Shay Given - Last Man Standing!

Shearer struck from the spot on the half-hour against Derby after Laurent Robert's blistering run had been crudely interrupted by Chris Riggott, sending Mart Poom the wrong way to claim his 98th goal in a black-and-white shirt.

But Derby left St James' Park knowing they should have been taking something with them after Fabrizio Ravanelli saw a 57th-minute spot-kick saved by the excellent Shay Given.

That would have been just reward for the Rams, who more than played their part in a game which never really hit the heights an expectant public craved.

Newcastle were constantly troubled by Ravanelli and Benito Carbone and were rarely able to carve the holes they needed to prosper at the other end.

County, spurred on by captain Craig Burley, did not play like a bottom-four side and were less wasteful than their hosts but just could not find a cutting edge.

Both managers named unchanged sides but sent their players out with very different messages.

Bobby Robson's men knew they had to improve on the display they put on in the 3-1 defeat by Fulham last weekend, while Colin Todd wanted more of the same from a side who had secured only their second Premiership win of the season against Southampton.

But the visitors, prompted by Burley in the middle of the park and experienced Italian front men Ravanelli and Carbone, took the game to the Magpies.

Given was called upon in the fifth minute to keep out a Ravanelli drive and then needed to be at his best when Darryl Powell, capitalising on an error by Rob Lee, burst through but could not round the Irishman.

Carbone went close two minutes before the break with a dipping right-foot volley.

But in the meantime Newcastle had finally managed to rouse themselves from the lethargy and carelessness which had characterised their opening.

A beautiful Shearer chip aside, they had managed to create little until Frenchman Robert - a virtual spectator early on - turned up on the right wing and surged into the box before tempting Riggott into a rash tackle.

Referee Rob Styles had no hesitation in pointing to the spot, and Shearer stepped up to send Mart Poom the wrong way.

The goal sparked something of a United revival as Nolberto Solano and Robert in particular got the bit between their teeth to leave Derby feeling a little aggrieved to be behind but knowing there was surely more to come from them after the break.

The second half began in similar fashion to the first as the visitors counter-attacked with vigour and some style, while United failed to make the most of their possession.

They should have been made to pay with 57 minutes gone when Ravanelli's clever turn lured Andy O'Brien into an ill-advised challenge which had the referee pointing to the penalty spot for a second time.

Given was booked for his protests but then steadied himself before diving low to his left to keep out Ravanelli's spot-kick.

Despite their stuttering form and Derby's stubborn resistance, the home side continued to make chances - Robert firing just wide from distance and Youl Mawene getting in a fine block to keep out Bellamy's diving header from Shearer's cross.

The Welshman had a good chance to wrap up the points 13 minutes from time when Poom could only parry Gary Speed's shot, but Danny Higginbotham was on hand to close him down swiftly.

Newcastle desperately needed a second goal for insurance and they went close twice within minutes as Hughes smashed a right-foot shot over the bar after a rare foray up field and Shearer saw a 25-yard effort turned away by Poom.

But they ended the 90 minutes defending for all they were worth to claim a hard-fought victory.

