All 21 Of Newcastle's Premier League Opening Day Fixtures

Date: 19 August 2002

Venue: St James' Park

Result: 4-0

Starting XI: Given; Hughes, Bramble, Dabizas, Bernard; Solano (McClen), Jenas, Dyer, Viana (Elliott); Shearer, Lua Lua (Ameobi).

Goals: Lua Lua (61, 72), Shearer (76), Solano (86)

Yellow Cards: Shearer

Debuts: Bramble, Viana

Manager: Sir Bobby Robson

What Happened?

It was a case of 'start as you mean to proceed' for Newcastle stated their intent for the season ahead with an emphatic victory over West Ham, managed by future Toon boss Glenn Roeder. In a devastating 25-minute spell during the second half the Magpies scored four times with Lomana Lua Lua bagging a brace. Alan Shearer and Nolberto Solano completed the rout to send Sir Bobby Robson's side top of the table.

League Position: 1st

Was It A Sign Of Things To Come?

You wouldn't have thought so after Newcastle embarked on a four match winless run, losing three of them, after the West Ham slaughter, before regaining their composure to record the Club's first top-three finish in six seasons. Remaining unbeaten from the end of December until March sparked faint hopes of a late title surge, but those hopes were extinguished by a hat-trick of defeats in April.

Final League Position: 3rd