Michael Owen made it two goals in two games to give Newcastle all three points in a tense contest against Manchester City at St James' Park.
Owen pounced on a well-weighted pass from Lee Bowyer to poke the ball past keeper David James for his first goal in front of his new home fans.
Owen had two more chances before half-time but was thwarted, while Newcastle were lucky not to concede.
Antoine Sibierski had City's best chance, a header saved by Shay Given.
As satisfying as the victory must have been for Graeme Souness' men, the Magpies' defensive frailties were yet again exposed on several occasions.
They were fortunate not to go behind in the seventh minute when Antoine Sibierski got in front of centre-back Jean-Alain Boumsong, but saw his point-blank header brilliantly saved by the left-foot of Given.
At the other end, the City defence had quelled the attacking presence of Shearer and Owen, until the 18th minute.
Shearer won a header 25 yards out which fell to the feet of Bowyer, who in turn fed Owen.
The 25-year-old out-paced Sylvain Distin to poke the ball past James.
City looked busy in midfield with Sibierski and the tigerish Joey Barton, in particular, impressing.
But for all their hard work, striker Darius Vassell was not once provided with a defence-splitting pass.
Owen should have twice made the opposition pay for their lack of penetration just before half-time.
He first struck the feet of James after being put clean through by Shearer, and then volleyed over from six yards out.
The game was a far more open affair in the second-half, with City leaving spaces at the back in their search for an equaliser.
But the home side were beginning to show their nerves and should have been punished 10 minutes after the break.
Barton swung in a corner but team-mate Richard Dunne powered his header over Given's crossbar.
It was all hands to the pump for the Magpies and Dunne again failed to make the most of his header following free-kick from the right with just 10 minutes remaining.
The ball almost remained camped in the Newcastle half for the closing moments, but the Magpies held on to climb up the Premiership table for the second successive week.
Newcastle manager Graeme Souness
"We were excellent in the first-half and we knew their would be some reaction in the second half from City.
"Michael Owen scored and then had a great chance at the end of the first half, but we got nervy at the end.
"Next week we should have Kieron Dyer, and hopefully, Nobby Solano back."
Manchester City boss Stuart Pearce
"You learn more from your defeats than victories.
"This week, the 45 minutes before half-time, we weren't at the races, and it cost us a goal.
"There are a lot of marginal games that hinge on a touch of good fortune and scrapping. Newcastle probably scrapped better than us."
Newcastle: Given, Carr, Boumsong, Bramble, Babayaro, Bowyer (Faye 70), Clark, Parker, N'Zogbia, Shearer (Ameobi 76), Owen.
Subs Not Used: Elliott, Harper, Moore.
Goals: Owen 18.
Man City: James, Onuoha, Distin, Dunne, Thatcher, Jihai, Barton, Reyna, Musampa (Ireland 60), Sibierski (Croft 76), Vassell.
Subs Not Used: Sommeil, De Vlieger, Jordan.
Booked: Dunne, Barton.
Ref: G Poll (Hertfordshire).