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Blackstock knocks Toon off Top
Nottingham Forest 1-0 Newcastle United
Coca-Cola Championship - Game 12 of 46
Newcastle slid off top spot in the championship without much of a fight as they went down to Nittingham Forest while West Brom defeated Reading.
Blackstock struck just before half time and it was fully deserved after a dominant display by the home side throughout the first half. Newcastle keeper Steve Harper was being kept busy, just three minutes in when he had to deny Dexter Blackstock.
Radoslaw Majewski had a curling effort which Harper then denied and then Blackstock headed a corner against the post. Newcastle then almost went ahead when Ryan Taylor crossedfor Marlon Harewood who sidefooted wide from close range.
Paul ANderson then was denied by Steve Harper and Nathan Tyson and Dexter Blackstock went close with chances as Forest did everything but score, that was until Blackstock beat the offside trap and floated a ball over Steve Harper.
Newcastle tried to scrape a goal back in the second half but their efforts were weak and Forest held on easily.
Team: Harper, R.Taylor, Simpson, Khizanishvili, Jose Enrique, Guthrie, Nolan, Smith, Lovenkrands (Gutierrez 62), Carroll, Harewood (Ranger 83).
Subs n/u: Krul, Geremi, Butt, Kadar, Donaldson.
Forest: Camp, Gunter, Morgan, Wilson, Cohen, Anderson (McGugan 80), McKenna (Garner 86), Majewski (McGoldrick 61), Moussi, Tyson, Blackstock.
Subs n/u: Smith, Chambers, Adebola, McCleary.
Hughton anger as Toon draw
Newcastle United 0-0 Bristol City
Coca-Cola Championship - Game 11 of 46
Bristol City goalkeeper Dean Gerkin had a wonderful afternoon as he made a string of fine saves to deny Newcastle United but it was a penalty appeal that left Chris Hughton seething.
Gerkin was only in the side due to an injury to first choice keeper Adriano Basso during the warm up but he made fine saves from Danny Guthrie and Kevin Nolan. However, Chris Hughton was left angered when Newcastle were denied what he claims was a certain penalty after Marlon Harewood was brought down in the area.
Harewood had earlier in the game hit the post while Steven Taylor and Kevin Nolan had both hit the crossbar in what would prove a frustrating afternoon for Newcastle.
Jonas Gutierrez and Peter Lovenkrands had great chances in the second half, Lovenkrands unlucky that he shot only just sailed wide.
NUFC: Harper, R.Taylor, Simpson, Smith, S.Taylor, Khizanishvili, Guthrie (Ranger 85), Nolan, Harewood, Lovenkrands, Gutierrez (Carroll 66).
Subs n/u: Krul, Kadar, Butt, Donaldson, Geremi.
BCFC: Gerken, Orr, Carey, Nyatanga, McAllister (McCombe, 46), Sno, Johnson (Williams, 73), Elliott, Skuse, Maynard, Saborio (Haynes, 60).
Subs n/u: Clarkson, Hartley, Sproule.
Keegan wins, Cockney Mafia exposed
Mike Ashley's poor management of Newcastle was finally revealed for all to see after Kevin Keegan won his casefor constructive dismissal after it was revealed that Newcastle did sign Ignacio Gonzalez behind Keegan's back.
Keegan resigned as Newcastle manager just over a year ago in a furious row after being forcedto sign Gonzalez on loan from Valencia by Dennis Wise. Wise had done the deal in order to keep sweet two South American football agents.
Newcastle's claim that Keegan was aware of the transfer policy was rejected as a Premier League panal ruled that Newcastle had breached Kevin Keegan's contract and that he would be entitled to a settlement of £2million
The panel's 23-page report did not make for edifying reading as it outlined the whole sorry affair, revealing that earlier public statements from the regime at St James' Park that Keegan would indeed have the final say were dismissed by witnesses at the hearing as "an exercise in public relations".
The panel, which comprised Philip Havers QC, Lord Pannick QC and Kenneth Merrett, said: "We declare that Kevin Keegan was constructively dismissed by Newcastle United Football Club Ltd, for which Newcastle United Football Club Ltd must pay to Kevin Keegan damages in the sum of £2million plus interest to be assessed if not agreed."
QPR hold firm
Newcastle United 1-1 Queens Park Rangers
Coca-Cola Championship - Game 10 of 46
Substitute Marlon Harewood scored his first Newcastle goal as Newcastle drew 1-1 with QPR to go three points clear at the top of the Championship. The on loan striker prodded home Andy Carroll's header on 70 minutes to cancel out an early strike from Ben Watson.
