The North East was gripped in early winter chill last night, but the swathes of Newcastle fans did not feel the icy cold as they basked in smug victory.
Goals from Alan Shearer and Alain Goma warmed Geordie cockles before Kieron Dyer thumped home Lomana Tresor Lua-Lua's knock-down with a minute remaining. Middlesbrough gained a late consolation from Brian Deane but were left to mope from the field to a chorus of boos.
The Newcastle manager Bobby Robson spent eight occasionally successful years in the England hot seat grooming his midfield namesake Bryan as a successor. But a decade since Gazza's tears in Turin and Captain Marvel is still refusing to fulfil his apparent destiny.
Perhaps he wants to taste club success first. His side's wretched home record this season prior to the Toon's visit - two points from four games - has swelled the fans' discontent, not that their frenetic start suggested they have been struggling to exploit home advantage. With Newcastle players slipping and sliding on the sodden surface, Gianluca Festa forced a save from Shay Given as early as the third minute.
It was Alan Shearer who gave the visitors a deserved lead seven minutes before the break. Solano's high cross was headed down by Gary Speed, climbing high above Festa, and Shearer smashed his third goal of the season past Crossley.
A half-time reshuffle had negligible effect as Newcastle continued to waltz through Boro's gaping rearguard. Cordone, given a second chance to cross, spun a wicked centre into the Boro area and Goma, springing from the melee, planted a stunning header into the far corner, his first goal for Newcastle. Chants of "Bryan Robson on the dole" from the visiting fans were echoed angrily among the home support.
MIDDLESBROUGH: Crossley, Fleming (Stamp 45), Gordon, Festa, Pallister, Karembeu, Ince, Mustoe (Deane 75), Boksic, Ricard, Cooper, Stamp (Marinelli 58). Subs Not Used: Vickers, Beresford. Booked: Cooper, Karembeu. Goal: Deane 90.
NEWCASTLE: Given, Domi, Goma, Lee, Dyer, Shearer, Speed, Solano, Cordone (Lua-Lua 76), Hughes, Charvet. Subs Not Used: Marcelino, Bassedas, Harper, Gallacher. Booked: Hughes. Goals: Shearer 38, Goma 55, Dyer 88.
Referee: S Dunn (Bristol).
