Shearer has edge over blunt Rangers

Newcastle United 4 - Rangers

"Same old Shearer'' sung the Newcastle faithful when their raucous Rangers visitors allowed them a tune in edgeways. "Always scoring.''

"Same old Shearer'' sung the Newcastle faithful when their raucous Rangers visitors allowed them a tune in edgeways. "Always scoring.''

And indeed it was, as the 33-year-old living legend warmed up for his final Premiership season with a typically muscular performance which earned him a booking for barging an opponent into the net, but also won him a penalty to take him within 27 goals of Jackie Milburn's all-time Newcastle scoring record.

As Rangers' choruses of "Rule Britannia" eventually subsided and their oversized Union flags were folded away - the home faithful might also have sung: "Same old Newcastle, never boring.

Sir Bobby Robson started the semi-final of the Newcastle-Gateshead Cup with the same faces from last season. James Milner, Newcastle's 18-year-old picking from Leeds' relegated carcass, has blisters, and Patrick Kluivert is due to begin his time on Tyneside this afternoon in the final against Sporting Lisbon.

After Shearer's early penalty, Craig Bellamy drove in a second and celebrated as if his comeback were assured. In truth, though, after Marvin Andrews' comical knock-back, one of the young girls who led the teams on to the pitch would have blushed if they had missed.

Kluivert is expected to permanently partner Shearer. Conventional wisdom pairs him with a nippy whippersnapper, but his best years on Tyneside were spent with Les Ferdinand and in his Championship season at Blackburn with Chris Sutton.

Nicky Butt appeared in the second half to sit in the hole in front of the defence. It is a very large hole, one vacated by Gary Speed and one often created by his own team-mates. Robson may have strengthened midfield and attack, but at the back, with the club only prepared to meet half of Benfica's £10m price tag for Miguel, they look weak.

Jonathan Woodgate's thigh injury may keep him out of the opener against Middlesbrough in a fortnight. Rearguard responsibilities will fall on the four fit defenders which means a pivotal role for Titus Bramble.

At times yesterday, he was magisterial. A wonderful penalty area tackle on Nacho Novo was, except for Olivier Bernard's 25-yard screamer for Newcastle's third, the best moment of the match.

But on the stroke of half-time, he allowed Novo all the room he required to set up Dado Prso who made it 3-1. That should have left the game on a knife-edge, but a blunt Rangers took until the 83 minute to draw further blood. Kieron Dyer scored on the final whistle having squandered several chances, but if he had put one of them away it would have made the game boring which, as ever, is not Newcastle's style.