Source: Telegraph
Newcastle edge out Sheffield Wednesday thanks to Shola Ameobi's strike
Newcastle United might be strangled by uncertainty off the pitch but on it the seeds of recovery are just beginning to emerge. [LNB]Leading the revival is the much-maligned striker Shola Ameobi, who took his tally to four goals inside a week with an unerring finish. Ameobi encapsulates the footballing change at the Tyneside club jeered last year when he managed just four goals, there were cheers last night from an impressive 43,904-strong audience. [LNB] Related ArticlesDuff savours Fulham stabilityMoat banking on £100m Newcastle dealAshley holds firm on £100m sale priceFulham sign Damien DuffSport on televisionBut if a reminder were needed that there is a long way to go before Newcastle's many problems are resolved, it came with the sight of Fabricio Coloccini struggling to adapt to life in the Championship. [LNB]Newcastle had a lucky escape early on when Sean McAllister volleyed over from inside the six-yard box before Ameobi put his team ahead in the 15th minute in majestic fashion. [LNB]The striker provided an impressive finishing touch after Steve Harper's long clearance was nodded on by Andy Carroll, taking the ball on his chest and outpacing centre-half Richard Wood before sliding the ball home. [LNB]After the vulnerable Coloccini was cautioned for pulling back the excellent Jermaine Johnson, Ameobi almost doubled the lead when he rose above the Wednesday defence to nod Ryan Taylor's corner goalwards, but Lee Grant saved comfortably. [LNB]Newcastle did not have everything their own way as Wednesday's midfield duo of James O'Connor and Darren Potter regularly outmanoeuvred Kevin Nolan and the erratic Alan Smith, to keep Coloccini and the impressive Steven Taylor on their toes. [LNB]Grant brilliantly denied Ryan Taylor shortly after half-time when he acrobatically tipped over his free-kick before Kevin Nolan missed the target by inches. At the other end Steve Harper expertly pushed over a curling free-kick from defender Michael Gray. [LNB]Newcastle owner Mike Ashley stayed away from the game as doubts grew over the likelihood of a deal to sell the club to local businessman Barry Moat going through. Fans chanted Alan Shearer's name before a nerve-jangling finale that saw Harper deny substitute Francis Jeffers. [LNB]Match details[LNB]Newcastle (4-4-2): Harper; Simpson, S Taylor, Coloccini, Enrique; R Taylor (Guthrie 90), Nolan, Smith, Gutierrez; Carroll (Xisco 58), Ameobi (Ranger 88). Subs: Krul (g), Geremi, LuaLua, Kadar. Booked: Smith, Coloccini. Taylor. Sheffield Wednesday (4-4-2): Grant; Buxton, Purse, Wood, Spurr; Gray (Esajas 73), Potter, O'Connor (Jeffers 81), McAllister (Miller 73); Tudgay, Johnson. Subs: O'Donnell (g), Hinds, Beevers, Simek. Booked: Buxton, Miller. Referee: P Dowd (Staffs) [LNB]
