Source: Daily_Mail
Newcastle 2 Nottingham Forest 0: Shola Ameobi seals win
Nearly there. Newcastle United are within touching distance of an instant return to the Barclays Premier League after inflicting a cruel defeat on the one side who can now halt the Geordies' automatic promotion back to the big time.[LNB]It can all be settled at Peterborough on Saturday if Newcastle beat the Championship's bottom club and Nottingham Forest slip up against Bristol City.[LNB]But whatever the outcome of the weekend fixtures, it promises to beparty time at St James' Park next Monday after Shola Ameobi's eighthgoal of his frustrating campaign- and Jose Enrique's long-awaited first strike - settled this promotion encounter. [LNB] Getting shirty: Left-back Jose Enrique goes wild after scoring the second of the game and his first ever goal for Newcastle[LNB]Sheffield United will be next week's potential party-poopers butNewcastle's charge to the top flight is relentless, as poor Forestdiscovered.[LNB]Billy Davies's team had the better chances, and looked the morelikely to take three points, before Ameobi appeared for the first timein almost two months to open the scoring.[LNB]Enrique's goal came in the final minute but was one of the most celebrated of the season.[LNB]Chris Hughton, Mike Ashley, their players and, more importantly,Newcastle's supporters can now start dreaming of the Premier Leagueonce again after clinching a victory which opens up a 13-pointadvantage over Forest.[LNB]'I would like to congratulate Newcastle,' said Davies as he preparesto face the lottery of the play-offs. 'All season they have been veryresilient and shown their experience and they have been very worthywinners.[LNB]'I am not admitting defeat but they will finish the job and ourchallenge now is to finish second. This club have everything - thestadium, the fans and Alan Smith can't even get in the team. I justthink they're there.'[LNB] Talk of the Toon: Sub Ameobi makes an instant impact to fire in Newcastle's first[LNB] And it was fitting that Spanish left back Enrique should finallybreak a career-long duck to clinch the three points which takeNewcastle within touching distance of returning to the Premier Leagueat the first time of asking.[LNB]In pre-season there was talk of following the likes of Leeds,Southampton and Norwich to League One, or just treading water in theChampionship like Sheffield Wednesday or Coventry City. They could havedone a Middlesbrough this season, i.e. not very much.[LNB]For players like Enrique, who took time to find his feet in thiscountry, the second tier of English football could have been deemedbeneath him. The left back had a smile as wide as the Tyne afterhelping Newcastle to their seventh straight home win and he dedicatedthe first goal of his career to his wife.[LNB]'That may be the best three points of the season,' said the populardefender. We are not there yet but it was very important and the firstgoal for me is special. I didn't know what to do afterwards.' [LNB] Taking control: Argentine winger Jonas Gutierrez manages to squeeze the ball away from Forest's James Perch[LNB]The 2-0 scoreline is hardly a fair reflection of Forest's endeavoursat both ends. They restricted Newcastle to just a handful of chances,the best falling to Andy Carroll, who continues to earn very publicsupport from his club, despite that altercation with Steven Taylor.[LNB]Before succumbing to an ankle twist after 49 minutes, Carroll got onthe end of Wayne Routledge's cross but was denied by a superb stop fromLee Camp, who also kept out late efforts from Kevin Nolan and Routledgeafter Ameobi's eighth league goal of the season had opened the scoring.[LNB] Ameobi had barely had a kick after replacing Carroll but then hetook a short pass at the edge of the area, turned and unleashed a lowleft-foot shot past Camp and off the inside of the post.[LNB]Newcastle, now undefeated since October, remain the only Englishteam to remain unbeaten at home this season. Third-placed Forest remainat arms' length after becoming the 20th team to fail to penetrate SteveHarper's goal. Hughton can surely start planning the promotion party.But he will not be taking the champagne to Peterborough.[LNB]He warned: 'If it happens on Saturday, nobody will be more delighted than me, but we've got to win first.[LNB]'This is a big win because we're so close to the end of the season,against a side who have pushed us for a large chunk of the season butthe moment we think we're there, we'll lose a football match.' [LNB] England legend Paul Gascoigne charged with drink-drivingChris Hughton defends selection of Newcastle bust-up boy Andy CarrollAll the fizz of the Coca-Cola Football League: Austin living a fairytale [LNB] [LNB]
