Lua Lua opens the floodgates

Newcastle United ... 4 West Ham United ... 0: A season that offers more promise than any at Newcastle United in recent years began in victorious fashion last night. Needing to win to join the five other clubs from last season's top six who all won over the weekend, Bobby Robson's emerging team took more than an hour to overcome West Ham's impressively organised resilience, but once Lomana Lua Lua delivered the first goal in the 63rd minute their superiority was never in doubt, writes Michael Walker at St James' Park

Lua Lua scored the second as well, a thumping header, before Alan Shearer got his customary goal at the start of his 15th season as a top-flight goalscorer. Four minutes from the end Nolberto Solano added the fourth from Kieron Dyer's low centre.

Ultimately the scoreline was a little harsh on a depleted West Ham and they showed enough quality, particularly from Joe Cole, to suggest that this will be another enterprising season for them. It's just that St James' Park is no place to begin.

It was last season's fourth versus last season's seventh, both clubs having over-achieved last year after beginnings that were not totally promising. Both have increased expectations to bear therefore, especially Newcastle after a £13million summer spree on Hugo Viana and Titus Bramble.

For West Ham the anticipation was slightly less, not least last night because they arrived without either Paolo di Canio or Frederic Kanoute. A diminutive forward line was led by 19-year-old Jermaine Defoe with Joe Cole in support.

With such an attack Glenn Roeder's ambitions were always going to be limited, yet after two Lua Lua shots had zipped past David James's woodwork in a predictably raucous opening from the hosts, it was Shay Given making the first significant save of the evening.

A corner won by Defoe's persistence was taken quickly and short to Trevor Sinclair. The England World Cup player turned swiftly and from 10 yards made Given save smartly.

In terms of meaningful goalmouth action the game then stalled for 20 minutes. Dyer roamed at speed all over the pitch but neither Jermaine Jenas nor Viana had the pass to supply Dyer's lines.

Too frequently they relied on Alan Shearer instead and while the former England striker did have the ball in the net in the 29th minute, the goal was disallowed for an earlier push on Christian Dailly.

Undaunted by their inability to break down West Ham via the middle, Newcastle began the second half in the same patient manner. It almost worked, Jenas threading his way through midfield, finding Shearer whose low cross was met by Solano. James made his first real save of the evening at the Peruvian's feet.

The attack may have been encouraging to the fans massed in the old Leazes End but Robson was off his seat for the first time demanding greater urgency and accuracy from his players, though it was an untypically lax pass from Michael Carrick that set up Newcastle for a move which ended with James conceding a corner after a Bramble header.

Now there was a sense of Geordie momentum. Another attack, another corner, then another. Solano took this one, Jenas jumped to flick it on to the far post where, from seven yards, Lua Lua steered the ball through the legs of James.

Relief coursed through St James' Park and only an excellent full-length dive from James prevented Viana's diagonal drive arrowing into the bottom corner.

But Newcastle still needed that second goal to let them breath easy. It was not long in coming and Viana displayed the gift that lies within his left foot, arcing in a cross that Lua Lua charged onto. James could only parry the header onto the crossbar from where the ball bounced down and in.

All that was required now was a goal from Shearer and he obliged, converting Solano's lovely cutback and leaving James to shout despairingly at his disintegrating defence.

Guardian Service

NEWCASTLE: Given, Hughes, Dabizas, Bramble, Bernard, Solano (McClen 87), Dyer, Jenas, Viana (Elliott 90), Shearer, LuaLua (Ameobi 81). Subs Not Used: Harper, Griffin. Booked: Shearer. Goals: LuaLua 61, 72, Shearer 76, Solano 86.

WEST HAM: James, Pearce, Repka, Dailly, Winterburn, Schemmel (Labant 71), Cisse (Moncur 71), Carrick, Sinclair, Defoe, Cole. Subs Not Used: Van Der Gouw, Breen, Camara. Booked: Winterburn, Cisse. Attendance: 51,072

Referee: P Durkin (Dorset).