Magpies fly again

Mar 31 2008 Western Mail

MICHAEL OWEN was on the scoresheet again as Newcastle took a huge stride towards Barclays Premier League safety with victory over Tottenham at White Hart Lane.

Kevin Keegan’s men fell behind to Darren Bent’s opener, but goals from Nicky Butt and Geremi put the visitors ahead before Owen scored his third in as many games for his club.

Obafemi Martins added a fourth with eight minutes remaining, latching onto Joey Barton’s pass and finishing calmly to seal the points.

It took Newcastle into the relative comfort of 12th place, and with 35 points they can almost start looking towards next season.

Managers towards the wrong end of the table say that back-to-back wins get teams out of trouble and Keegan has now provided that in style.

He waited two months for his first and now, like buses, two have come in quick succession.

The first came against a woeful Fulham side last week but this one, despite Spurs having little to play for, took character to come from a goal behind to turn it around and send the Newcastle fans home jubilant.