Hot strikers stun Cardiff

05 February 2010 21:59
Andy Carroll and Peter Lovenkrands blasted Newcastle six points clear at the top of the Coca-Cola Championship table as fourth-placed Cardiff were routed 5-1 on Tyneside. Carroll plundered a double inside a devastating opening 15 minutes and in between, was instrumental in defender Gabor Gyepes putting through his own goal as the home side wrapped up the points barely before they had got their second wind. Even Stephen McPhail, playing his first game since returning from treatment for cancer, was unable to stem the tide as Cardiff wilted in the face of a storm and a delighted crowd of 44,028 saw substitute Lovenkrands claim a brace of his own as Chris Hughton's men extended their unbeaten league run to 15 games. Newcastle got the perfect start just three minutes in when Carroll stabbed home from close range after a Kevin Nolan flick on, before Carroll's sixth-minute shot hit a post and flew in on the rebound off the unfortunate Gyepes. Ross McCormack hit the bar for Cardiff, before Carroll claimed his second with an unstoppable header from Danny Simpson's inch-perfect cross 15 minutes in. Lovenkrands then added his double in the 69th and 82nd minutes - the second of which was a lovely curling effort that went in off the post - before Aaron Wildig's late consolation for Cardiff.

Source: PA