LONDON, Dec 29: Alan Shearer scored his 105th league goal for Newcastle United to secure a 2-1 home win over Tottenham Hotspur in a pulsating premier league match at St James’ Park on Sunday.

Midfielder Gary Speed put Newcastle in front after a quarter of an hour with a low shot inside the near post from Goran Bunjevcevic’s header out of defence.

Former England captain Shearer, who took his league career tally to 240, made it two just short of the hour when he headed home Craig Bellamy’s cross from the left.

Spurs, who dominated most of the first half and narrowly missed a number of chances, pulled one back when Newcastle’s Greek defender Nikos Dabizas headed a low cross from the right by substitute Teddy Sheringham into his own goal.

Newcastle, who began the day equal on points with Spurs in sixth place, climbed to fourth on 35 points.

Champions Arsenal (42 points) were at home to Liverpool later looking to open a seven-point lead at the top over second-placed Chelsea and Manchester United.

On Saturday, Leeds United teenager James Milner scored again as Chelsea’s hopes of closing to within a point of Arsenal were dashed in a 2-0 defeat.

Goals for Leeds by defender Jonathan Woodgate and 16-year-old midfielder Milner, who became the premier league’s youngest scorer with a goal against Sunderland on Thursday, inflicted Chelsea’s first defeat in 12 league games.

Chelsea remain second on 38 points but level on points now with third-placed Manchester United, who outclassed Birmingham City 2-0 at Old Trafford.

Diego Forlan scored the first eight minutes before the break and David Beckham chipped a sublime second in the 73rd minute for United, who had lost their previous two matches.

In Saturday’s other games, bottom club West Ham United battled to a 2-2 draw at Blackburn Rovers and there were narrow wins for Southampton, Charlton Athletic, Aston Villa and Manchester City.

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