For once in Tyneside's recent history the result overshadowed the occasion. This day was meant to have been all about Bobby Robson and his return after 49 years. But, as a scarcely credible afternoon developed, it became clear that one homespun hero was being upstaged by another.
Alan Shearer, having previously never scored more than three goals in a game in his dozen years as a professional, delivered five yesterday, three before half-time, two by the end from the penalty spot. In the seven-season history of the Premiership only Andy Cole has equalled that feat, against Ipswich Town in March 1995. Given that the last time Shearer scored even one goal from open play for Newcastle was back in April, this was an unexpected scenario. "I'm delighted," he said with characteristic understatement. "It was one of those days when everything seemed to go right." But behind the tanned smile lay cool realism. At Newcastle's last home game against Sunderland Shearer had stood on the bench watching Ruud Gullit's regime at Newcastle disappear down the drain. Now he talked of "a new era. The belief is back in the dressing-room".
Of the Robson effect, Shearer said: "He's down to earth, he's honest, he's genuine. I don't think you can ask for anything more than that. Don't cross him. But we're still second from the bottom. We've had three good games on the spin; we need another 30." That foot-on-the-ball attitude was replicated by the man whose day it should have been. "I hope we've not created a position for ourselves where that's expected every week," Robson said. "Actually we didn't start that well. We were apprehensive and I didn't expect that."
It may seem a little odd to describe Robson's performance after the match but it was breathtaking. The manager related how he told the teenager Aaron Hughes on Friday that he would be playing at centre-half and basically asked the youngster if he was man enough. Otherwise, Robson told Hughes, Colin Hendry could always come on loan from Rangers.
Hughes (19) is best described as bookish. Fire is not an obvious attribute. But when he scored the first goal - which was also his first for the club - after 12 minutes, even his celebration was aggressive.
Prior to the first goal, believe it or not, Sheffield Wednesday had looked the less anxious of two under-confident teams. Andy Booth had failed to convert a useful fourth-minute chance and then had a goal disallowed. But once Hughes headed in the opener the contest was over.
Dyer, hugely influential throughout, began to roam in what Shearer called "that little horrible position where defenders do not know whether to come out and tackle" and Kevin Pressman made his only worthwhile contribution of the afternoon, deflecting a careful 17th-minute Dyer curler.
With those in front of him beginning to disintegrate, Pressman's next action was of the bending-over variety, picking Shearer's first out of the net, the captain having applied a swift right boot to Nolberto Solano's low centre. That was just past the half-hour. Four minutes later Shearer converted his first penalty - harshly awarded against Emerson Thome. Two minutes before half-time the best goal - and Shearer's hattrick - came from Dyer's leftwing run and cross.
Newcastle doubled their tally in the second half. First Dyer concluded a goalmouth scramble with a simple header two minutes after the restart. Gary Speed then powered in a header from distance to make it six and Shearer slotted in his fourth from Pressman's weak punch. Finally Shearer snaffled his second penalty - again awarded harshly, this time against the substitute Gerald Sibon.
It all left Danny Wilson talking of "the most humiliating and embarrassing day of my career. The senior players have to take responsibility. They let themselves down".
With seven defeats out of eight Wednesday are three points adrift at the bottom. Wilson was asked the inevitable question about his short-term prospects. "That's something I cannot answer," he said. "But I'm a realist and there is an enormous amount of pressure on the board and the chairman particularly.".
NEWCASTLE: Harper, Barton, Hughes, Goma, Domi (Glass 81), Solano, Lee, Speed, Dyer (Robinson 63), Ketsbaia (McClen 78), Shearer. Subs Not Used: Wright, Beharall. Goals: Hughes 11, Shearer 30, 33 pen, 42, Dyer 46, Speed 78, Shearer 81, 84 pen.
SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY: Pressman, Newsome, Nolan, Thome, Walker, Rudi (Haslam 45), Sonner, Donnelly (Sibon 83), Alexandersson, De Bilde, Booth (Carbone 27). Subs Not Used: Srnicek, O'Donnell. Booked: Alexandersson. Attendance: 36,619. Referee: N Barry (Scunthorpe).
Alan Shearer celebrates his fifth goal yesterday.
