Jermain Defoe had given the visitors a 20th-minute lead as United struggled before the break, but Alan Shearer levelled four minutes before the break and Lomana LuaLua and Laurent Robert completed the job in a much improved second-half performance.

Newcastle laid siege to the visitors’ goal as they looked to kill off the game and put on a real show for the 52,127 packed into St James’, but Glenn Roeder’s side just about man aged to repel the continuous waves of black and white shirts.

Solano had a chance to add his name to the scoresheet 12 minutes from time when he took aim from distance with the outside of his right foot but could not beat James.

But West Ham had not thrown in the towel and it took another good save from Given to deny Cole a minute later and a last-ditch tackle from Bernard to dispossess Kanoute in the box on 82 minutes.

The final whistle brought an end to a thrilling 45 minutes of football and the beginning of another happy night on Tyneside.