Source: SKY_Sports
Magpies return to the top
// A bit of a hack but it works// The article snippet is wrapped onto a second line, even when #article-sub is emptyif( $("div#article-sub").children().length == 0 ) {$("div#article-sub").remove();} Newcastle United have returned to the top of the Championship table courtesy of a 1-0 success over slumping Sheffield United at Bramall Lane.[LNB] Following a scrappy first half, the only goal of the game arrived nine minutes after the restart when Chris Morgan deflected home Ryan Taylor's long-range drive.[LNB]Kyle Walker was floored by Kevin Nolan in the build-up, however, Taylor did not wait around asking questions and fired a shot goalwards that took a wicked deflection, leaving Ian Bennett rooted.[LNB]Although United were fairly poor during the 90 minutes, they came into life in injury time and only a fine double save from Steve Harper denied Kevin Blackwell's side.[LNB]Harper first blocked Keith Treacy's back-post shot before somehow palming Darius Henderson's header wide from point-blank range as the Magpies held on for the points.[LNB]Henderson should have fired the Blades ahead in the third minute when springing the offside trap, but pulled his left-footed effort wide.[LNB]Superbly blockedAt the other end, Newcastle striker Andy Carroll's shot was superbly blocked by Walker, but the home side set the early pace.[LNB]A sweeping Blades move ended with Henderson teeing up Treacy, but the Irish winger's snapshot whistled over the crossbar.[LNB]Henderson then crossed for Stephen Quinn to shoot first time off target as Blackwell's side built up some momentum.[LNB]Newcastle midfielder Taylor later curled a right-footed free-kick high and wide and another last-ditch challenge from Walker denied Fabricio Coloccini.[LNB]Blades striker Ched Evans was inches wide with his angled shot after bustling on to Bennett's long clearance as a highly-combative first period - Morgan and Newcastle pair Carroll and Taylor were all booked for fouls - ended goalless.[LNB]A more purposeful Newcastle twice went close to breaking the deadlock within eight minutes of the restart.[LNB]Nolan's curling shot was pushed away at full stretch by Bennett, and Carroll's hanging header from Taylor's cross hit the woodwork.[LNB]FortunateBut then Newcastle took the lead in fortuitous circumstances in the 54th minute.[LNB]Referee Friend adjudged Nolan's thumping challenge on Walker to be fair and with the defender prostrate, Taylor pounced on to the ball in space 25 yards from goal and unleashed a low right-footed shot that took a big deflection off Morgan to wrong-foot Bennett and nestle into the goalkeeper's bottom left-hand corner.[LNB]Walker limped off five minutes later and was replaced by Ryan France.[LNB]Treacy's quality cross was headed over by Stewart in the 61st minute as the Blades, roared on by most in a crowd of 26,536, battled gamely in search of an equaliser.[LNB]Evans' low free-kick was hoofed clear by Butt and visiting goalkeeper Harper blocked Henderson close-range effort.[LNB]Harper finished strongly - smothering Treacy's shot in injury time and then brilliantly denying Henderson's point-blank header as Newcastle held on.[LNB]