NEWCASTLE UTD v DERBY - THE HISTORY

2007/2008 Mon 17 Sep Derby County 1 - 0 Newcastle Utd. Premier League
2001/2002 Sat 13 Apr Derby County 2 - 3 Newcastle Utd. Premiership
Sat 24 Nov Newcastle Utd. 1 - 0 Derby County Premiership
2000/2001 Sat 23 Dec Derby County 2 - 0 Newcastle Utd. Premiership
Wed 23 Aug Newcastle Utd. 3 - 2 Derby County Premiership
1999/2000 Sat 06 May Derby County 0 - 0 Newcastle Utd. Premiership
Mon 25 Oct Newcastle Utd. 2 - 0 Derby County Premiership
1998/1999 Sat 03 Apr Derby County 3 - 4 Newcastle Utd. Premiership
Sat 17 Oct Newcastle Utd. 2 - 1 Derby County Premiership
1997/1998 Fri 26 Dec Derby County 1 - 0 Newcastle Utd. Premiership
Wed 17 Dec Newcastle Utd. 0 - 0 Derby County Premiership
Tue 18 Nov Derby County 0 - 1 Newcastle Utd. League Cup
1996/1997 Sat 19 Apr Newcastle Utd. 3 - 1 Derby County Premiership
Sat 12 Oct Derby County 0 - 1 Newcastle Utd. Premiership
1992/1993 Sun 31 Jan Newcastle Utd. 1 - 1 Derby County League Division One
Sat 22 Aug Derby County 1 - 2 Newcastle Utd. League Division One
1991/1992 Mon 20 Apr Derby County 4 - 1 Newcastle Utd. Second Division
Sat 28 Sep Newcastle Utd. 2 - 2 Derby County Second Division
1990/1991 Sat 05 Jan Newcastle Utd. 2 - 0 Derby County F.A. Cup
1989/1990 Wed 20 Dec Newcastle Utd. 3 - 2 Derby County (Full Members)
after extra time, 90 minutes 2-2
1988/1989 Mon 02 Jan Newcastle Utd. 0 - 1 Derby County First Division
Sat 10 Sep Derby County 2 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1987/1988 Mon 04 Apr Derby County 2 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 14 Nov Newcastle Utd. 0 - 0 Derby County First Division
1983/1984 Sat 05 May Newcastle Utd. 4 - 0 Derby County Second Division
Sat 03 Dec Derby County 3 - 2 Newcastle Utd. Second Division
1982/1983 Mon 04 Apr Derby County 2 - 1 Newcastle Utd. Second Division
Mon 27 Dec Newcastle Utd. 1 - 0 Derby County Second Division
1981/1982 Sat 27 Feb Derby County 2 - 2 Newcastle Utd. Second Division
Sat 10 Oct Newcastle Utd. 3 - 0 Derby County Second Division
1980/1981 Sat 18 Apr Derby County 2 - 0 Newcastle Utd. Second Division
Sat 27 Dec Newcastle Utd. 0 - 2 Derby County Second Division
1977/1978 Sat 04 Mar Derby County 1 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 08 Oct Newcastle Utd. 1 - 2 Derby County First Division
1976/1977 Sat 22 Jan Derby County 4 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 21 Aug Newcastle Utd. 2 - 2 Derby County First Division
1975/1976 Sat 06 Mar Derby County 4 - 2 Newcastle Utd. F.A. Cup
Sat 07 Feb Newcastle Utd. 4 - 3 Derby County First Division
Wed 27 Aug Derby County 3 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1974/1975 Sat 22 Mar Newcastle Utd. 0 - 2 Derby County First Division
Sat 07 Sep Derby County 2 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1973/1974 Sat 02 Feb Derby County 1 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 15 Dec Newcastle Utd. 0 - 2 Derby County First Division
1972/1973 Wed 28 Feb Newcastle Utd. 2 - 0 Derby County First Division
Sat 16 Dec Derby County 1 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1971/1972 Mon 03 Apr Derby County 0 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 02 Oct Newcastle Utd. 0 - 1 Derby County First Division
1970/1971 Sat 27 Mar Newcastle Utd. 3 - 1 Derby County First Division
Sat 05 Sep Derby County 1 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1969/1970 Sat 13 Dec Derby County 2 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 13 Sep Newcastle Utd. 0 - 1 Derby County First Division
1964/1965 Sat 03 Apr Derby County 0 - 3 Newcastle Utd. Second Division
Sat 21 Nov Newcastle Utd. 2 - 2 Derby County Second Division
1963/1964 Sat 14 Dec Derby County 1 - 2 Newcastle Utd. Second Division
Sat 24 Aug Newcastle Utd. 3 - 1 Derby County Second Division
1962/1963 Wed 19 Sep Derby County 0 - 1 Newcastle Utd. Second Division
Wed 12 Sep Newcastle Utd. 0 - 0 Derby County Second Division
1961/1962 Mon 23 Apr Derby County 1 - 2 Newcastle Utd. Second Division
Fri 20 Apr Newcastle Utd. 3 - 0 Derby County Second Division
1952/1953 Sat 21 Mar Derby County 0 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 01 Nov Newcastle Utd. 1 - 0 Derby County First Division
