Newcastle 2 Middlesbrough 0
Steve Caldwell emerged from the shadows at St James' Park to help fire his side to a derby victory over Middlesbrough tonight.
The Scottish international defender was called upon amid a suspension and injury crisis and did not let Sir Bobby Robson down as he cemented victory with an 87th-minute strike to add to Shola Ameobi's opener in a match which saw Boro's Franck Queudrue sent off for the second game in succession.
Steve McClaren moved to change things with 20 minutes remaining when he sent on Carlos Marinelli in place of Nemeth, while Robson followed suit by replacing Solano and Robert with Dyer and Hugo Viana.
The United substitutes almost had an immediate impact when the England international tapped a free-kick to his Portuguese counterpart, who curled a dipping shot inches over.
But Boro went close to an equaliser with 12 minutes remaining when, after Bernard had got in a fine tackle to keep out Maccarone, Hughes had to bundle an Ehiogu header away from the resulting corner.
Shearer could have sealed it with 82 minutes gone - but Schwarzer got down smartly to get his hands to a bullet header and was grateful for the presence of Greening on the line to keep the ball out.
The Australian produced a magnificent double save to keep out Viana and Dyer four minutes later. But soon afterwards it was his error in failing to collect the former Sporting Lisbon star's corner which allowed Caldwell to prod home the second goal.
Boro's misery deepened at the death when Queudrue was dismissed for a second bookable offence for a foul on Griffin.
Eircom League Premier Division:
Cork City 2 (O'Flynn 84, O'Brien '90)
St Patrick's 0 (Bird s/o 89)