Kev calls the Toon

Keegan: bold selection

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Newcastle 2-0 Fulham
Soccer Saturday analysis

Phil Thompson watched Kevin Keegan finally break his Newcastle duck thanks two his two star strikers and his own attacking instincts.

Goals from Mark Viduka and Michael Owen were enough to give the Toon boss his first win in 10 attempts since returning for a second spell in charge at St James' Park.

Keegan had taken the bold move of playing them and Obafemi Martins is a front three and although he admitted that his side had not been at their very best, but Thompson told Soccer Saturday that it was the class and quality of his strikers that finally gave him something to smile about.

"Kevin will say how well they've played, but in the first half it was pretty even," he said.

"Fulham passed the ball around very, very well, but when you've got players of the class of Viduka, Owen and Martins and Fulham have got Brian McBride and Eddie Johnson, that's a big difference. And that's where it told today.

"They were two great strikes. The first goal by Viduka, he was allowed to turn by (Brede) Hangeland and he bent it into the corner. It was a great strike.

"Then Michael Owen was in the right position in the six-yard box to glance home. They were well worth it.

"In the end it was comfortable, but it Kevin Keegan's first win and absolutely massive for Newcastle. They've been searching for it for quite a while."

Momentum

Viduka set them on their way with a smart turn and finish on six minutes before Owen rose unmarked at a free-kick to nod home the second seven minutes from time.

The goals not only proved too much for relegation-threatened Fulham but also saw one of Keegan's trademark bold moves pay off.

He played Viduka and Martins up front together with captain Owen - who came in for special praise from his manager afterwards - in the hole behind them and for Thompson, it worked very well.

"He did change it slightly and it wasn't the three up front," he said.

"He actually played Michael Owen just behind Viduka and Martins and he played exceptionally well. What he was doing was passing it very well, bringing people into the game.

"He got that space and he kept dropping in there and going forward, keeping the momentum going.

"It was a very good result, a much-needed result for Newcastle that will be enough to give them the confidence to kick on."