Graphic: Bill Edgar's tactical analysis

The T-shirts sported by Newcastle United’s players before kick-off were emblazoned with a supportive message for a local bank that has famously undergone difficulties recently - and Sam Allardyce hopes that it will also prove a prophecy for his team. “Rock Steady” was a fair summation of yesterday’s 3-1 victory at St James’ Park. Interest rates may not have soared, but instability is gradually being banished.

Without touching spectacular heights, Newcastle were efficient and solid against a West Ham United side undermined by their fragility. Inspired by the predatory prowess of Mark Viduka, Charles N’Zogbia’s cunning and the midfield obduracy that is Nicky Butt’s speciality, Allardyce’s team were worthy of their reward.

Injuries remain their greatest concern, however. Caçapa and Michael Owen departed prematurely with worrying groin injuries and the latter can now surely be hailed as Newcastle’s very own Northern Crock. Both players will undergo scans today and neither will be involved in tomorrow’s Carling Cup tie away to Arsenal.

When Owen limps off, a nation catches its breath – there are European Championship qualifying fixtures against Estonia and Russia next month – but Allardyce will be guided by Newcastle’s requirements, not England’s. Whether the striker concurs with that prognosis is questionable, but on the basis of his general anonymity, remedial action is required.

After his early substitution away to Derby County last Monday, Owen left the pitch in the 51st minute yesterday, accompanied by the occasional grimace. “It’s still a groin problem and one we’ll have to look into a little deeper,” Allardyce said. “It’s become a persistent area causing him problems, so we’ll scan it again, get the specialist’s position and see where we go from there.

“I’m worried in the sense that he had to come off today because he felt it, whereas it was me who took him off at Derby as a precaution. For me, England doesn’t come into it. What pleased me is that we haven’t suffered because of it in the team’s performance. The replacement of Michael and Mark [Viduka] didn’t take a lot away from us. That was nice to see.”

Not everything was. While Newcastle are still grasping for the best shape and tactics to fit their personnel - fielding Alan Smith on the right of midfield and James Milner on the left gives the side a narrow outlook – the pedigree of their forwards offers compensation. The likes of Viduka, Owen and Obafemi Martins can profit from the most meagre of opportunities.

On this occasion, with Owen subdued again, it was Viduka, a free transfer from Middlesbrough this summer, who seized the spotlight. Twice in the first half the Australia forward intercepted crosses by the perceptive N’Zogbia to score, initially with a forceful diving header and then as he stumbled to his knees six yards out.

Viduka’s opening goal arrived in the second minute, but while their enterprise grew, Newcastle were punished for their early lack of drive and could have been again. West Ham’s rugged attacking duo of Dean Ashton and Carlton Cole caused some disquiet to the home defence, which failed to clear the danger three times in the scrappy preamble to the equaliser. Cole was twice permitted to get his head on to Lucas Neill’s long throw in the 32nd minute before Ashton speared his volley beyond Steve Harper. “We faded midway through the first half and became a bit scared,” Allardyce said. “We became reactive rather than proactive.”

Failings were shared freely. Before this fixture, West Ham could boast the most niggardly defensive away record this season, but that achievement was surrendered. “You can’t defend like that,” Alan Curbishley, the West Ham manager, said. “We feel a bit down because I actually thought we were the better side. We could and should have got something from the game and if we’d applied ourselves better we probably would have.”

Greater pleasure was taken from Ashton’s continuing rehabilitation. After his long absence with a broken ankle, the 23-year-old has now scored in consecutive matches and a return to the England fold may beckon, although Curbishley was less than enthusiastic about the prospect. Ashton sustained his injury while training with the national side.

“Because he’s had the whole preseason to get fit, Dean has given himself a base and we’re pleased for him,” Curbishley said. “We’ve had to handle him in a very similar way to Michael Owen, but the difference is that he’s not had a setback. But I think Dean needs more football, as much as he can get. He’s getting stronger and stronger, but if Steve McClaren calls, I’d just remind him that Dean’s been out for a year.”

As their deficit endured, West Ham resorted to dreary long balls. They had no one with N’Zogbia’s penetration or guile. The Frenchman is a moody character, but he excelled yesterday and Owen’s departure brought greater balance to his team. In the 76th minute, N’Zogbia exchanged passes with Martins, Owen’s replacement, before bundling his shot across the line. The win took Newcastle to fifth in the Barclays Premier League. Sponsored by Northern Rock, their stadium has become a hard place.

Newcastle 3 Viduka 2, 41, N’Zogbia 76
West Ham 1 Ashton 32

How they rated

Newcastle 4-4-2

S Harper 7 H Beye 7 D Rozehnal 5 Caçapa 6 C N’Zogbia 8 A Smith 6 N Butt 7 Gérémi Y 5 J Milner 6 M Viduka 7 M Owen 4 Substitutes O Martins (for Owen, 51min 5), J Enrique (for Viduka, 73), S Taylor (for Caçapa, 78) Not used S Given, A Faye Next: Manchester City (a)

West Ham 4-4-2

R Green 5 L Neill 5 A Ferdinand 5 M Upson 5 G McCartney 6 L Bowyer Y 5 M Noble 7 H Mullins Y 4 M Etherington 5 C Cole Y 4 D Ashton 8 Substitutes F Ljungberg (for Mullins, 62 4), H Camara (for Cole, 68 5), J Spector (for Etherington, 80) Not used J Collins, R Wright Next: Arsenal (h)

Referee M Riley
Attendance 50,104