What a difference a year makes. Twelve months ago, when Bobby Robson took over from Ruud Gullit, Newcastle were second from bottom of the Premiership and Alan Shearer was adjusting to life on the bench. This morning, with the help of Shearer's 200th league goal, they are top.

What ended as a comfortable night for Newcastle had not started as such. But twice they struck on the counter-attack, first through a Shearer penalty and then through the substitute Kevin Gallacher, and they were worthy winners in the end.

Recent history had suggested this match would not be short of goals, with one having to go back 12 matches to find Coventry's last clean sheet. Sure enough, the game opened in a furious manner and both sides might have scored three times inside the first 20 minutes. Where Coventry looked to use the height of Cedric Roussel and the pace of Craig Bellamy, Newcastle brought their wide men into play and looked dangerous at set-pieces.

But for the crossbar, Bellamy would have scored in the third minute when Paul Williams' long ball caught out Aaron Hughes, Bellamy flicking a shot against the woodwork. The Welshman, sent off in Belarus on Saturday, was all darting runs rather than elbows here. His speed was a constant worry to Newcastle and, when Youssef Chippo headed back across goal, he was narrowly off target with a header.

Chippo himself forced Shay Given into an excellent diving save from a 20-yard volley, but it was not all one-way traffic. Newcastle too looked dangerous with Alain Goma heading wide early.

Nonetheless, it was against the run of play that Newcastle scored. Charvet's burst into the box drew a challenge from Marcus Hall which was deemed a foul - Williams' reaction showed he thought otherwise - and Shearer scored from the penalty spot. His 200th goal will doubtless be dedicated to his new-born son Will.

Coventry still had the will but seemed to have lost their way. Their sparkle disappeared as Newcastle, perhaps lucky to have Glass on the field after two fouls on Marc Edworthy, looked more settled.

Coventry: Hedman, Edworthy, Hall, Shaw, Williams, Telfer, Chippo, Palmer, Eustace (Hadji 61), Bellamy (Aloisi 70), Roussel. Subs Not Used: Kirkland, Breen, Normann. Booked: Chippo.

Newcastle: Given, Charvet, Goma, Hughes, Domi (Griffin 21), Dyer, Lee, Speed, Glass (Gallacher 47), Shearer, Cordone (Kerr 89). Subs Not Used: Harper, Gavilan. Booked: Glass. Goals: Shearer 30 pen, Gallacher 58.

Referee: A Wiley (Burntwood).