NEW boys Carl Cort and Daniel Cordone upstaged skipper Alan Shearer with a goal apiece in front of the first 50,000-plus crowd at St. James' Park for over 24 years.

It was a bitter-sweet experience for Cort, who grabbed his first competitive Newcastle goal since his £7m close-season arrival from Wimbledon.

The England hopeful raised the rafters at the revamped Geordie citadel with a fourth-minute strike.

But his game lasted little more than half an hour when he succumbed to a hamstring injury and was replaced by Stephen Glass.

Perversely, it was something of a blessing in disguise for Magpies' boss Bobby Robson as it was Glass who ultimately shattered Derby.

Belgian international striker Branko Strupar gave Jim Smith's side hope with an equaliser in first-half stoppage time.

But only 36 seconds after the restart, Argentininan front-runner Cordone, like Cort making his home debut, restored United's lead.

And Glass produced a gem in the 54th minute to send the vast majority of the 51,327 crowd wild with delight.

Shearer, chasing his 200th League goal, scarcely looked like reaching his milestone.

And right-back Warren Barton had a night he will want to forget, marking his 350th League appearance with a red card in the 78th minute for holding back goal-bound striker Deon Burton.

Five minutes after Barton's dismissal, Seth Johnson swept home Simo Valakari's right-wing cross and Derby almost snatched a dramatic leveller in the second minute of injury time when substitute Dean Sturridge's drive flashed over.

Kieron Dyer, who pledged his future to Newcastle only hours before the game after being linked this week with an £8m move to Arsenal, was restored to the starting line-up following his second-half run-out as a substitute in Sunday's opening defeat at Manchester United.

Didier Domi and Nolberto Solano also returned, with Robert Lee and Marcelino injury casualties of the Old Trafford clash and Alain Goma paying the price for a less-than-assured defensive display.

There was a carnival atmosphere before kick-off as the Toon Army celebrated the grand opening of their new-look fortress.

Bedlam greeted referee Dermot Gallagher's second-minute refusal to award a penalty when Cordone took a tumble on the edge of the area after a dazzling burst.

But Cort quickly changed the mood when he shrugged off the attentions of Norwegian international defender Bjorn-Otto Bragstad to head home from close-range on the end of Solano's right-wing cross.

Cort then linked with Shearer to release Barton who delivered a low centre for his skipper. But Shearer failed to reach it and protested furiously that he had been impeded by defender Con Blatsis.

On a balmy Tyneside night, both sides defied the sticky conditions to maintain a frantic tempo.

But Newcastle's early rhythm was disrupted when Cort trudged off in the 32nd minute.

Soon afterwards, Derby went close when Italian midfielder Stefano Eranio worked an opening on the edge of the United penalty area but lifted his finish over.

Glass knew he was in a game straight away when, after under two minutes on the field, he was upended by Finnish midfielder Valakari, who became the first player booked.

The Magpies had lost their momentum and Derby squandered another opportunity when Burton beat Aaron Hughes but produced a timid effort which was dealt with simply by keeper Shay Given.

Glass continued to be a marked man and Johnson picked up a caution for bringing the winger down.

Rams keeper Mart Poom had to make ground to save at the feet of Dyer, who had gone in hot pursuit of Solano's through-ball.

But it was an increasingly rare United raid and it was no surprise when the visitors hit back.

United were forced to make a further change when Greek defender Nikos Dabizas hobbled off to be replaced by Goma.

And moments later, Derby struck. Left-back Danny Higginbotham, a £1.5m signing from Manchester United, pumped the ball up to Strupar, who ghosted between Barton and Hughes before beating Given with a mis-hit shot.

But Robson's half-time team talk produced instant results when Glass crossed and Bragstad blundered, allowing the ball to run to Cordone who steered home an angled shot.

Given had to make a desperate save at the feet of Burton before Glass conjured a glorious curling shot from around 25 yards to leave Poom grasping at thin air.

The polished Glass then released Shearer, but defender Steve Elliott made a crucial interception to snuff out the chance. It was that sort of night for the ex-England captain