QPR however, could consider themselves unlucky not to have all three points as Ben Watson and Wayne Routledge continued to cause problems for Newcastle's defence.
Ben Watson gave QPR the lead on 7 minutes following an error by Jose Enrique which allowed him to score,via a deflection from Steven Taylor.
Newcastle could have been level 12 minutes later when Damion Stewart was deemed to have handled the ball in the area and Danny Guthrie stepped up from the spot but Radek Cerny guessed right and kept the kick out.
Guthrie missed another chance before half time after being put through by Danny Simpson and prehaps it would have been easier to square to Andy Carroll. Carroll then also had a header cleared off the line while Kevin nolan also went close.
Jonas Gutierrez made a halftime entrance on his return to injury but Newcastle were lucky not to immediately go 2-0 down when Stewart headed a Vine cross just wide.
Newcastle dug in though and applied pressue and finally the goal came when Carroll knocked by Simpsons cross in to the path of Marlon Harewood and he poked home.
NUFC: Harper, Simpson, Enrique, Butt (Gutierrez 46), Khizanishvili, S.Taylor, Nolan, Smith, Carroll, Ranger (Harewood 61), Guthrie (Lovenkrands 88).
Subs n/u: Krul, Kadar, Geremi, Donaldson
QPR: Cerny, Borrowdale, Stewart, Gorkss, Leigertwood, Routledge, Watson, Buzsaky, Rowlands, Vine (Faurlin 87), Simpson (Taarabt 72).
Subs n/u: Ramage, Ephraim, Heaton, Agyemang, Pellicori.
Town smashed by rampant Toon
Ipswich Town 0-4 Newcastle United
Coca-Cola Championship - Game 9
It was a day where twosides came together to pay tribute to a great man. Before the game honours were paid to the late Sir Bobby Robson, of course a former manager of both Ipswich Town and Newcastle United. On the field, however, it was a different story and Newcastle outplayed and outclassed their struggling opponent.
The game was effectively over in the first half when Newcastle hit three times in a four minute spell leaving Roy Keane's side with their worst ever start to a league season having not won in nine games.
Having fielded the kids against Peterborough in the League Cup and lost Newcastle welcomed back their first team stars with Coloccini and Enrique returning to defence while there was also a start for loan signing Zurab Khizanishvilli, but Marlon Harewood had to sit out on the bench with Nile Ranger partnering Andy Carroll upfront.
It was Ranger who had the first chance of the game, picking up a pass from Kevin Nolan he turned inside of Alex Bruce and then dummied Liam Rosenior but Richard Wright pulled off a superb save from his low shot.
Newcastle were playing all the football and on the 30th minute got their reward when Ryan Taylor swung in a free kick and Kevin Nolan rose highest to power a header into the roof of the net.
The fans were still celebrating when just a minute later Newcastle scored again as Andy Carroll played a ball over the top of the Ipswich defence and Kevin Nolan dummied Pim Balkestein and slippedthe ball past Richard Wright for his second.
Two minutes later it was 3-0 as Nile Ranger was fouled on the edge of the area and Ryan Taylor hit a superb 25 yard free kick which curled in to the top corner.
At half time parade saw Robson's old Ipswich players take to the field with the FA Cup and UEFA Fairs Cup as a reminder of what Bobby did for the club, while his widow Elsie christened a stand at Portman Road the Sir Bobby Robson stand.
After the restart Newcastle wasted little time as Ryan Taylor's cross found Nile Ranger and his header looked like finding the net but Kevin Nolan arrivedto make sure it did and to complete his hat trick.
It could have been worse for Ipswich had Richard Wright not made a good saveto deny debutant Marlon Harewood while Town still had not manage to test Steve Harper in the Newcastle goal.
Team: Harper, Steven Taylor, Khizanishvili, Coloccini (Lovenkrands 68), Jose Enrique, Smith, Nolan, Butt, Ryan Taylor (Donaldson 78), Carroll, Ranger (Harewood 65).
Subs n/u: Krul, Ngo Baheng, Tozer, Vuckic.
Ipswich: Richard Wright, Rosenior, Bruce (Smith 39), Balkestein, Delaney (Peters 60), Walters, Trotter, Colback, Leadbitter, Edwards, Priskin (Counago 61).
Subs n/u: Lee-Barrett, Martin, Stead, Quinn.
