John Barnes celebrated a personal milestone, his 200th League and Cup goal,
but there was little more to cheer until almost a minute into injury time when
Temuri Ketsbaia popped up to score the winner for Newcastle.
His celebration was extravagant as he took his shirt off to celebrate what
could well be a vital three points for the Magpies at the end of a stressful
week.
Even a 17-minute substitute appearance by Alan Shearer failed to lift the
gloom that had fallen on St James' until the Georgian combined with fellow sub
Shearer and Darren Peacock to score.
Well before the game kicked off there were more cameramen than a Hollywood
blockbuster - all there to put on record the return of the local hero Shearer.
And a stadium which since the introduction of its all-seater status doesn't
fill until the ten-minute period leading up to kick-off was today unusually
vibrant by 2.30pm - would he really be involved?
When the answer arrived at, on a simple piece of A4 paper, the relief was as
evident within the confines of the Media Centre as it surely was within the ever
filling stands.
Peter Beardsley, who also deserved some of the spotlight on his return to St
James' Park, had to take a back seat as he skippered Bolton out on to the
pitch.
Not since the arrival of Kevin Keegan as manager in February 1992 has there
been such an instant change of mood.
And, as Newcastle fans indicated in the local radio phone-in earlier, it was
the most vital game for the club since the last game of the 1991/92 campaign.
With Shearer on the bench after being out the whole season with ankle
ligament damage, it took United six minutes to go ahead.
Barnes broke onto a fine ball from Steve Watson to superbly chip an acute
angle shot high over Keith Branagan into the Bolton net for his 200th League and
Cup goal of a glittering career.
United all too often found space in behind the visitors' defence as Mark Fish
and Andy Todd were forced to turn and chase United attackers.
Bolton hit back and twice in as many minutes Beardsley, skipper for the day
on his return to Tyneside, was involved. First Per Frandsen fired narrowly wide
and then Scott Sellars smashed a fine free-kick goalwards only for Shaka Hislop
to save well moving to his left.
The playing surface was very poor and as the game moved towards half-time
many home moves became bogged down in midfield.
Northern Ireland winger Keith Gillespie was having a good time down theUnited
right, but his final ball into the box was once again poor.
Wanderers looked effective in midfield with Frandsen and Sellars busy but
their attack was hardly worrying the home back four in which Peacock and Stuart
Pearce, back after injury, were in fine form.
Alessandro Pistone, the United left-back, was finding a great deal of space
but on almost every occasion his final ball, like that of Gillespie, was either
overhit or misdirected.
Within minutes of the restart Shearer was out warming up much to the delight
of the home fans.
But powerful efforts from Pollock and Beardsley so nearly brought Bolton a
warranted equaliser before the crowd went wild with Shearer looking set to go
on.
But before the England skipper got on to the pitch, Bolton hit back through
Nathan Blake in the 72nd minute. The striker turned Peacock and blasted an
effort past Hislop from 10 yards.
Shearer finally got on to a huge ovation as the United striker replaced
Barnes with 17 minutes remaining.
With his final throw of the dice Temuri Ketsbaia replaced Tomasson as the
visitors continued to hold out. Despite the late winner this was anything but a
convincing show from Newcastle against a spirited Bolton.
Teams
Newcastle: Hislop, Watson, Peacock, Pearce, Pistone, Beresford,
Barton, Barnes (Shearer 72), Lee, Gillespie,
Tomasson (Ketsbaia 79).
Subs Not Used: Given, Rush, Hamilton.
Booked: Barton.
Goals: Barnes 6, Ketsbaia 90.
Bolton: Branagan, Cox, Fish, Todd, Phillips, Pollock, Frandsen,
Sellars, Beardsley, Taylor (Gunnlaugsson 83), Blake.
Subs Not Used: Johansen, Aljofree, Carr, Ward.
Booked: Frandsen, Todd.
Goals: Blake 72.
Att: 36,767
Ref: G Poll (Tring).
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