It was quite a struggle to find good form in the league under Graeme Souness and things became very different under the Scot compared to the successful days and attacking football that was played under Sir Bobby Robson. Souness was eventually sacked in February 2006 which gave Glenn Roeder the cue to take over the reins. Roeder made an excellent short term impact but it failed to last after he was confirmed as permanent manager in summer 2006 and was sacked after a disappointing first full season in charge.

There was some good points though that came from this era of goals as Alan Shearer, after spending ten years at the club, broke the club's goalscoring record initially set by Jackie Milburn in 1957.

Date: 15th January 2005 to 11th August 2007 (938 days)

First goal

Newcastle 1 (Alan Shearer pen 9) Southampton 0 - 15/01/05

Newcastle got off to a good start to the calendar year of 2005 with going unbeaten in the first four matches in all competitions. One of those matches came in the home win against Southampton as Alan Shearer broke the deadlock early on from the penalty spot as he crept ever closer to becoming the club's record goalscorer. It was a good penalty by Shearer as he sent the goalkeeper the wrong way as he decided not to opt for his usual placement of the goalkeeper's right. Fittingly, this goal came at the Gallowgate end and it was Shearer's first goal following the opening of Shearer's bar at the Gallowgate end (Strawberry Place) in December 2004.

Most important goal

Newcastle 2 (Alan Shearer 64) Portsmouth 0 - 04/02/06

Goal 736: I do not think that I need any words for this goal other than Shearer breaking the club record, exactly what he would have dreamed of as a child. We love you, Alan! The ball was launched long and Shearer managed to glance the ball onwards to Shola Ameobi who held the ball up well before playing Shearer through on goal with a backheel. Shearer then got the better of former teammate, Andy O'Brien and slotted the ball past Dean Kiely the goalkeeper to spark incredible celebrations amongst Newcastle fans all over the world.

Best goal

Newcastle United 2 (Nolberto Solano 76) Everton 0 - 25/02/06

Goal 740: Solano single-handedly gave Newcastle the victory in the Saturday evening kick-off over Everton. For his second goal, an excellent passing move was bounded together by Charles N'Zogbia, Emre and the assist coming from Lee Bowyer. Solano then received the ball on the right hand side just inside the box and cut inside seemingly to take the shot on with his weaker left foot. Instead the fabulous Peruvian took the shot on with the outside of his right foot and the ball beautifully curled right into the corner as it was made very difficult for the goalkeeper.

Most goals in a match

Sunderland 1 Newcastle United 4 (Michael Chopra 60, Alan Shearer pen 61, Charles N'Zogbia 66, Albert Luque 87) - 27/04/06

In addition to the Tyne/Wear derby in April 2006, Newcastle did score four goals in match away at West Ham which also came in this era. Following the sacking of Graeme Souness ten weeks beforehand at the start of February, former Newcastle player, Glenn Roeder took over for the remainder of the season and took the club from relegation contention into European qualification with ten wins from the remaining fifteen games of the season which included remaining unbeaten for the final seven games which included the win against record breaking Sunderland for the lowest amount of points in a Premier League season.

Justin Hoyte gave Sunderland the lead in the first half. In the second half, future mackem, Michael Chopra scored straight after coming onto the pitch as a substitute. A minute later and club legend, Shearer scored his 206th and final Newcastle goal from the penalty spot. Highly promising youngster, Charles N'Zogbia made it three goals in the space of six minutes. Finally, as many fans know, Albert Luque wrapped it up.

Favourite opponents

Tottenham (Lee Bowyer, Shola Ameobi, Alan Shearer, Kieron Dyer, Obafemi Martins x2, Scott Parker, Paul Huntington, Nicky Butt) - 9 goals.

Games against Tottenham in this era certainly provided a good amount of entertainment. In April 2006, a comfortable 3-1 win at St. James' Park set Newcastle up for an excellent run of form and that win was made even more special when Jermaine Jenas, who left the club earlier that season, missed an open goal sitter in the second half.

Shortly before Christmas 2006, Tottenham arrived on Tyneside and found themselves 2-0 down after seven minutes thanks to early strikes from Kieron Dyer and Obafemi Martins. Scott Parker wrapped up the three points just after the half hour mark but there was a special moment in the game's closing stages as Pavel Srnicek came off the bench for his first game in a Newcastle shirt in his second spell after the legend left the club in 1998 after making 150 appearances.

Newcastle's next win in the league came in the reverse fixture at White Hart Lane just three weeks later. A rollercoaster of a game saw Newcastle go behind twice with goals from Jermain Defoe and Dimitar Berbatov. Youth academy product, Paul Huntington equalised and the second equaliser came from a thunderous striker from Obafemi Martins. Fittingly the winner was scored by Nicky Butt who played the full match despite feeling unwell.

Highest scorer

Shola Ameobi (Fulham, Sunderland x2, Aston Villa, Bolton x2, Liverpool, Tottenham , Middlesbrough, West Brom x2, Wigan, Everton) - 13 goals.

Alan Shearer's retirement meant that youth academy product, Shola Ameobi, who learnt so much under Shearer, was going to the player that the fans would turn to when it came to looking for goals. Obafemi Martins took over the legendary no.9 shirt and the then 22-year old Nigerian had big boots to fill upon arrival after he impressed at Inter Milan. Special mention though has to be given to Shola 'the mackem slayer' Ameobi who just seemed to thrive under the pressure that the derby days provided.

Statistics

Right foot: 56 (down 2 from Goals 601-700)

Left foot: 24 (up 1)

Header: 20 (up 1)

Inside the box: 82 (down 1)

Outside the box: 18 (up 1)

Open play: 66 (down 2)

Set piece situation: 17 (up 1)

Penalty: 11 (up 1)

Free kick (directly): 6 (unchanged)

At St. James' Park: 57 (down 3)

- Gallowgate End: 32 (down 1)

- Leazes End: 25 (down 2)

Away from home: 43 (up 3)

Strikers: 49 (down 4)

Midfielders: 42 (up 6)

Defenders: 7 (unchanged)

Own goals: 2 (down 2)