Newcastle wait on Keegan decision
Newcastle will have to wait for the outcome of the result between Kevin Keegan and Mike Ashley until the week after next as the former Newcastle boss hopes to win his compensation battle.
In a statement from the League Managers Association, who have been representing Keegan, chief executive Richard Bevan said: "Having heard the evidence from both sides, the panel has reserved judgement, and there will be no further comment on the process until they have published their findings."
Keegan claims that he was being forced out of his job after only eight months in charge and has been appealing a case for constructive dismissal but Newcastle counter claim that Keegan walked out of the club knowing the current setup which broke his own contract.
A victory for Keegan, however, could have damaging consequences for Newcastle with Mike Ashley having said that in order to pay off Keegan he might have to put the club in to administration, also meaning a 10 point deduction which could seriously damaged the clubs promotion hopes.
Harewood makes Toon swap
Aston Villa striker Marlon Harewood hasjoined Newcastle UNited in a three month loan deal as a replacement for Shola Ameobi who could miss the next couple ofmonths injured.
The 30 year old put pen to paper on Friday and will wear the number 10 shirt worn last season by Michael Owen.
Kids crash to Posh
Peterborough United 2-0 Newcastle United
Carling Cup 3rd Round
Newcastle UNited were sent flying out of the Carling Cup on Tuesday night after losing 2-0 to Peterborough United with first half goals from Craig Mackail Smith and Tom Williams.
Newcastle's team looked a lot different from that which beat Plymouth at the weekend with no fewer than six teenagers included in the starting line up with James Tavernier, Haris Vuckic, Kazenga LuaLua and Ben Tozer all handed a first start.
For Newcastle, using the kids was a disaster and Posh went at it from the off with Aaron McClean hitting the crossbar on ten minutes and ten minutes later Mackail-Smith headed home from point blank range when Boyds corner rebounded off McClean.
Tim Krul was kept very busy in the first half and continually having to make saves but he couldn't stop Williams after he dispossesed Ben Tozer
Misery was completed in the second half when Danny Guthrie was sent off for a second yellow card.
Tyne-Tees derby moved
Newcastle's match with Middlesbrough on December 19th has beenmoved to Sunday 20th for live television coverage from the BBC.
Toon see off Plymouth
Newcastle 3-1 Plymouth Argyle
Coca-Cola Championship - Game 8
Andy Carroll's second goal in a week has fired Newcastle back on to winning ways with a home win over Plymouth. Carroll scored six minutes from the end with Kevin Nolan having put Newcastle in front on the hour.
Plymouth fans made the 818 mile round trip to St.James Park for the 10 year aniversary of Sir Bobby Robson's first home game, this an 8-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday but Plymouth madeit a lot harder.
Newcastle didn't waste any time in scoring, however, as with just six minutes gone Steven Taylor rose to meet a Geremi corner. It could have been more for Newcastle as well with Peter Lovenkrands being denied by goalkeeper Ronin Larreau.
Plymouth struck back in the second half when on 50 minutes Sheriden was allowed to cross for Duguid to fire home. With the game starting to slip away from Newcastle,Hughton brought on Nile Ranger and Joey BArton and ten minutes later it was 2-1.
Danny Guthrie latched on to a Andy Carroll flick on and crossed the ball for Kevin Nolan to score. With six minutes remaining Andy Carroll completed the scoring.
NUFC: Harper, Simpson (Ryan Taylor 30), Enrique, Smith, Steven Taylor, Coloccini, Barton (Guthrie 59), Geremi, Carroll, Nolan, Lovenkrands (Ranger 59).
Subs n/u: Krul, Khizanishvili, Butt, LuaLua.
Booked: Carroll
Goals: Steven Taylor 6, Nolan 61, Carroll 84
PAFC: Larrieu, Sawyer, Lowry, Gray, Duguid, Fletcher, Clark (Fallon 81), Mackie, Arnason, Sheridan, Gow (Judge 76).
Subs n/u: Letheren, Timar, McNamee, Paterson, Wright -Phillips.
£100mil bid confirmed
Newcastle United have confirmed that a bid £100million for the club has been tabled, matching the asking price set by owner Mike Ashley.
The club released the statement on Saturday stating that they are now in a 'sale and purchase stage' but the potential buyer has not been named although it is strongly rumoured to be Barry Moat.
Toon stumble for first time
Blackpool 2-1 Newcastle
Coca-Cola Championship - Game 7
Newcastle's unbeaten start to the Championship season came to an end on Wednesday night after they crashed at the hands of Blackpool at Bloomfield Road.
