Ameobi guides Newcastle to victory

Newcastle United 2 Wigan Athletic 1: Shola Ameobi rose to the challenge of replacing Alan Shearer as Newcastle launched the new Barclays Premiership campaign with a hard-fought victory over Wigan.

The 24-year-old fired home the winning goal on 64 minutes to hand Glenn Roeder's men three points just as it looked as though they had surrendered at least two of them.

Skipper Scott Parker had headed the Magpies into a 38th-minute lead, but Newcastle's defensive frailty struck once again 14 minutes after the break as Lee McCulloch levelled.

But with his side struggling, Ameobi converted after Chris Kirkland could only block Charles N'Zogbia's stinging drive to claim victory in front of a crowd of 51,569.

The visitors, who had earlier hit the post through Henri Camara and seen Shay Given keep out a McCulloch header and Nolberto Solano hack an Arjan de Zeeuw effort off the line, will feel they should have left with at least a point.

But Ameobi's intervention justified Roeder's belief in his team with three new signings in the pipeline.

Perhaps most significantly, Parker, the man handed the armband in the wake of Shearer's swansong, took over the Geordie legend's mantle in more ways than one.

Not only did he lead by example, but it was he who made the decisive contribution seven minutes in to put his side ahead.

Ameobi did well to control Stephen Carr's long ball on his chest and then twist and turn before delivering an inviting cross from his captain to plant an emphatic header past Kirkland.

The on-loan Liverpool keeper had earlier tipped away a long-range Parker drive and a Nolberto Solano header, but the Magpies did not have it all their own way.

Wigan, with six new arrivals in their starting line-up, held their own for much of the first-half with record signing Heskey and Camara causing problems.

Camara was unfortunate not to level two minues before the break when his header came back of the foot of the post, and Given had earlier had to claw away a McCulloch effort.

Newcastle re-emerged determined to kill the game off and they might have done so within two minutes when Solano met Emre's quickly-taken free-kick with a lob which sailed just over Kirkland's crossbar.

Solano had to come to the home side's rescue two minutes later when de Zeeuw climbed high to head a Landzaat corner towards goal and he hacked the ball off his own line.

The reprieve proved to be only temporary and when Carr made a mess of clearing a long ball, Heskey headed down for McCulloch to curl an equaliser through a crowded penalty area and past Given.

But just as Wigan sensed an opportunity with Newcastle in disarray, Ameobi chose his moment to strike.

Substitute Charles N'Zogbia surged forward before unleashing a long-range effort which Kirkland could only parry, and the striker supplied a Shearer-like finish to raise the roof.

However, the game was far from over and Landzaat might have spoiled the party had he kept his shot down from Camara's 80th-minute cross.

The pressure was intense as time ran down and Camara saw an 84th-minute shot deflected just wide and a penalty appeal against Tirus Bramble waved away, but the Magpies managed to hold out to claim the points.