Source: Daily_Mail
Newcastle 2 Middlesbrough 0: Toon see off North East rivals to go clear at top
Newcastle United claimed a new Championship record with a crowd of 49,644 and as they continue to take the division by storm. Other records for points and fewest goals conceded should be in their sights before the end of the season.[LNB]They clearly have no intention of sticking around in this league longer than necessary and swept aside North East rivals Middlesbrough easily without having to play well. And it has been that way at St James' Park throughout the campaign.[LNB]Steve Harper took his tally of clean sheets to 13 in 22 games he has only conceded four at St James' and strike partners Shola Ameobi and Marlon Harewood continued to impress with a goal apiece.[LNB] Earning his stripes: Marlon Harewood celebrates opening the score for Newcastle[LNB]In contrast, Middlesbrough relegated from the Premier League alongwith Newcastle and West Bromwich last season continue their sorry rununder new boss Gordon Strachan. [LNB]He has won one in eight since Steve Gibson's shock decision toappoint him as Gareth Southgate's successor, and his side looked nonearer to improving that record against the Championship leaders, whonow boast a stunning 20-point lead over a Boro side struggling in thebottom half of the table.[LNB]Club chairman Gibson told Southgate, and then Strachan, that hewanted Middlesbrough to make an instant return to the Barclays PremierLeague but that already seems a distant fantasy. [LNB]The visitors were unfortunate that referee Kevin Friend, theofficial who did his best to ruin Sunderland's game against Aston Villain midweek, missed an infringement by Ameobi in the build-up toHarewood's 16th-minute opener.[LNB]Fit-again Ameobi, playing only his second game in three months,pushed Emanuel Pogatetz to the ground as the pair tried to reach DannyGuthrie's chipped free-kick into a crowded penalty area.[LNB]That was definitely a foul but keeper Brad Jones's powder-puff leapat Ameobi could not prevent the Newcastle man's header findingHarewood, on loan from Aston Villa, and he in turn tapped the ball intoan empty net for his fifth Newcastle goal.[LNB]'There might have been a slight push,' admitted Ameobi. 'But it was a battle throughout the game with the central defenders.'[LNB]Ameobi took his tally to six in six games in the 59th minute afterhe was gifted time and space by David Wheater, who misjudged Guthrie'scentre and allowed the Newcastle striker to plant his header firmlybeyond Jones.[LNB] Julio do you think you are? Middlesbrough midfielder Arca (right) is challenged by Danny Simpson[LNB]That was just a minute after Wheater himself had powerfully headed a Gary O'Neil free-kick narrowly wide.[LNB]It was not the only good fortune enjoyed by impressive Newcastlekeeper Harper. He kept out a swirling 33rd-minute free-kick from Boroskipper O'Neil with an awkward stop, before referee Friend missedSteven Taylor's hand brushing the rebound from IsaiahOsbourne on to Harper's post. [LNB]But that was a rare moment of creativity from a Boro side missingthe ingenuity and pace of Adam Johnson, and also bereft of confidence.[LNB]Like it or not, the arrival of Strachan must be at the root ofBoro's ills. Even loan signings like Dave Kitson, forced off at thebreak, have made little impact.[LNB]'I wouldn't like to be a player at the moment,' said Strachan. 'Butwe know our failings and I have to address them. As a manager you getsome horrible periods in your life and this is one of them. You need todeal with it and get on with it. Newcastle are a man's team and youneed men to win things, that's for sure.'[LNB]Chris Hughton, meanwhile, could reflect on another satisfactory performance and result in front of the record-breaking crowd.[LNB]Harewood could have added a second and Jones was lucky that two embarrassing wobbles did not lead to more Newcastle goals.[LNB]Like Strachan, Hughton will hope to reinforce his squad with furtherloan signings. Harewood's future is uncertain, while ZurabKhizanishvili will head back to Blackburn this week.[LNB]Hughton added: 'We have to make decisions. We could not haveexpected this before the season started. Everyone tells you what adifficult league it is but we have coped with the demands as a unit. Ifit's down to one thing, it's real team effort.[LNB]'The biggest challenge is to avoid complacency. We are there to beshot down and we're the ones others have to catch. We must make sure wecontinue to do the things that got us here in the first place but itwon't get any easier.'[LNB]JACACK HIXON, the Newcastle-based scout who discovered AlanShearer and remained a close friend of the former Newcastle captain,has died aged 88. Shearer said: 'It's a very sad day. Jack was a lovelyman, very hard-working and totally dedicated. We were very close and hewill be sadly missed.' Show us the money! Newcastle chief Derek Llambias says lack of cash is holding up sale NORTHERN EXPOSURE: Returning Lee Cattermole lifts the clouds over Sunderland for Steve BruceTHAT WAS THE SPORTING WEEK: The unsung heroes not honoured despite lighting up the Premier League since it started...Coca-Cola Championship results, tables and more in our Stats Zone
