Newcastle United 4 - Coventry City 1 (From The Northern Echo)

Four-goal Magpies show they are simply the best

9:20am Thursday 18th February 2010 in Newcastle United News By Paul Fraser, Chief Football Writer

Newcastle United 4 - Coventry City 1

WITH Chris Eubank the guest of honour at St James’ Park last night, Newcastle United bounced back from the canvas in Simply The Best style to preserve an 18-match unbeaten run that has the makings of Championship champions.

For all the Magpies might be unable to recapture that winning feeling away from home in 2010, a return to the top of the table always looked likely once Wayne Routledge had taken less than two minutes to cancel out Clinton Morrison’s first half opener.

Newcastle were indifferent in the opening period, but after Routledge had volleyed in his first goal for the club since his January move from QPR, three points was always on the cards.

And after Eubank had taken a stroll on the Tyneside turf at half-time, Newcastle emerged from their corner intent on finishing off the job – which they did emphatically.

Eight minutes later Andy Carroll’s bullet header edged Newcastle ahead and then, after Routledge earned a penalty from the red-carded Leon Barnett, Peter Lovenkrands increased the lead from the penalty spot.

With goal heroes Routledge and Lovenkrands handed a rest, Newcastle cemented a three-point advantage at the top of the Championship with an injury-time fourth from substitute Ryan Taylor.

With Preston the next to arrive at fortress St James’ on Saturday, Newcastle must be confident of extending their five-point lead over third place, particularly with Nottingham Forest due to face play-off hopefuls Middlesbrough on the same day.

Much was made in the prematch build up about the merits of keeping faith with top scorer Kevin Nolan, whose poor form failed to improve at Swansea on Saturday.

But Hughton stuck to his word and retained his services, albeit at the expense of another of Newcastle’s earlyseason star performers: Alan Smith.

There were question marks raised quickly about the move when Coventry could have gone two up inside five minutes.

Firstly goalkeeper Steve Harper could only gather a stinging drive from Sammy Clingan at the second attempts, and then Nolan was in the right place to head a Morrison strike off the line.

The save of the night, however, was at the other end.

Coventry’s outstanding shotstopper Kieren Westwood dived to his right to tip a closerange header from Lovenkrands away for a corner, after neat play from Jonas Gutierrez down the left.

While the return to fitness of Gutierrez helped bring the vibrancy back to much of Newcastle’s play, there were still occasional danger signs for Harper, with Morrison and Freddy Eastwood lively in the home half.

The purpose of Gutierrez was what lit up the opening period and it was his through ball that sent Lovenkrands clear on the half hour, only for Wright’s trip to earn a yellow card and a free-kick but Danny Guthrie’s dead ball posed no threat.

Newcastle might have looked the more dangerous, but they were a danger to themselves shortly after.

Coventry were allowed to break down Danny Simpson’s left flank with ease and that ended with Morrison hooking Carl Baker’s low delivery inside Harper’s far post from eight yards.

While the opener stunned the St James’ Park crowd, Newcastle quickly regrouped and forced a corner.

Guthrie played it short.

Lovenkrands’ delivery was headed clear and Routledge struck the sweetest of 22 yard volleys into Westwood’s bottom right corner.

Gutierrez probed, Guthrie passed sideways and Lovenkrands was lively. None of them, however, could put Newcastle in front before Eubank walked on to the pitch at half-time.

And in true Eubank fashion, Newcastle emerged from their corner with increased determination. Guthrie’s clever pass found Nolan, who centred first time for Carroll to move ahead of Richard Wood and head his team in front.

There was no way back for Coventry. Carroll was denied a second thanks to Wood’s last-gasp intervention, before Newcastle increased their tally. Routledge burst into the area and Barnett charged over to send the winger to the floor.

Out came a second yellow card and a red for the centreback before Lovenkrands converted the spot-kick into Westwood’s top right.

It was a surprise that Newcastle took as long as they did to further boost their goals for column .

But a break broke down the right in injury-time found its way to substitute Taylor to slot number four beyond the unfortunate Westwood. Newcastle, particularly at home, march on.

Match facts

Goals: Morrison (35mins, 0-1);

Routledge (37, 1-1);

Carroll (53, 2- 1),

Lovenkrands pen (70, 3-1),

Taylor (90, 4-1)

Bookings: Deegan (22, foul),

Wright (29, foul), Barnett (49, foul), Gunarrsson (77, foul)

Sending-off: Barnett (69, second bookable offence)

Referee: Steve Tanner (Bristol) 7

Attendance: 39,334

Entertainment: ✰✰✰

NEWCASTLE UNITED (4-4-2):

Harper 5; Simpson 5, Williamson 7, Coloccini 7, Van Aanholt 6; ROUTLEDGE 8 (Taylor 82), Guthrie 7, Nolan 6, Gutierrez 7 (Pancrate 82); Carroll 7, Lovenkrands 6 (Best 73). Subs: Hall, Smith, Krul (gk), Ranger.

COVENTRY CITY (4-4-2):

Westwood 7; Wright 4, Barnett 4, Wood 7, Cranie 5; BAKER 7, Clinigan 4 (Gunnarsson 67, 5), Deegan 5, McIndoe 5; Eastwood 5 (Stead 56, 5), Morrison 6 (Sears 61, 5). Subs: Turner, Konstantopoulos (gk), Hussey, Grandison.

MAN OF THE MATCH

WAYNE Routledge – after a slow start the winger turned the game on its head with an impressive display.