It cannot be said that Blackpool didn't deserve their win as Newcastle were second best throughout but they did have to work for it as Steve Harper pulled off a string of fine saves while Blackpool also had to come from behind.
Early in the game Steve Harper had to deny efforts from Brett Ormerod and David Vaughan and then twice denying Hameur Bouazza and it looked like Newcastle had weathered the storm when Joey Barton's long pass picked out Andy Carroll to head Newcastle in front six minutes from half time.
With almost the last kick of the first half Steve Harper denied Charlie Adam's shot but the rebound fell to Brett Ormerod who scored the first goal against Newcastle in over 500 minutes of football.
Blackpool continued this way in the second half and after a goalmouth scramble Jason Euell fired the Seasiders in front and they held on for the win.
Toon back on top
Newcastle United have returned to the summit of the Championship after a 1-0 victory over Cardiff City at the Cardiff City Stadium. Middlesbrough's win on Saturday shifted the Toon off the top but it was Fabricio Colocini's single effort that sent the Toon back to the top.
Cardiff have been in good form this season and their former Magpie striker Michael Chopra has been dominating the scoring charts, while Newcastle were without their own top scorer Shola Ameobi with 18 year old Nile Ranger again alone up front.
Newcastle';s only change to the team which defeated Leicester was the return of Coloccini at centre back while Cardiff made two changes with Jay Bothroyd fot to partner Chopra and Paul Quinn back in defence.
Newcastle's goal came with the first real chance of the game as Newcastle dominated the opening stages and when Ryan Taylor's corner was cleared back out to Taylor he crossed for Coloccini to power a header past goalkeeper David Marshall.
Cardiff mainly dominated the game afterwards, Gavin Rae spurning a great chance after being played through by Chopra and Steve Harper denying Chris Burke.
Newcastle's only low point of the day coming when Alan Smith was dismissed for a second yellow late on but by that stage Newcastle had already hung on to claim three points.
Team: Harper, Simpson, Coloccini, Steven Taylor, Jose Enrique, Guthrie (Lovenkrands 61), Barton (Geremi 86), Smith, Ryan Taylor (Butt 76), Nolan, Ranger.
Subs n/u: Krul, LuaLua, Kadar, Donaldson.
Cardiff: Marshall, Hudson, Capaldi, Quinn, Gerrard, Rae, Whittingham (Etuhu 67), Burke, Ledley, Chopra, Bothroyd.
Subs n/u: Enckelman, Kennedy, Gyepes, McPhail, Taiwo, Matthews.
Duo scoop awards
Newcastle United have received double awards following their successful start to the new Championship season. Newcastle finished August in top spot and their performances have earned caretaker manager Chris Hughton the manager of the month award, as well as landing striker Shola Ameobi the player of the month gong.
The 27 yeard old hit four goals in four games with a hat trick against Reading and a goal against Sheffield Wednesday and has narrowly beaten Cardiff's Michael Chopra to the prize. Chopra comes up against his former club on Sunday but Ameobi will sit out with injury.
Chris Hughton spoke of his award by saying: "I'm delighted to take the award but thanks must go to the staff, especially Colin Calderwood and Paul Barron, and most importantly the players.
"They have been magnificent and this award is for them."
Lovenkrands is back
Newcastle's only deadline day signing was the return of Peter Lovenkrands who was a free agent after leaving Newcastle in the summer.
The 29 year old Dane joined Newcastle in January and scored 3 goals in 12 appearances, the most memorable coming in the 3-1 over Middlesbrough at St.James Park.
Lovenkrands left Newcastle when his six month contract expired but turned down moves to Germany expressing his wish to stay in the North East and signed a new 3 year deal to come back to Newcastle.
Guthrie sends Toon top
Newcastle United 1-0 Leicester City
Coca-Cola Championship - Game 5
Danny Guthrie scored the only goal in a game where Newcastle were always going to have to scrap for the points as Newcastle defeated newly promoted Leicester City to take top spot in the Championship.
Guthries goal secured a fourth successive league win in front of the watching Mike Ashley, potential new buyer Barry Moat and potential manager Alan Shearer.
Newcastle's victory was made even more impressive by the fact that they went in to the game with virtually no options. The seven substitutes didn't have a single league start between them and all except Tim Krul were not above the age of 18. Right back Danny Simpson was forced to play in as a centre back, there was no left sided midfielder and 18 year old striker Nile Ranger was called up to make his first league start as a lone striker.
