Shola's Gallowgate Glee

By Anthony Marshall - Newcastle United Managing Editor

Shola Ameobi labelled his Gallowgate goal as the "perfect script", as Newcastle United returned to winning ways with a 3-0 home triumph over Cardiff on Saturday.

The long-serving front man headed the Magpies in front on 18 minutes, with Loic Remy and Steven Taylor completing the scoring late on at St. James' Park to end a run of six successive defeats.

Academy product Ameobi, who made his United debut in September 2000 and has turned out 396 times for the Club, is out of contract this summer and admits he is unsure what the future holds.

But the Nigerian international striker was delighted to have signed off Newcastle's home games for the 2013/14 campaign with a goal and - more importantly - three points. 

"It was a great run and a great ball by Moussa," Ameobi told nufc.co.uk.

"I'm fortunate enough to have started my second game in a row at home, which hasn't happened too much in recent months, and I'm just delighted that I could contribute.

"At the end of that day, that's what I wanted to do and it's a great feeling because we haven't won in a while.

"I'm just delighted that I could help the team win, first and foremost, and to score a goal at the Gallowgate is the icing on the cake.

"I couldn't have scripted it better. When I was thinking about the game this morning, that was the perfect script in my mind.

"I never say never in this game because I don't know what is going to happen next season, but it has been a fantastic 14 years for me here and I've loved every minute.

"Yes, we've had our fair share of ups and downs over the years but on the main I've been overwhelmed by the support and everything that has come with playing for Newcastle United."

Saturday's victory went some way to securing United's place in the top ten of the Barclays Premier League.

But - that aside - Ameobi believes it was also crucial in proving to the 50,000-plus fans inside St. James' Park, that the squad will compete right until the final minute of the final game of the season.

"It is important we signed off from our games at St. James' Park with the fans knowing that we were still fighting for everything," he said.

"On the back of six straight defeats it was important that we rallied. We've been disappointing - and disappointed - as a group of players in the last few weeks.

"It was important to show our character, that we are still fighting for every point, that we are not on our holidays and still want to win games.

"Professional pride kicks in as you cross that white line because we want to win. Unfortunately we haven't done that in recent weeks but it was great to sign off at home with a convincing win like that."