Source: Northern_Echo
Newcastle beat Leicester to go top of Championship
TAKEOVERS and transfers are still the main talking points on Tyneside, but this morning there is another: Newcastle United, depleted, threadbare, Newcastle United, are top of the Championship.[LNB] While it is painstakingly obvious that one of the most inexperienced squads in Newcastles history is in desperate need of strengthening, Danny Guthries stunning winner seven minutes after half-time ensured that any new arrivals tomorrow will join the league leaders.[LNB] Mike Ashley, the owner who says he wants to sell and is set for further talks this week, and Alan Shearer, the fans choice as manager, were both inside St James Park to witness the remaining members of a small first team squad take a further step in the right direction.[LNB] Shearer, for one, knows only too well that this squad needs investment, having witnessed 12 players depart since his last game in charge at Aston Villa in May, when Premier League status was relinquished.[LNB] But while there remains any slim chance that Ashley will sell up to the Americans, the Geordie businessman or a fans group led by Graham Roberts, the owner has been reluctant to open up his cheque book again.[LNB] This morning, to protect and strengthen his investment, the sportswear millionaire needs to cave in. With the right personnel added within the next 24 hours, caretaker manager Chris Hughton has shown Newcastle are serious promotion contenders this season. Ashley has witnessed that.[LNB] If Ashley, or indeed Shearer, needed any further evidence the squad needed strengthening then this was it. With Fabricio Coloccini called up by Diego Maradona for Argentinas World Cup qualifier with Brazil on Saturday, Steven Taylor was the only recognised, experienced centre-back left to put in the team.[LNB] Hughtons options were hardly any better up front either, with Nile Ranger the only choice to make following the decision not to risk Shola Ameobi with a stress fracture of the foot.[LNB] It was hardly ideal preparation for Newcastle, knowing that a victory would lift them to the top of the Championship having claimed three wins from their previous four opening matches. It showed.[LNB] With the exception of a clever counter-attack in the tenth minute that ended with Kevin Nolan, a makeshift striker, shooting low into goalkeeper Chris Weale, Newcastle had little to offer going forward.[LNB] In fact the nearest they came to a goal in the opening half was when referee Neil Swarbrick waved away two appeals for a penalty, when defender Wayne Brown and Paul Gallagher both appeared to handle in the area after Ryan Taylors centre.[LNB] Leicester, managed by one of Hughtons caretaker predecessors Nigel Pearson, had far greater balance, with target-man Steve Howard often providing the nuisance value he has become renowned for.[LNB] It is someone like Howard, the former Hartlepool and Tow Law marksman, that Newcastle and neighbours Middlesbrough lack for the Championship. Yet he is also the type of striker they are likely to come up against every week this season.[LNB] Howard it was who forced Steve Harper into his first save, diving to his right to turn the forwards powerful header from Matt Oakleys corner safely away.[LNB] He also shot wide on the turn moments later before his presence on the edge of the area earned a free-kick when Alan Smith was adjudged to have climbed all over him. Harper, again, prevented the opener by diving to his left this time to turn behind Gallaghers curling effort.[LNB] Leicester had a greater opportunity on the stroke of half-time. This time, however, Matty Fryatt failed to find the target after turning inside Jose Enrique and creating space for himself just inside the area.[LNB] There had been hints of improvement immediately after the restart from Newcastle, particularly when Ranger shot wide from 20 yards, and they were rewarded with the opening goal.[LNB] Nolan chested into the path of Ranger, who rolled sideways to Guthrie. The midfielder side-stepped defender Jack Hobbs before unleashing an unstoppable right-foot drive from 20 yards high into the middle of Weales net.[LNB] It was a goal worthy of winning any match and Geremi went close with a similar effort moments later, only this time the ball bounced a yard wide of the upright.[LNB] From that moment on Newcastle took control and rarely looked under threat until the closing stages. They may have failed to add to their slender advantage, but Alan Smith and Joey Barton had long rang strikes that went close.[LNB] Even when Hughton brought on teenagers Ryan Donaldson, Haris Vuckic and Tamas Kadar - all making their league debuts - in the latter stages to highlight the need for reinforcements, Newcastle stood firm to lead the Championship.[LNB]
