Magpies find their wings as Solano steps forward

Given that their next assignment is against Juventus in Italy on Tuesday, where they need to win if their Champions' League challenge is not to be strangled while still in its infancy, it was essential that Newcastle left St Andrews in upbeat mood last night.

They did so, thanks to the cultured right foot of Nolberto Solano, whose sweet first-half strike was supplemented in the last minute by Shola Ameobi, but not by producing anything like the infusion of confidence they will need if their European campaign is to be kept alive in Turin, a city Sir Bobby Robson will be visiting for the first time as a manager since England's exit from the World Cup in the 1990 semi-final.

Plainly Newcastle still have some way to go to recapture the form of last season. Arriving here last night with only one win in six matches, the momentum of last week's Tyne-Wear derby win over Sunderland had been lost when Feyenoord took the points in the Champions' League last Tuesday, and they struggled to establish any authority against the Premiership newcomers, who had them defending frantically at times in the second half.

They had been worthy of their half-time lead, however, the breakthrough coming after 34 minutes, after Gary Speed had dug himself out of trouble deep in his own half and launched an attack with a long ball through the middle. Alan Shearer's clever flick sent the ball out to Laurent Robert on the left and the former England captain showed great awareness to step out of the way when the Frenchman squared it back. The ball sat up invitingly for Solano to let fly from 25 yards, although it took a particularly adroit strike with the outside of the right boot to swerve into the right-hand corner beyond goalkeeper Nico Vaesen's reach. It might have been 2-0 within a couple of minutes had Lomano LuaLua not headed a Solano cross into the ground instead of wide of Vaesen.

Birmingham, missing four defenders now that Martin Grainger is ruled out with ligament damage, had looked uneasy at the back as early as the fifth minute, when Andy O'Brien's near-post flick from a left-wing corner had Vaesen in trouble. Once the nerves settled, however, they twice forced Shay Given into vital action, the Republic of Ireland goalkeeper beating out a shot by Paul Devlin after O'Brien's foul on Stern John had given Birmingham a free-kick from dangerous range, and pulling off a similar save moments later to deny John himself. Towards half-time, Devlin had Given beaten with a dipping volley from the right flank only for the ball to land in the roof of the net.

Without capturing the mood of their derby victory over Aston Villa, Birmingham stepped up their performance enough in the second half to keep Newcastle largely on the back foot, only to concede again in the closing moments when an exchange of passes with Shearer took Ameobi clear. Vaesen blocked the substitute's first attempt but could not stop him forcing the rebound into the net.

Birmingham City 0 Newcastle United 2
Solano 34, Ameobi 90

Half-time: 0-1 Attendance: 29,072