Premiership photos

Stand-in striker Shola Ameobi handed Newcastle their first away win in the Premiership this season with the only goal at The Riverside.

Ameobi, who was deputising for the injured Craig Bellamy, scored in the first half to help Sir Bobby Robson's side leapfrog their north-east rivals.

But Middlesbrough, who slipped into the relegation zone after the loss, will feel aggrieved at not picking up at least a point after dominating the opening half of the Tees-Tyne clash.

BBC Tyne match report

Boro's home form has been poor this season but they came flying out the blocks and could have been two goals up inside six minutes.

Within two minutes of the kick-off a Danny Mills cross found the head of Gaizka Mendieta, but Magpies keeper Shay Given pulled off a spectacular stop.

KEY MOMENTS 2 mins: Given brilliantly keeps out a Mendieta header 21 mins: Ameobi breaks the deadlock for Newcastle 80 mins: Queudrue heads over from a cross by Mills

Moments later Boudewijn Zenden released Szilard Nemeth and he found himself clean through but his right-foot shot was kept out by Given's body.

Newcastle did not threaten until 15 minutes into the game when Alan Shearer headed the ball into the box for Lee Bowyer, who squared for Ameobi but Gareth Southgate managed to intercept.

Boro pressed again on 20 minutes when Mendieta outwitted Andy O'Brien and crossed for Nemeth to head down and Guidoni Junior Doriva drove in a low shot which tested the under-pressure Given.

It looked only a matter of time before Middlesbrough got the opener, but they fell victim to a sucker-punch with Newcastle scoring from their first effort on goal.

Bowyer's cross found Shearer at the far post and when he headed back into the danger area Gary Speed got a touch before Ameobi fired past Mark Schwarzer.

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Boro continued to press forward but for all their dominance and chances they appeared destined not to find the net.

A George Boateng header fell into the path of Malcolm Christie whose shot hit the woodwork and then Franck Queudrue was denied by Given and from the follow up he hit the top of the bar.

Newcastle tightened up at the back with Titus Bramble in particular looking very assured at the heart of the Magpies defence.

Middlesbrough had a late chance to salvage a point but when a centre from Mills found Queudrue he headed narrowly over.

It was their last real chance and the home side were unable to prevent a fourth home defeat of the season.

It was a third consecutive clean sheet and fifth in six games for Newcastle's previously suspect backline, and the three points helps propel them seven places in the table and up to 11th.

Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, Queudrue, Cooper, Southgate, Mills, Zenden (Greening 69), Boateng, Doriva (Juninho Paulista 69), Mendieta, Christie, Nemeth (Maccarone 69).
Subs Not Used: Nash, Riggott.

Booked: Doriva, Maccarone, Mills.

Newcastle: Given, Hughes, Bramble, O'Brien, Bernard, Jenas, Speed, Bowyer (Robert 77), Dyer, Shearer, Ameobi.
Subs Not Used: Harper, Griffin, LuaLua, Viana.

Booked: Speed, O'Brien, Bramble.

Attendance: 34,081

Referee: A Wiley (Staffordshire).