Two goals from Marlon King gave the Tigers a magnificent 2-1 victory and added to Newcastle United's woes at St James' Park on Saturday afternoon.

The match took place amid hostile protests against Toon owner Mike Ashley and director of football Dennis Wise following the resignation of manager Kevin Keegan.

There was precious little for the Geordies to cheer on the pitch as King converted a first half penalty before scoring soon after the break to give City a 2-0 lead.

Xisco, whose recent arrival reportedly hastened Keegan's departure, pulled one back with nine minutes to go but Phil Brown's side held on for a famous victory.

Brown - born ten miles away in South Shields - made five changes to the side that lost 5-0 to Wigan Athletic a fortnight ago.

Paul McShane was handed a debut at right back in place of Sam Ricketts while Anthony Gardner returned from injury to replace Wayne Brown at centre back.

Bernard Mendy came in on the right side of midfield with Richard Garcia making way.

Peter Halmosi was handed his first Premier League start as Geovanni dropped to the bench. Up front, King came in for Caleb Folan,

The Tigers operated a 4-4-2 system with Craig Fagan playing alongside King in attack and Halmosi playing on the left of midfield.

New loan signing Kamil Zayatte started on the bench, but George Boateng once again missed out.

Newcastle were captained by Michael Owen while Geremi returned from injury.

Despite the talk of Newcastle fans boycotting the game, there weren't too many empty seats around the ground, although there was a rousing chant of 'There's only one Kevin Keegan' shortly after kick off.

There wasn't a seat to be had in the away section of the stadium with the City fans packed into a section high behind the goal at one end.

Wearing their away shirts combined with Newcastle's alternative white shorts and socks, City started promisingly with King causing early problems for the Newcastle back line.

Poor defending then gave Halmosi half a chance, but his shot was blocked.

Newcastle won the first corner of the game in the 13th minute.

Charles N'Zogbia took it and found the head of Xisco, but he headed over from 12 yards.

At the other end. Fagan set up King, but his low shot was easily saved by Shay Given at his near post.

United missed a great opportunity on 18 minutes when Geremi went past Andy Dawson as though he wasn't there.

His pull-back found Danny Guthrie, but he somehow fired wide from a good position in the box.

Halmosi's foul on David Edgar gave Newcastle a free kick in a dangerous area in the 28th minute, but Geremi's delivery into the box was dreadful and far too long for any of his team-mates.

From Geremi's next set-piece delivery into the box, Owen managed to get in a free header, only to be denied by a magnificent save from Boaz Myhill low to his right.

City were awarded a penalty on 34 minutes when Halmosi was brought down by Nicky Butt.

King stepped up to take it and although Given got a hand to the ball, it went in off the upright to send City's fans mad.

Newcastle's fans were going pretty mad too, but for different reasons as referee Andre Marriner awarded City a free kick 30 yards out.

But King, Dawson and Dean Marney managed to make a complete hash of it.

At the other end, Geremi dragged a shot wide before setting up Shola Ameobi, who headed wide at the far post.

Half Time: Tigers 1-0 Newcastle

With most eyes focussed on a protest banner making its way around the ground, City started the second half well with Michael Turner volleying over after he had stayed forward following a corner.

City doubled their lead ten minutes into the second half with a marvellous counter attack.

Ian Ashbee headed a Newcastle corner clear to Halmosi who passed inside to Dean Marney.

He spotted King in acres of space to his right and sent the forward scampering away.

The City striker made his way into the box before cutting back inside the recovering Charles N'Zogbia before curling a shot into the far corner of the net.

Newcastle almost found a way back into the game moments later when Guthrie's inswinging cross was tipped onto the bar by Myhill.

The ball then rebounded onto the City keeper and away to safety.

United then made their first change, replacing Ameobi with Ignacio Gonzalez.

The change was met with approval by the home fans who cheered loudly when Ameobi's number was displayed.

City were playing the better football and Fagan was unlucky to see his diving header from Dawson's cross go just wide in the 66th minute.

The Tigers thought they had made it 3-0 with 20 minutes to go when Turner headed home from a corner, but the referee saw an infringement and ruled the effort out.

City made their first change on 74 minutes when Folan replaced Mendy, who had undoubtedly been a success in his right-wing role.

The change meant a move on to the right for Fagan with Folan going up front alongside King.

That was soon followed by the introduction of Bryan Hughes in place of Marney, who hobbled off after picking up a knock.

Newcastle pulled a goal back with nine minutes remaining.

N'Zogbia's shot came back off a post, but the rebound fell kindly for Xisco who couldn't miss from close range.

Suddenly the game had changed and Turner's challenge on Owen led to a corner which was headed out for another set-piece, which was headed wide by Coloccini.

City's final change brought a first appearance for Zayatte, who replaced King. Zayatte was handed a role just in front of the back four with Folan left alone up front.

United were pushing forward and when Geremi found space on the right, his cross was headed just over by Xisco.

Five minutes of added time were signalled, to the delight of the home fans, less so for the away fans.

Halmosi picked up a yellow card two minutes into added time as he deliberately brought an end to a Newcastle counter attack.

The next card that came out was a red one as Guthrie was sent off for a ridiculous foul on Fagan.

That was the last real action as City held out for a magnificent victory.

Tigers (4-4-2) Boaz Myhill; Paul McShane, Michael Turner, Anthony Gardner, Andy Dawson; Bernard Mendy (Folan 74), Dean Marney (Hughes 78), Ian Ashbee [captain], Peter Halmosi; Craig Fagan, Marlon King (Zayatte 84).

Subs: Matt Duke, Kamil Zayatte, Sam Ricketts, Bryan Hughes, Geovanni, Caleb Folan, Dean Windass.

Bookings: Folan 82, Halmosi 90.

Newcastle United (4-3-1-2) Shay Given; David Edgar (Bassong 68), Fabricio Coloccini, Steven Taylor, Charles N'Zogbia; Geremi, Nicky Butt, Danny Guthrie; Michael Owen [captain], Shola Ameobi (Gonzalez 62), Xisco.

Subs: Steve Harper, Cacapa, Sebastien Bassong, Ignacio Gonzalez, Frank Danquah, Mark Doninger, Ryan Donaldson.

Bookings: Nil

Sent-Off: Guthrie 90 (violent conduct)

On the day the Tigers moved up to fourth in the Premier League, this was only the fourth time that a City league game had been witnessed by a crowd of more than 50,000.