1951/1952 Sat 19 Apr Derby County 1 - 3 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 01 Dec Newcastle Utd. 2 - 1 Derby County First Division
1950/1951 Sat 03 Mar Derby County 1 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 14 Oct Newcastle Utd. 3 - 1 Derby County First Division
1949/1950 Wed 29 Mar Derby County 1 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 11 Mar Newcastle Utd. 2 - 1 Derby County First Division
1948/1949 Sat 09 Apr Derby County 2 - 4 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 13 Nov Newcastle Utd. 3 - 0 Derby County First Division
1933/1934 Sat 20 Jan Derby County 1 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 09 Sep Newcastle Utd. 1 - 1 Derby County First Division
1932/1933 Sat 29 Apr Derby County 3 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 17 Dec Newcastle Utd. 0 - 0 Derby County First Division
1931/1932 Sat 26 Mar Newcastle Utd. 3 - 3 Derby County First Division
Sat 14 Nov Derby County 1 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1930/1931 Sat 21 Feb Derby County 1 - 5 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 18 Oct Newcastle Utd. 2 - 5 Derby County First Division
1929/1930 Sat 26 Apr Derby County 3 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 21 Dec Newcastle Utd. 2 - 3 Derby County First Division
1928/1929 Sat 27 Apr Derby County 1 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 15 Dec Newcastle Utd. 4 - 1 Derby County First Division
1927/1928 Wed 14 Sep Newcastle Utd. 4 - 3 Derby County First Division
Mon 05 Sep Derby County 1 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1926/1927 Sat 05 Feb Newcastle Utd. 3 - 0 Derby County First Division
Sat 18 Sep Derby County 1 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1923/1924 Wed 13 Feb Newcastle Utd. 5 - 3 Derby County F.A. Cup
Mon 11 Feb Derby County 2 - 2 Newcastle Utd. F.A. Cup
played at Burnden Park
Wed 06 Feb Newcastle Utd. 2 - 2 Derby County F.A. Cup
Sat 02 Feb Derby County 2 - 2 Newcastle Utd. F.A. Cup
1920/1921 Sat 02 Apr Newcastle Utd. 0 - 1 Derby County First Division
Sat 26 Mar Derby County 0 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1919/1920 Sat 01 May Derby County 1 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Wed 24 Sep Newcastle Utd. 0 - 0 Derby County First Division
1913/1914 Sat 25 Apr Newcastle Utd. 1 - 1 Derby County First Division
Sat 20 Dec Derby County 2 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1912/1913 Sat 22 Mar Derby County 2 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 16 Nov Newcastle Utd. 2 - 4 Derby County First Division
1911/1912 Sat 13 Jan Derby County 3 - 0 Newcastle Utd. F.A. Cup
1910/1911 Sat 11 Mar Newcastle Utd. 4 - 0 Derby County F.A. Cup
1906/1907 Tue 01 Jan Newcastle Utd. 2 - 0 Derby County First Division
Sat 03 Nov Derby County 0 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1905/1906 Wed 07 Feb Newcastle Utd. 2 - 1 Derby County F.A. Cup
Sat 03 Feb Derby County 0 - 0 Newcastle Utd. F.A. Cup
Sat 27 Jan Derby County 2 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 23 Sep Newcastle Utd. 0 - 1 Derby County First Division
1904/1905 Sat 07 Jan Newcastle Utd. 2 - 0 Derby County First Division
Sat 10 Sep Derby County 1 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1903/1904 Sat 30 Jan Newcastle Utd. 0 - 0 Derby County First Division
Sat 03 Oct Derby County 1 - 3 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1902/1903 Fri 10 Apr Newcastle Utd. 2 - 1 Derby County First Division
Sat 25 Oct Derby County 0 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1901/1902 Thu 26 Dec Derby County 1 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 12 Oct Newcastle Utd. 0 - 1 Derby County First Division
1900/1901 Sat 16 Feb Derby County 1 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 13 Oct Newcastle Utd. 2 - 1 Derby County First Division
1899/1900 Sat 20 Jan Derby County 2 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 23 Sep Newcastle Utd. 2 - 0 Derby County First Division
1898/1899 Sat 25 Mar Newcastle Utd. 2 - 0 Derby County First Division
Sat 26 Nov Derby County 3 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division