A RARE left-footed finish by Nolberto Solano was enough to lift Newcastle back into the Premiership's top five against lowly Leicester at St. James' Park last night.

Solano, a below-par performer in Sunday's 3-0 humbling at West Ham, registered his fifth goal of the season in the 34th minute when he swept in joint leading scorer Craig Bellamy's perfectly-delivered left-wing centre.

But Newcastle skipper Alan Shearer, who is appealing against the Dubious Goals Committee's ludicrous decision to deny him the winning strike in the 4-3 triumph over Manchester United 12 days ago, was frustrated in his attempts to make up the shortfall.

Shearer missed a sitter shortly after half-time and saw his 68th-minute header from Robbie Elliott's cross brilliantly saved by goalkeeper Ian Walker.

When Elliott swung over a left-wing corner three minutes later, Shearer's flying header just cleared the crossbar.

Newcastle's lack-lustre display at West Ham was a far cry from the exhilarating exhibition they put on with Man. United.

The Magpies' magnificent victory over the champions will never be forgotten on Tyneside, but the weekend setback against a West Ham side who hitherto had been bottom of the Premiership, was a rude reminder of how easily the form-book can be cast out of the proverbial window.

Bobby Robson, who received the performance of the week award from the League Managers' Association for the eclipse of Man. United, might have been tempted to make changes to his side following the Upton Park debacle.

But the only alteration to the line-up which started on Sunday was enforced, with Andy Griffin replacing hip-injury victim Warren Barton at right-back.

Laurent Robert was fit to play following a heel injury scare, and the £10m Frenchman should have won Newcastle a sixth-minute penalty.

Further evidence of the almost telepathic understanding that Robert is developing with Shearer was provided when the Newcastle captain dropped the ball at the winger's feet in the heart of the visitors' penalty area.

The unmarked Robert only had Walker to beat, but a moment's deliberation allowed Muzzy Izzet to make a challenge which brought the United player down. Despitefurious appeals from the home crowd, referee David Pugh refused to award a spot-kick.

But The Wirral official, in his first season on the Premiership list, was taking a keener interest in more niggling offences, booking Leicester defender Gary Rowett for shirt-pulling in the tenth minute, and Newcastle centre-back Nikos Dabizas for throwing the ball away at a free-kick a minute later.

A stoppage-strewn first half-hour produced precious little in the way of goalmouth incident.

Leicester were defending in numbers and it needed something special to break down their resolute resistance.

It was Bellamy who conjured the opening, dispossessing Matt Elliott and spinning away from the Foxes' skipper before speeding down the left to hit a low centre which Solano turned home first time from around eight yards.

The goal meant Leicester had to come out of their shell and defender Jason Lewis launched a determined aerial challenge on Shay Given, who was forced to fist the ball clear before striker James Scowcroft saw his header go straight into Given's hands.

Leicester manager Peter Taylor withdrew the disappointing Dean Sturridge in favour of Ade Akinbiyi at half-time in a desperate attempt to pep up his attack.

But two minutes into the second period Shearer spurned a glorious opportunity.

Bellamy's left-wing cross was missed in the middle by Lewis and an unmarked Shearer contrived to steer the ball wide with Walker at his mercy.

Shearer showed his determination to get his name on the score-sheet when he exercised his authority over set-piece specialists Robert and Solano to unleash a 30-yard free-kick which forced Walker to make a smart low save.

Walker was no less alert when he saved bravely at the feet of the onrushing Bellamy, who was then denied by Matt Elliott's penalty box block after Robert had caused panic in the visiting defence with a searing run.

Sinclair, in the company of the quartet of Chelsea players whose drunken hotel antics insulted Americans following the terrorist atrocities in the United States, was booed by the Newcastle crowd when he came on.

Read more about Newcastle FC here.