Source: Northern_Echo
Doncaster Rovers 0 Newcastle United 1
Doncaster Rovers 0 Newcastle United 1[LNB] ANY fears that a training ground clash would inflict serious damage on Newcastle United's charge towards the Premier League were brushed aside at Doncaster Rovers last night.[LNB] The match-winner just had to be Andy Carroll expected to be left out because of the bust-up with team-mate Steven Taylor with his 16th goal of the season to push the Magpies ever closer to a return to the top flight.[LNB] Carroll was coolness personified when he slotted the winner beyond goalkeeper Neil Sullivan 31 minutes before time.[LNB] The 21-year-old celebrated by charging towards the 3,000- strong contingent of fellow Geordies holding his finger to his lips.[LNB] What sort of long-term ramifications the altercation might have are impossible to predict.[LNB] But in the shorter term Newcastle are still on track for promotion courtesy of Carroll's fourth goal in as many matches, leaving them five points clear at the top.[LNB] His strike was a huge thank you to Newcastle boss Chris Hughton for sticking by him and he also threw his shirt into the Newcastle fans after the match out of respect for their attitude towards him.[LNB] With Carroll leading the line, it is only a matter of time before Premier League football is guaranteed.[LNB] While the events at the club's training complex on Sunday morning could still have an impact on the promotion run-in, Newcastle's dreadful away form could also have made things interesting.[LNB] The victory at Watford was the only other occasion that Newcastle have won on their travels since the turn of the year, yet their lead at the top of the Championship has remained a healthy one.[LNB] It did not take long to see why. After a bright start from Newcastle, in which Carroll could and should have had a couple, Doncaster settled and their free-flowing passing style caused problems.[LNB] Doncaster created the best chance of the opening half and Newcastle had Steve Harper and Danny Simpson to thank for preventing the opening goal.[LNB] John Oster, the former Sunderland winger, was the architect.[LNB] He picked out Billy Sharp and the 16-goal striker forced Harper down to his left and Simpson slid in to clear on the line with James Hayter lurking.[LNB] Hayter was also involved in the home team's other great chance of the half.[LNB] After Dean Shiels' bursting run into the box, Hayter's delivery from the right was helped on by the midfielder but Sharp side footed harmlessly into Harper.[LNB] A pretty even first period stayed level purely because of poor finishing and Carroll was also wasteful with his third chance just after the half hour.[LNB] All three of his opportunities had been created by Wayne Routledge, but the winger's eye for a pass was not reflected in the target-man's eye for a goal last night.[LNB] Despite hitting 11 goals in his last 13 matches, Carroll's driven shot to the far post from 12 yards was comfortably palmed away by goalkeeper Sullivan.[LNB] Newcastle never looked like league leaders, but they rarely have away from home this season and last night was no different.[LNB] Sullivan, the former Leeds and Scotland goalkeeper, had a relatively comfortable evening, while Harper faced the sterner test.[LNB] And while a low free-kick from former Hartlepool loan signing Martin Woods was easy for Harper to gather, it was a further reminder of the tightness of an encounter played on a surface that was slippery from the driving rain.[LNB] But if there was a combination that was going to unlock the Doncaster defence it was that of Routledge and Carroll and that is how it proved.[LNB] Just before the hour Routledge burst down the right, played a pass in behind the defence and Carroll was faced with just Sullivan to beat.[LNB] The England Under-21 international side-stepped the goalkeeper and slotted low into the net to put Newcastle ahead and a step nearer to promotion with the 12th goal of an impressive run of form.[LNB] Doncaster had a goal ruled out for offside when Sharp found the net after a neat Harper save and they continued to press ahead in the hope of finding an equaliser.[LNB] Matchfacts Goal: Carroll (59mins, 1-0) Bookings: Taylor (31, unsporting behaviour); Simpson (52, foul) Referee: Keith Hill (Royston) 6 Attendance: 14,850 Entertainment: [LNB] DONCASTER ROVERS (4-4-2): Sullivan 6; Chambers 6, Martis 7, O'Connor 6, Roberts 6 (Mutch 87); Shiels 7, Oster 7, Wilson 5 (Thomas 74), WOODS 7 (Spicer 87); Sharp 5, Hayter 6. Subs: Hird, McDaid, Smith (gk), Lockwood.[LNB] NEWCASTLE UNITED (4-4-2): Harper 7; Taylor 6, Kadar 7, Coloccini 7, Simpson 7; ROUTLEDGE 8 (Pancrate 87), Butt 6, Guthrie 5 (Barton 74), Gutierrez 6; Nolan 5, Carroll 7. Subs (not used): Enrique, Best, Krul (gk), Ranger, Tozer.[LNB] MAN OF THE MATCH WAYNE Routledge time and again it was the winger's passes that opened up the Doncaster defence.[LNB]
