On 7th April earlier this year, Jonjo Shelvey opened the scoring against Leicester City, that goal brought up the milestone of 1,200 goals for Newcastle United in the Premier League. As we wait for the new season to commence following the conclusion of the World Cup, I will be writing an article for each century of Premier League goals we have scored and going through the goals which brought up the key moments in our time as a top flight club since 1993.

Something about our first century of Premier League goals is that the 100th goal was quite fittingly scored by club legend, Rob Lee. Interestingly, our highest scoring season in the Premier League was our debut season in 1993/94 with 82 goals and this century of goals is also the quickest of the twelve centuries regarding the amount of time it took to go from one century to the next.

Date: 18th August 1993 to 10th September 1994 (388 days)

First goal

Coventry City 0 Newcastle 1 (Peter Atherton own goal 22) - 18/08/93

The first of the 37 own goals that have come in our favour in the Premier League was also our debut goal in this era and our first goal in the top flight since 1989 following relegation that year with a three year wait to get back to the top division. Liam O'Brien stepped up to take a long range free kick and drove it powerfully into the box, it struck Coventry's Atherton which deceived the goalkeeper and that gave Newcastle their first goal and lead in the Premier League. With that own goal, Newcastle led 1-0 at half time however the second half went on to provide a different story as Coventry scored twice including a late winner to steal all three points to give Newcastle their second defeat in the first two games of the new season.

Most important goal

Newcastle 2 (Peter Beardsley pen 66) Arsenal 0 - 07/05/94

I think that our final goal of the 1993/94 season was the most important in our first century of Premier League goals because it secured the three points against an Arsenal side who were hot on our tails going into the final day of the season. A draw was needed for us to cement third place as our own but getting the win to finish six points clear of the Gunners in fourth was special as we achieved qualification to the 1994/95 UEFA Cup First Round alongside Blackburn Rovers who finished the season in second.

Best goal

Newcastle United 1 (Andy Cole 7) Chelsea 0 - 10/09/94

Goal 98: This goal from Andy Cole won the award for Goal of the Month. Full back, John Beresford pounced on a loose ball and played a bouncing through ball to Cole who beat the offside trap but still had a lot to do from there. After controlling the ball with a nod forward, Cole unleashed a powerful half volley with his weaker left foot into the top corner from just inside the box, giving no chance for the keeper despite his evident best efforts to save it.

Most goals in a match

Newcastle United 7 (Peter Beardsley pen 12, 70, Rob Lee 18, 67, Steve Watson 76, 79, Ruel Fox 84) Swindon 1 - 12/03/94

With the scoreline standing at 2-0 in Newcastle's favour at half time, struggling Swindon might have had a bit of belief that they could get back into the game however whatever hope they had will have surely disintegrated when Newcastle scored a further five goals in the space of 17 second half minutes. This match was Newcastle's third win in a winning streak that would last a total of six matches, the best form we managed to achieve throughout the 1993/94 season.

Favourite opponents

Coventry City (Peter Atherton own goal, Andy Cole x4, Alex Mathie, Rob Lee x2, Steve Watson), Swindon (Lee Clark, Malcolm Allen, Peter Beardsley x2, Rob Lee x2, Steve Watson x2, Ruel Fox) and West Ham (Andy Cole x3, Rob Lee x3, Alex Mathie x2, Steve Potts own goal) - 9 goals.

Over a quarter (27 to be precise) of our first century of goals came against Coventry, Swindon and West Ham. Scoring for fun against Swindon along with a perfect start from the first six games (including Coventry and West Ham) in the 1994/95 season were the main factors in scoring so many goals against these three teams. With Swindon failing to return to the big time since their relegation in 1994 and Coventry dropping off in 2001, West Ham are the only team of the three to go on to consistently be a Premier League side which has allowed us to score plenty more goals against the Hammers. As of July 2018, we have scored 66 Premier League against West Ham (38 at home, 28 away).

Highest scorer

Andy Cole (Man United x2, Blackburn, Ipswich x2, Sheff Wed x3, West Ham x3, Aston Villa x2, Southampton x4, Wimbledon, Oldham x2, Liverpool x4, Sheff United, Everton, Leeds x2, Man City x2, Norwich x2, Coventry x4, Arsenal, Leicester and Chelsea) - 39 goals.

A massive 39 out of our first 100 Premier League goals were all scored by Andy Cole who was simply magical and both of his Premier League hat-tricks in a Newcastle shirt came in this era as well against Liverpool and Coventry. The powers that Cole possessed in leading the line and the goal scoring charts gave him the status of a true Newcastle no.9 similar to Malcolm "Super Mac" Macdonald, Jackie Milburn and, later than Cole's time at Newcastle, Les Ferdinand and Alan Shearer.

Statistics

Right foot: 73

Left foot: 22

Header: 5

Inside the box: 90

Outside the box: 10

Open play: 83

Penalty: 9

Set piece situation: 7

Free kick (directly): 1

At St. James' Park: 63

- Leazes End: 35

- Gallowgate End: 28

Away from home: 37

Strikers: 70

Midfielders: 22

Defenders: 6

Own goals: 2