NEWCASTLE UNITED 2 BRADFORD CITY 0

NEWCASTLE dominated the game with relegation threatened Bradford at St James` Park and should have won by more than the final score of 2-0, as Gary Speed and Alan Shearer, with his 26th of the season, saw off The Bantams.

Early pressure by The Magpies forced a corner, Kieron Dyer floated the cross in and Gary Speed stole in at the far post to head his ninth goal of the season after just six minutes.

This caused United to relax and the rest of the half was played out at near walking pace, Duncan Ferguson had an appeal for a penalty turned down as he had his heels clipped accidentally in the box.

Towards the end of the half, Bradford came back into the game, Steven Harper being forced into two fine saves, showing impressive anticipation as Dean Saunders was clean through on goal.

Bradford had a goal disallowed for a foul on Harper although it seemed that it was a goalkeeping error that allowed Saunders to slot home.

The second half was more of the same, Bradford threatening but Newcastle dominating. Shearer was unlucky with a blast that went just wide but the Yorkshire side had their own chances to equalise.

The main talking point of the game was a clash between Dean Windass and Speed as both men tussled for the ball on the halfway line and as they lay on the ground the Newcastle man appeared to kick Windass in the head.

With the referee almost on top of the incident and the assistant referee not signalling anything it remains to be seen if TV evidence is used against the Welsh captain.

Substitutes Didier Domi and Termur Ketsbaia went close but Newcastle took until a minute before full-time to kill the game off, a good build-up, with Dyer involved once again, gave Shearer a chance and the England captain blasted the ball into the top corner.

The win moves Newcastle up to 11th in the table, and with only five points separating United and sixth place, it looks like Bobby Robson`s revival of the North-Eastern giants could end in a European place.

Bradford however face a desperate fight to maintain their Premiership status as they remain two points behind Derby, who are in the safety zone, having played the same amount of games.

After the game Paul Jewell said: "I am disappointed we conceded a goal from a set play. We frustrated Newcastle and arguably had the best chance of the first-half but having the goal chalked off changed the match."