YOAN GOUFFRAN’S first goal in 20 months was a stunning volley to earn a fourth win in a row for Newcastle United in the Championship.

In a tight game at the iPro Stadium where both teams struggled to create chances it was the Frenchman’s 20th minute volley which proved the difference before DeAndre Yedlin helped add a stoppage-time second.

Gouffran, 30, directed a first time strike from Jonjo Shelvey’s deep corner beyond Derby County keeper Scott Carson and Newcastle held onto the lead after that.

It is a victory, earned by a third successive clean sheet in the league too, which lifted them up to second in the table behind Huddersfield.

Derby, who have only scored once in their opening six matches, had a couple of chances but goalkeeper Matz Sels was on hand to prevent the equaliser. Referee Darren Bond also waved away a couple of half-decent penalty appeals in the first half for the home side.

Newcastle, who didn’t include new signings Daryl Murphy and Christian Atsu in the 18-man match-day squad, didn’t have many chances either so were indebted to Gouffran’s moment of brilliance to deliver the points.

But with the seconds ticking away Yedlin, on as a substitute for the first scorer, arrived in the box with his marker to turn in Ayoze Perez’s pass back across the face of goal. It is a goal which could still be deemed an own goal but Yedlin celebrated as if it was his first since arriving from Tottenham.

DERBY COUNTY (4-4-1-1): Carson; Christie, Keogh, Shackell (Bent 87), Olsson; Anya (Ince 78), Bryson, Hughes, Russell; Vydra; Wilson (Blackman 66). Subs (not used): Mitchell (gk), Johnson, Pearce, Butterfield.

NEWCASTLE UNITED (4-1-4-1): Sels; Anita, Mbemba, Lascelles, Dummett; Colback; Ritchie, Diame (Hayden 87), Shelvey, Gouffran (Yedlin 72); Gayle (Perez 76). Subs (not used): Darlow (gk), Clark, Mitrovic, Lazaar.