Source: Team_Talk
Hughton salutes two-goal Carroll
The 21-year-old helped himself to two goals as the Magpies extended their unbeaten league run to a club record 15 games and increased their lead at the top of the Championship table to six points over second-placed West Brom.[LNB]Shearer was the last in a long line of legendary Newcastle strikers to wear the famous number nine shirt, which is currently vacant, but Carroll is busily staking his own claim.[LNB]Hughton said: "Potentially, he is number nine material. He's a player who leads the line.[LNB]"In some ways, he's an old-fashioned centre-forward who has a prowess in the air, but he's still developing his game and he has to continue to do that.[LNB]"He has good football skills for a big man, but what he has to add to his game is goals, and he was able to do that tonight."[LNB]Cardiff, who had won their last four games in all competitions and were unbeaten in eight, were blown apart within 15 minutes of the kick-off as Newcastle ripped into them.[LNB]Carroll was the chief architect of their downfall, stabbing home from close range after debutant Fitz Hall and Kevin Nolan had recycled Danny Guthrie's third-minute corner, and then heading home Danny Simpson's inviting cross 12 minutes later.[LNB]In the meantime, he had fired against the foot of the post and helpless defender Gabor Gyepes could only bundle the rebound into his own net as the Bluebirds wilted.[LNB]Even experienced midfielder Stephen McPhail, playing his first game since finishing treatment for cancer, could not save the day for the visitors.[LNB]However, it was not until the introduction of substitute Peter Lovenkrands after the break that the Magpies cemented the win, the Dane producing accomplished 69th and 82nd-minute finishes to leave fellow newcomer Aaron Wildig's late strike to count for little.[LNB]Hughton later rated his side's performance as the most eye-catching of the season to date.[LNB]He said: "There have been some really good performances - I think you can take as much out of Sheffield United away 1-0 as you can tonight.[LNB]"But from a footballing point of view, this is the most pleasing."[LNB]City boss Dave Jones admitted Cardiff had simply given themselves too much to do with their slow start, but was at least able to take some comfort from McPhail's first appearance since November.[LNB]He said: "He has had the all-clear and I thought him being back today, he didn't look out of place.[LNB]"Yes, maybe just a little half a yard, but that will come with games, that will come with the more games he gets.[LNB]"But he feels fit and he feels strong. I just didn't want to go into the last 20 minutes of that half where he is drained and he pulls something again."[LNB][LNB]
