances in an entertaining first half.
Jermain Defoe failed to find the target with a lob over an onrushing Shay Given from the edge of the box while Peter Crouch blazed over from close range.
The strike partnership continued to carve out chances with Defoe volleying wide from 15 yards after Crouch's knock-down while the ex-Spurs striker volleyed over from the edge of the six-yard box.
Newcastle also created their fair share of chances with Martins rattling the post with a 30-yard pile-driver while Charles N'Zogbia lashed a shot wide.
Both sides continued to carve out good opportunities after the break but the difference was the Magpies were more clinical in front of goal.
The deadlock was broken on 52 minutes when Owen collected Jonas Gutierrez's pass and clipped the ball over the advancing David James.
Pompey came close to an immediate equaliser with Noe Pamarot heading inches over from a corner.
Minutes after blazing over from the edge of the box, Martins sealed victory when he stroked the ball past James after running onto Danny Guthrie's through ball on 77 minutes.
Twelve minutes later, Guthrie capped off a fine display with a first-time strike that went under James to seal Newcastle’s first away win since March.