Newcastle launched life without Craig Bellamy in style as a miserable week for Graeme Souness had a happy ending.

As the repercussions of the Welshman's bust-up with his manager continued on Tyneside, the Newcastle players got back down to business to make sure the club's name was in the hat for the Monday's FA Cup fifth round draw.

They did so emphatically in front of 44,044 supporters, a proportion of whom turned up ready to voice their support for the dissenting Bellamy.

But ultimately the fans allowed themselves to enjoy a rare comfortable afternoon at St James' Park this season.

It was a game Newcastle could have won by a wider margin, as Patrick Kluivert passed up a series of golden opportunities and Coventry goalkeeper Luke Steele made notable saves from Celestine Babayaro, Jermaine Jenas and Kieron Dyer.

However, goals from Alan Shearer - his 12th of the season - Shola Ameobi and Babayaro, with substitute Dele Adebola replying for City, were more than enough to see them home.

Debutant Amdy Faye did a good job of anchoring the Magpies midfield and Dyer worked hard throughout, while a defence robbed of injured £8million signing Jean-Alain Boumsong gave little cause for concern.

There was much for Souness to appreciate, despite the opposition languishing in the lower reaches of the Coca-Cola Championship.

After another embarrassing week on Tyneside, what was required was a good performance, a resounding victory and a firm message that life without Bellamy could still be sweet.

What Souness got was largely that as his side went about their task with relish.

The game, as so often in recent weeks, should have been all over by the time referee Neale Barry blew the half-time whistle, but once again it was finishing which had let Newcastle down.

That was due in part to the profligacy of Kluivert - more Sunday league than Champions League - and the now customary lapse of concentration in the home penalty area.

The former Ajax and Barcelona striker missed his kick in front of goal from Babayaro's fifth-minute cross, dragged another effort wide from Dyer's 21st-minute pass and them scuffed another shot into Steele's arms 11 minutes before the break as the home fans looked on in disbelief.

But there was salvation at hand and it came from Shearer, who accepted Jenas' pass before smashing a low shot into the bottom corner after 36 minutes.

Ameobi repeated the treatment with a superb solo effort five minutes later, and the game was in the bag.

Or so they thought.

Andy O'Brien, in for the injured Boumsong, intercepted well to deny Stern John a shot at goal a minute before half-time, but Newcastle did not heed the warning and when Stephen Hughes floated in an injury-time corner, Adebola was able to climb virtually unopposed to head past Steve Harper and rekindle his side's faint hopes.

Having given themselves a lifeline, the visitors were happy to sit back and soak up pressure early in the second half.

But it proved a dangerous policy as Dyer began to enjoy the game, showing his best form.

A Dean Leacock block and another Steele save denied Dyer twice within a minute, but he and his team-mates did not have to wait very long for the third goal to arrive.

There were 52 minutes gone when Babayaro cut in from the left and burst between Michael Doyle and debutant Richard Duffy before unleashing a shot which deflected off defender Ady Williams and past the 'keeper for his first goal for the club.

If Kluivert had been less than clinical before the break, he was plain unfortunate after it.

In the 61st minute, he met Shearer's driven cross with a firm header but saw the ball crash against the crossbar and on to the line before it was hacked away.

Shearer sliced a 65th-minute shot wide from an intelligent Dyer pass and Kluivert tested Steele with a half-volley nine minutes later, but the game had assumed the air of a practice match.

Newcastle passed the ball confidently on their newly-relaid pitch and dragged City all over the place with Dyer and Jenas in particular running them ragged.

But there was little real urgency with the result beyond doubt.

Faye was withdrawn to warm applause eight minutes from time, but by then, it was simply a case of seeing out time on a job well done.

Teams

Newcastle Harper, Carr, Bramble, Andrew O'Brien, Babayaro, Dyer, Faye (Hughes 81), Jenas, Kluivert, Shearer, Ameobi.

Subs Not Used: Given, Milner, Taylor, Robert.

Booked: Andrew O'Brien.

Goals: Shearer 37, Ameobi 42, Babayaro 52.

Coventry Steele, Duffy, Williams, Leacock, Giddings, Doyle, Hughes, Negouai, Morrell (Adebola 3), McSheffrey (Jorgensen 80), John (Johnson 80).

Subs Not Used: Shearer, Shaw.

Booked: Williams.

Goals: Adebola 45.

Att: 44,044

Ref: N Barry (N Lincolnshire).