Newcastle's squad, still, continues to get thinner and thinner with Fabricio Coloccini having left to join up with the Argentina squad and Shola Ameobi, Andy Carroll, Jonas Gutierrez and Nicky Butt all injured.
Leicester have looked good in the Championship this season since coming up from League One and Steve Harper had to keep out Steve Howards when his met Matt Oakley's cross with a bullet header and Harper had to come to the rescue again to deny Gallagher a goal.
Nile Ranger looked good on his first start, forced to play on his own up front but he worked hard and on 52 minutes when Kevin Nolan picked out the young striker, it was he who fed the ball to Danny Guthrie to fire home from 20 yards.
Geremi might have doubled the lead with an effort a few minutes later, his shot just avoiding the bottom corner and after that both sides scrapped away and it was Newcastle who emerged with the three points.
Team: Harper, Ryan Taylor, Steven Taylor, Simpson, Jose Enrique, Geremi, Barton (Kadar 89), Nolan, Guthrie (Donaldson 85), Smith, Ranger (Vuckic 85).
Subs n/u: Krul, LuaLua, Ngo Baheng, Tozer.
Leicester: Weale, Neilson, Brown, Hobbs, Berner, N'Guessan (Adams 90), Oakley, Fryatt (Waghorn 69), Wellens, Howard, Gallagher (Dyer 60).
Subs n/u: Logan, McGivern, Morrison, Andy King.
Xisco time as Spaniard leaves
Newcastle have finally said goodbye to yet another reminder of the Mike Ashley reign as Xisco has packed his bags and departed back to Spain on loan to La Liga club Racing Santander.
Xisco was signed by Newcastle a year ago for £6.5million from Deportivo and has managed to make only 9 appearances, scoring 1 goal. That goal coming during the 2-1 defeat to Hull City where fans protested the departure of Kevin Keegan.
Keegan resigned as manager following a disagreement over the way the club handled transfers as James Milner was sold without his permission and Keegan was then shocked to see only Xisco and Ignacio Gonzalez arrive, neither being transfers that he had approved.
Xisco now joins a list of other players to depart the club following relegation, including: Obafemi Martins, Sebastian Bassong, Habib Beye, Damien Duff, Mark Viduka, David Edgar, Michael Owen, Claudio Cacapa and Peter Lovenkrands.
Tuesday 20th October 2009
Championship
Away @ Glanford Park
Scunthorpe United
Kick Off at 7.45pm
Saturday 17th October 2009
Championship
Away @ City Ground
Nottingham Forest
Lost 1-0
| # | Team | P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
Pts |
| 1 | West Bromwich Albion | 12 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 24 | 12 | 24 |
| 2 | NEWCASTLE UNITED | 12 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 18 | 6 | 24 |
| 3 | Cardiff City | 12 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 24 | 12 | 20 |
| 4 | Middlesbrough | 12 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 18 | 13 | 20 |
| 5 | Blackpool | 12 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 16 | 13 | 19 |
| 6 | Preston North End | 12 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 18 | 16 | 19 |
| 7 | Nottingham Forest | 12 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 14 | 12 | 19 |
| 8 | Leicester City | 12 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 13 | 11 | 18 |
| 9 | Bristol City | 12 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 11 | 10 | 18 |
| 10 | Queens Park Rangers | 11 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 17 | 10 | 17 |
| 11 | Sheffield United | 12 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 20 | 18 | 17 |
| 12 | Watford | 12 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 17 | 19 | 17 |
| 13 | Sheffield Wednesday | 12 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 19 | 16 | 16 |
| 14 | Crystal Palace | 11 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 12 | 12 | 16 |
| 15 | Coventry City | 12 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 16 | 18 | 16 |
| 16 | Swansea City | 12 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 8 | 10 | 15 |
| 17 | Derby County | 12 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 15 | 19 | 14 |
| 18 | Scunthorpe United | 12 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 17 | 22 | 14 |
| 19 | Barnsley | 12 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 14 | 21 | 14 |
| 20 | Doncaster Rovers | 12 | 1 | 8 | 3 | 11 | 14 | 11 |
| 21 | Reading | 12 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 18 | 10 |
| 22 | Peterborough United | 12 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 13 | 20 | 8 |
| 23 | Plymouth Argyle | 12 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 11 | 22 | 8 |
| 24 | Ipswich Town | 12 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 13 | 25 | 6 |