what's going on in the speakers: Stevie Wonder - Fingertips

THEY DONT LIKE IT UP 'EM (the arse)

A fully-committed blood and guts performance won us three precious points against this season's rotten travellers and title non-challengers, Arsenal.

Nobby Solano's 82nd minute strike gave us our first win in seven attempts on Tyneside against the North Londoners as birthday boy Nobby - 31 on Monday - drove home a right-footed drive into the Leazes goal.

The commitment on and off the pitch was tremendous as every single black and white shirt-wearer threw themselves wholeheartedly into the encounter.

The visitors had threatened to take a first half lead when Thierry Henry had an effort superbly saved by Shay Given. Henry also wasted another opportunity, scuffing a close range effort harmlessly wide.

Appeals against Titus Bramble for handball were rightly waved away and in a half of few chances both sides failed to find any sort of rhythm.

After the interval, Newcastle came out all guns blazing and even before Gilberto Silva was red-carded for a second silly booking, we had come close with the returning Michael Owen being denied by a Sol Campbell challenge.

Alan Shearer headed back a chance for the outstanding Scott Parker but the midfielder's shot flew over the bar. Shearer himself then went close, firing wide with Owen waiting at the far post.

Gilberto then stuck out a leg and caught Jean-Alain Boumsong, just as he had done in the first half when he had been booked for a foul on Shola Ameobi. Referee Dermott Gallagher didn't even wait for the Arsenal man to get to his feet before showing him a second yellow.

It might have been a harsh decision in a game littered with tough challenges but it was sweet justice for the decision that cost us the game at Highbury back in August - when Jenas was dismissed for a foul on the same Gilberto.

Parker fired narrowly over before the deeply unpleasant Jens Lehmann should have followed his colleague down the tunnel after a disgraceful assault on Parker.

Our man followed a through ball that he never looked likely to reach but as he put pressure on the 'keeper, Lehmann deliberately leapt with his right elbow and right leg raised.

Parker had a tooth loosened as he was knocked to the ground and after lengthy treatment, he remarkably got back to his feet and continued, clutching cotton wool, with the same high level of commitment.

His evening came to an end when, after scrambling on his hands and knees to win the ball from Kolo Toure the Arsenal man delivered the final knockout blow to Parker who waved his cotton wool to the bench before collapsing in a dazed heap.

But Lee Bowyer came on and United continued to battle and scrap for everything and it was some more determination from the invincible Shearer that played in Solano on the right edge of the box. A touch and instant firm shot into the bottom corner sent a noisy St. James' Park into raptures.

There were still eight minutes plus five minutes of Parker-injury-time to survive but there weren't too many late scares and Owen even spurned the opportunity to make the points safe.

FINAL SCORE

NEWCASTLE 1 - 0 The Arse