LAST season Newcastle United failed to score in their first four games and after five fixtures had only picked up two points, so this 2-1 win against Wigan has to be considered an improvement. But it was a steady, rather than sensational performance and did little to raise expectations on Tyneside.

This was the first time in four years they had been handed a home fixture for the big kick off and, linked to the revival at the end of last season, the Toon have now won five on the trot at St James’ Park. The numbers game will also note that this was their 150th victory in the Premiership.

Newcastle did just enough to secure a maximum haul in a low-key encounter, of which at least half was played out in monsoon conditions, making the pitch almost unplayable.

Wigan, with six new players in their side, showed signs of cohesion but probably need a little more time to settle down.

Their manager Paul Jewell said: “I was disappointed with the result but not the performance. We more than matched them on the pitch and if we play like that this season we will be alright.”

Of course this is the first time Newcastle have entered the Premiership lottery without the bonus ball No 9. Such is the folklore and tradition attached to centre forwards in this part of the world, it is a bit like seeing the River Tyne without any of its landmark bridges. Coming in with No 23 on his back was once again Shola Ameobi, who nipped in to score the winning goal and maintain his remarkable average of one in every two games under Glenn Roeder. He desperately needs support, but the Newcastle manager has promised at least three new signings by the end of August.

Another headache was that suffered by Nicky Butt, who in his first league start for Newcastle in 16 months, had to leave the field after only 15 minutes with suspected concussion. On came Charles N’Zogbia, dubbed “Zog on the Tyne”, to bolster a reshuffled midfield. His introduction kept up the pace and almost immediately Scott Parker struck a thunderbolt from some 25 yards out. But new England goalkeeper and Wigan debutant Chris Kirkland dived marvellously to his right to spectacularly turn the ball away for a corner.

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Before that it was Wigan who had adapted better to the sodden pitch, with another of their debutants, Emile Heskey, posing the biggest problems and going close on at least three occasions. Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given was called into meaningful action in the closing stages of the opening half as he parried away headers from Lee McCulloch and Henri Camara in quick succession. But in between, with the game becoming almost farcical as the downpour continued, Ameobi chipped the ball in for captain Parker to head home.

In contrast to a close season of relative inactivity in the northeast, with the exception of Damien Duff, a £5m snip from Chelsea, it has been frenetic in the northwest. Wigan arrived on Tyneside yesterday with six new players and showed glimpses of the cohesion that would be needed in the coming months. As the rain eventually receded it was the visitors who revelled in the better conditions after the turnaround.

They gave early warning when Arjan De Zeeuw was given a free header inside the penalty area, only for Nolberto Solano to stand guard at the left-hand post and head the ball off the line. But it was only a temporary reprieve as moments later, just after the hour mark, a wayward Stephen Carr headed clearance eventually found its way to McCulloch, who appeared to have all the time in the world as almost every Newcastle defender was reduced to the role of spectator and allowed him to curl a pinpoint ball into the far corner of the net. If anything, it was enough to ignite some belated atmosphere in what was an unusually subdued afternoon in front of nearly 52,000 people, who at last raised their voices to spur their favourites into a quick reaction.

And it came within five minutes as the impressive N’Zogbia unleashed a powerful long-range shot. Unfortunately, Kirkland who probably should have done better, succeeded in parrying the ball straight to Ameobi and gave him the simplest of tasks of stroking the ball home to regain the lead.

And that was about it as far as anything remotely resembling a spectacle was concerned.

There was a late siege from Wigan but Newcastle were content to play out the final moments by protecting what they had and the visitors had run out of ideas to make any further impact.

Roeder said: “We have got three points and anyone would be delighted with that at the start of the season.” He singled out Ameobi for praise in maintaining his remarkable goalscoring record. “I have told him I am buying a striker to play with him and not to replace him.”

Newcastle 2 Wigan 1

Star Man: Charles N’Zogbia (Newcastle)

Player Ratings: Newcastle: Given 7, Carr 5, Moore 5 (Taylor h-t, 6), Bramble 5, Babayaro 6, Solano 6, Emre 6, Parker 7, Butt 5 (N’Zogbia 16min, 8), Duff 6, Ameobi 6 (Luque 76min, 6)

Wigan: Kirkland 6, Hall 6, De Zeeuw 7, Scharner 6, Baines 6, Landzaat 5 (Kavanagh 50min, 5), Boyce 6, McCulloch 7, Valencia 6, Heskey 6, Camara 6

Scorers: Newcastle: Parker 38, Ameobi 64 Wigan: McCulloch 59

Referee: M Atkinson

Attendance: 51,569

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