IT didn't seem too long ago when Newcastle picked up most of their points on Tyneside, and anything amassed on away visits was mere icing on the cake.

The fortress that was St James' Park has been chipped away at over the years and, although still a tough place to do battle, the venue's fear factor has diminished.

As if in response to that, this term Newcastle have turned themselves into awayday specialists with wins at Middlesbrough, Bolton and now Everton.

The draw at Chelsea was a bonus and the less said about the visit to West Ham the better.

With a quarter of the season gone Newcastle are already just one away win behind their total for the whole of last season.

A return of ten points from a possible 15 on their travels is Champions League form and is the main reason they are in the top six.

The pace and speed of thought of Craig Bellamy and Laurent Robert is proving a highly effective tool away from home, and that was again emphasised on Saturday.

Games against Everton at Goodison Park have been bereft of entertainment over recent years - Saturday changed all that.

The scoreline flattered Newcastle because Everton were by far the better team. But what the Magpies had was Shay Given in inspired form in goal, and Bellamy's intelligent running up front.

Bobby Robson immediately put his hands up after the game and said: "Bellamy's pace got us out of trouble."

He also paid tribute to Given who is in top form going into the Republic of Ireland's vital World Cup qualifier.

"He played very well," he said.

"He's capable of having a game like that. In the first half he made a great save - the save of the match."

The save in question was on the half-hour from Tomasz Radzinski who was released by the impressive Niclas Alexandersson in what appeared to be an offside position.

Radzinski hit his shot true but Given stood up well and blocked his effort.

At that stage the Toffees were well on top and 1-1 would have been the least they deserved at half-time.

Newcastle's were ahead thanks to a truly comic opener - unfortunately resulting in a pre-cautionary hospital visit for Portuguese defender Abel Xavier.

On 19 minutes a long ball from Nolberto Solano on the right towards Bellamy appeared hopeful at best.

But with communication at a premium, Gerrard emerged to claim the ball only to find Xavier there ahead of him.

With defender and goalkeeper lying prone on the edge the box, Bellamy had the simple task of walking the ball home.

In truth Newcastle went into a half-time lead only because Everton's finishing was so poor, and Given was outstanding.

He pulled off good saves from Radzinski, Gravesen,Unsworth and Stubbs and saw great chances for Gravesen, Gemmill, Alexandersson and Radzinski go begging.

Everton appeared still aggrieved at being one down when Newcastle went two up just after the restart.

A swift move saw Speed feed Alan Shearer peeling away to the right of the box. The skipper sent in his customary pin-point cross which saw the smallest man on the pitch, Solano, dive full length to superbly head into the corner.

Three minutes later Everton did get a deserved goal when Weir all too easily headed home Alexandersson's corner.

But no matter what they tried - including the introduction of Duncan Ferguson who was superbly shackled by Nikos Dabizas - they couldn't find an equaliser.

Paul Gascoigne was given an eight minute cameo - receiving a great reception from the travelling fans - and it was his free kick that was cleared to give United their third.

Bellamy picked up the clearance in his own half and left Gazza for dead.

He looked up and into the path of Robert.

Panic appears not to be a word the Frenchman understands as he cooly played it inside for Clarence Acuna to fire home.

The goal was made by the Welshman's pace and Robson issued a warning to all Premiership defences by saying: "If the delivery is right and he times his run then you won't catch him."

Bellamy is rapidly becoming the Magpies patron saint of lost causes. He chased a back pass from former Magpie Alessandro Pistone in the first-half arriving so quickly that the keeper's clearance flew off his backside and over the bar.

The other side of Bellamy's character also reared its head as he threatened to make it five bookings this season for dissent.

Last week Gary Speed spoke of his Welsh international colleague having to learn to zip it.

In the first half Speed and Stockton's answer to actor George Hamilton, Jeff Winter - a fairly ironic surname for the referee with the year round tan - warned him to zip it more than once.

In the second-half when Bellamy tried a little too strongly to get round Pistone, the referee blew up for a foul. You could see the livewire physically stopping himself from reacting.

Robson said: "He's that sort of guy - he's precocious, he always wants the last say. If you were married to him you'd have a divorce."

The manager can only hope the relationship Bellamy has already developed with the Newcastle fans never turns sour.

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