55 mins: Shearer turned provider, threading a forward pass through for Gary Speed to get ahead of two visiting defenders and poke the ball home from just on the penalty spot 2-1

58 mins: An out-swinging flag kick from the South West corner was headed in by Louis Saha from close range towards the near post 3-1

75 mins: Hedman failed to hold Dietmar Hamman's free kick and Alan Shearer gobbled up the loose ball with an easy first time finish into the unguarded net from six yards 4-1

Full time: United 4 City 1

Ruud Gullit said:
 
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Guardian match report:

Alan Shearer's timing was as impeccable as always. Only hours after Kevin Keegan took charge of England, the Newcastle striker scored two goals in a game for the first time in nearly five months.

Keegan does not need reminding of Shearer's qualities - after all, he once paid £15m to take him to St James' Park. But this was still encouraging evidence for him that the England captain remains a powerful force.

Shearer was the hard-working inspiration behind a Newcastle victory that only added to manager Ruud Gullit's confidence about the prospects of his team.

Coventry were a dishevelled outfit by the end, yet it all began so encouragingly for a team whose dismal away record represents the main reason they hovered only one point above a relegation place at the start.

Their plight was difficult to understand for more than half the match as they played with an intelligence and resolve that unsettled United. City's confidence, understandably at a low ebb, was immeasurably lifted by the opening goal, stroked in by Noel Whelan in the 17th minute.

It was an admirable piece of finishing, equalled within a minute by Shearer's third goal in four games.

Muhamed Konjic, making his Coventry debut after arriving from Monaco for £2.5m, had been well briefed about Shearer's threat. Now he witnessed his quality at close-range as he accelerated into the area and beat keeper Magnus Hedman.

Newcastle striker Louis Saha, on loan from Metz and surprisingly recalled in place of Temuri Ketsbaia, is another taking time to settle. Last night he wore a puzzling combination of gloves and short sleeves and his link-up with Shearer was equally uncertain at times.

Saha at least ended the first half with a long-range shot that stretched Hedman and was almost the first to reach a cross by Nol Solano in front of goal, but Gullit demanded more from all his players at half-time - and got his wish.

Coventry manager Gordon Strachan was also ordering Darren Huckerby to put in extra effort in the opening moments of the second half when he failed to exert pressure on Laurent Charvet.

Huckerby, whose well-timed breaks had provided City's most menacing moments in the first-half, pointed out it was the first time he hadn't done his job. The striker made sure it was the last, but still made an early departure.

Yet Coventry's early optimism was swept away by two Newcastle goals in quick succession. Shearer created the first after 55 minutes when he threaded the ball between two defenders, setting up Gary Speed for his first league goal since he scored in a 5-1 win at Coventry in September.

Three minutes later it suddenly became easier to understand City's struggles this season by the way they left Saha unmarked at the near post. He punished them by heading in Solano's corner.