England round-up: Derby delight for Newcastle

Newcastle United FC secured their second win of the season with a 2-0 victory over fierce local rivals Sunderland AFC in the Tyne-Wear today to end their disappointing start to the campaign and deepen the problems facing Sunderland manager Peter Reid.

Important goals
An early strike from Craig Bellamy and a thunderous free-kick from skipper Alan Shearer secured maximum points for Newcastle and left Sunderland second bottom of the table with five points from seven games.

Cool finish
The away side got off to the worst possible start when Welsh striker Bellamy raced on to a through-ball from England's Kieron Dyer and calmly slid the ball past Danish goalkeeper Thomas Sørensen to put Newcastle 1-0 up in only the second minute.

Near misses
Despite the early setback, Sunderland attacked spiritedly and twice new striker Tore André Flo saw headers fly narrowly over the crossbar. In the 38th minute, the former Chelsea FC and Rangers FC hit-man charged down a clearance from Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given, only for the Republic of Ireland No1 to recover and retrieve the ball just inches from the goal line.

Thumping shot
That save was to prove crucial just a minute later, as Sunderland conceded a dangerous free-kick on the edge of their own penalty area. Peru's Nolberto Solano rolled the ball to Shearer, and the former England skipper smashed an unstoppable shot past Sørensen to virtually end the game as a contest.

Late winner
Elsewhere in the Premiership, champions Arsenal FC march on, although they needed a late goal from Nwankwo Kanu to defeat Bolton Wanderers FC. Thierry Henry missed a penalty for the league leaders, but gave the home team the lead in the 26th minute. However, Gareth Farrelly equalised for the underdogs two minutes after the interval and, despite the dismissal of Iván Campo in the 80th minute, Bolton looked like holding on for an unlikely point until Kanu's stoppage-time intervention.

Spurs pay the penalty
There were penalties galore in the Premiership today, Ruud van Nistelrooij's spot-kick was the only goal of the game at Old Trafford as Manchester United FC shrugged off two consecutive league defeats to defeat Tottenham Hotspur FC.

Owen foiled
At Anfield, England star Michael Owen saw his penalty saved by West Bromwich Albion FC's reserve goalkeeper Joe Murphy, first-choice keeper Russell Hoult having been sent off for bringing down Owen to concede the spot-kick. However, goals from Milan Baroš and John Arne Riise gave Liverpool FC a 2-0 victory.

Free-kick strike
Franck Queudrue's 20 metre free-kick gave Middlesbrough FC a 1-0 win over Birmingham City FC at the Riverside stadium, bringing the away side's four match unbeaten run to an end.

Southampton stalemate
Southampton FC and Charlton Athletic FC shared a goalless draw, and it was a similar story at Upton Park, as visitors Manchester City FC gained their first point away from home this season with a 0-0 draw, to leave West Ham United FC anchored to the foot of the table with just two points.