Newcastle 3 Wigan 1:  Newcastle's unlikely late charge for Europe gathered pace as skipper Alan Shearer grabbed a double to kill off Wigan.

A 27th-minute penalty and a second goal on 67 minutes took the 35-year-old's tally for the season to 13 ahead of Monday's trip to relegated neighbours Sunderland, where he will hope to sign off that particular rivalry in style.

But more importantly, the goals helped to secure a third successive Premiership victory which took Newcastle level on points with today's visitors.

Wigan had gone in front courtesy of Jimmy Bullard's superb fifth-minute free-kick, but they lost captain Arjan De Zeeuw, central defensive partner Matt Jackson and Lee McCulloch to injury before the break, and by that time they were already on the back foot.

Shearer's spot-kick had levelled the scores, and Titus Bramble headed the home side in front nine minutes before half-time as the Magpies inflicted a first away league defeat in seven on their opponents in front of a crowd of 52,302.

By half-time, five substitutes had been used, none of them by choice, and three goals had been scored, and the Magpies were just about on top.

To put themselves in that position, they had had to stage a fightback following Bullard's superb fifth-minute free-kick which left Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Shay Given rooted to the spot.

Shola Ameobi should have levelled when presented with an open goal within three minutes, but he headed wide. But the striker was then involved in the incident which was to end his own afternoon and eventually that of Jackson.

Ameobi, Jackson and Filan all collided as the defender headed Nolberto Solano's cross just wide of his own goal. Ameobi departed with a cut mouth before being replaced by Michael Chopra and his marker followed shortly afterwards with a knee problem.

De Zeeuw's exit with a fractured collar bone following a robust challenge by Stephen Carr compounded Wigan's woes and opened the door for the home side.

Reto Ziegler's 27th-minute nudge on Chopra prompted referee Uriah Rennie to point to the spot and Shearer duly converted, and Newcastle were in front nine minutes later when the unmarked Bramble powered home a Solano corner.

ubstitute Henri Camara kept Given on his toes with a long-range shot, while Filan had to pull off a fine save to deny Solano on 64 minutes, and he was left helpless seconds later.

Chopra's through-ball was perfectly-timed to allow Shearer to beat the offside trap, and he rounded the goalkeeper to fire home. PA