BOTH Terry Venables and Bobby Robson were in attendance at a freezing Central Avenue, Billingham last night as Newcastle comfortably won a one-sided derby.

The two were assessing players ahead of this weekend's games and Robson will have been the happier of the two, especially with a lively first half showing from Paraguayan international Diego Gavilan.

Throughout the first half he peppered Boro's penalty area with telling right-wing crosses which should have brought greater reward.

James Coppinger almost opened the scoring with just six minutes played, while Colin McMenamin misjudged a cross from Gavilan minutes later when in front of goal.

Defender Gary Caldwell headed just wide from a Gavilan free-kick before the visitors were awarded a penalty when Steve Baker took a tug on McMenamin, Coppinger beating Marlon Beresford from the spot.

Boro's best spell came in the final quarter of the first half when Joseph-Desire Job played a neat one-two with Andy Campbell before bringing the first save of the game from John Karelse. The Cameroon international, returning from a knee ligament injury, should have done better when set up by Campbell minutes later, shooting wide from the edge of the area.

Boro replaced Brian Deane with Carlos Marinelli at half-time, who worryingly limped off after taking a kick with ten minutes left, which leaves him doubtful for Saturday's visit of Charlton.

But this was to be Newcastle's night with Gavilan scoring United's second after 55 minutes and McMeniman making it three on the hour racing on to a long through ball to smash a splendid finish past Beresford from 12 yards