Newcastle 2-0 Sunderland

Michael Owen demonstrated exactly why manager Kevin Keegan is so desperate for him to sign a new contract, scoring a brace to earn Newcastle all three points in the Tyne-Wear derby. Owen headed the Magpies into a fourth-minute lead and then made it six goals in as many games in the final minute of the first half from the penalty spot.

The win, which maintained Keegan's perfect record against Sunderland, means Newcastle are now mathematically safe from relegation, while the Black Cats remain five points clear of the relegation zone with three games remaining.

Keane insisted in the run-up to the game that his side would not be intimidated by the prospect of a visit to St James' Park, but he was dealt a cruel blow even before a ball had been kicked when first-choice defenders Jonny Evans and Phil Bardsley had to withdraw through injury. They were replaced by Paul McShane and Danny Higginbotham, and both men were to play significant roles, although not perhaps the ones they might have wished for.

The game was only four minutes old when McShane, who had already taken a wild swing at Owen, lost the England striker and saw him run on to Geremi's cross to power a header past Craig Gordon. Newcastle continued to dominate, and might have increased their lead with 13 minutes gone, but Gordon got down well to push away Habib Beye's low drive. Gordon had to be sharp once again 15 minutes later to cut out a cross from Obafemi Martins.

For Sunderland, Kenwyne Jones continued to chase and harry the home defence, but - two long-range Andy Reid efforts, both easily gathered by Steve Harper - were all the Black Cats could muster in the first half. In the circumstances Keane might have been happy to get his team back into the dressing room with the scoreline at 1-0, but his hopes were dashed with seconds remaining.

Owen and Mark Viduka carved the visitors open with a deft one-two inside the penalty area and when the former Real Madrid man tried to lift the ball over the sliding Higginbotham, the ball made contact with his arm and referee Mike Dean pointed to the spot. Owen stepped up to squeeze the penalty under Gordon despite the keeper getting a hand to it to leave Sunderland with a mountain to climb.

The striker might have completed a famous hat-trick within three minutes of the restart, but his control from Beye's cross let him down, and that was the signal for the visitors to increase their tempo. Sunderland forced a series of corners in quick succession to exert sustained pressure on their hosts for the first time in the game, but the Magpies held firm.

Keane made his move with 58 minutes gone when he replaced Edwards with Kieran Richardson and pushed Daryl Murphy up alongside Jones. Reid curled a 61st-minute shot just over, but as the game opened up, there were chances at both ends.

Martins perhaps should have scored with 68 minutes gone after he and Owen sliced Sunderland open, but Gordon made a vital block, and Steve Harper had to match him seconds later to keep out Jones' thumping header. As time ran down, there was little sign of any impending drama with Newcastle easing towards the whistle and the party it sparked.