Newcastle United 1 Bolton Wanderers 0

Aug 24 2008 by Neil Farrington, Sunday Sun

JUST when Kevin Keegan sensed deja-vu, the reappearance of Michael Owen maintained Newcastle’s eye-catching start to the season.

But only after a less familiar sight had rescued them from the prospect of a dismal home defeat.

And only after a double injury setback which will have the United manager singing the same old tune to Mike Ashley in their midweek pow wow.

Less than seven months after seeing Bolton spoil his Third Coming, the Magpie Messiah feared they were about to play party-poopers again for most of a dour opening hour.

And worry looked set to turn to panic when Steven Taylor gave referee Steve Bennett two reasons to award the visitors a penalty.

But that moment proved pivotal in a way nobody had foreseen.

The strangely rare sight of Shay Given saving a spot kick (Kevin Nolan the man denied) prompted a dramatic rise in tempo on and off the pitch.

And nobody climbed higher than Owen – not long on for the hamstrung Obafemi Martins – in heading home a 71st-minute winner.

Saved by his No 10 after losing his No 9 and No 11 (Damien Duff having also hobbled off) . . . Keegan’s case for Ashley and Co to get Owen and at least a couple more new boys signed up appears open and shut.

Those fans who did contribute to Newcastle’s lowest home Premier League crowd since St James’s was redeveloped in 2000 could easily have got some shut-eye early on yesterday.

By far the most arresting sight of the opening half was that of several thousand empty seats.

If all else fails, that should motivate the Magpies’ top brass into action.

Martins was one of few men who looked capable of lifting the mood before the break.

First, the Nigerian saw an impudent – and goalbound – flick from Charles N’Zogbia’s low sixth-minute cross deflected wide by Gary Cahill.

And while team-mates struggled to find their stride, he remained all pace and purpose – not least when he sparked the half’s only real flashpoint.

The mercurial Jonas Gutierrez was sent racing through on the last Bolton defender by Martins’ through ball, only to be felled from behind by Joey O’Brien in full flight.

In the nervous moments following the subsequent free kick (and inevitable booking), James Milner saw a fierce strike charged down by Andy O’Brien, then Martins went within inches of glancing home another N’Zogbia cross.

Gutierrez continued to get short shrift from opponents clearly intent on testing his mettle, with substitute Gavin McCann the next to enter Bennett’s book.

But though the winger kept at it, Newcastle lost their way as an attacking force either side of half-time.

At the other end, Gutierrez’s fellow new boy Fabricio Coloccini had also endeared himself to the natives early on, showing strength and bravery in holding off Johan Elmander in a tussle which left the Swedish striker crocked.

That saw Kevin Davies – originally playing off Elmander – lumber his way up front.

But though he may rarely have encountered tactics as agricultural as those of the Trotters, Coloccini played like a pig in s***.

Territorially, Bolton just about matched the Magpies, but rarely threatened, even from their favoured set pieces. Duff’s failure to re-emerge after the restart was not a surprise – a heavy challenge had felled him shortly before the break.

But worse was to follow. The reason for Martins’ failure to touch home Habib Beye’s teasing 51st-minute cross was soon all too apparent, as the Nigerian clutched his hamstring and gestured to the bench.

Obvious a replacement as Owen was, he would want for natural support. But a far more pressing concern soon emerged at the other end.

Twice in barely as many seconds in the 58th minute, Steven Taylor handled in his own area – first from Gretar Steinsson’s cross, then Nolan’s shot.

Bennett was spoilt for choices to point to the spot.

But when Nolan took aim again – towards the bottom right-hand corner – he drew a superb one-handed save from Given, who then hooked the loose ball away from the Bolton skipper.

St James’s duly erupted. On a day which had threatened to be a damp squib, the blue touch paper had surely been lit.

It appeared so when Owen saw his first header of the day fumbled by Jussi Jaaskelainen and only just retrieved ahead of Coloccini following up.

But it was otherwise all perspiration and little inspiration from United until they gave Owen the nod again.

From the same inside-left position where James Milner had teed up his skipper’s first chance, Geremi slung over a lofted through ball-cum-cross.

And with Bolton’s back four ball-watching, Owen ghosted between them and a flat-footed Jaaskelainen before glancing home.

Relief unconfined – not least from the little fella stood in the home technical area.

And although Geordie nerves would still jangle – when do they not? – Newcastle knew better than to rest on their lead.

It should have been doubled 15 minutes from time, but Milner somehow headed over when picked out unmarked in the box by Habib Beye.

Geremi then saw a point-blank shot blocked by JLloyd Samuel, at the end of a spell of neat keep-ball - directed by Gutierrez - which boded well for the weeks to come.

On the other hand, Nolan was allowed a free header which he directed wastefully wide, Davies also nodded off target and Nolan saw an accurate-looking piledriver deflected wide by Steven Taylor.

Some things don’t change.

Thankfully, Owen’s striker’s instincts are among them.