Source: Eurosport
Newcastle go top
Newcastle climbed back to the top of the Coca-Cola Championship but needed a lucky own goal from Sheffield United skipper Chris Morgan to secure a 1-0 win.[LNB] Morgan inadvertently deflected Ryan Taylor's low 25-yard shot past stranded Blades goalkeeper Ian Bennett in the 54th minute to hand manager Chris Hughton a telling win in his first game since being given the job on a permanent basis.[LNB] But it was another miserable result for opposite number Kevin Blackwell, whose injury-hit side were denied by Newcastle goalkeeper Steve Harper's world class save in the closing stages and have now lost their last four league matches.[LNB] On another night Leicestershire referee Kevin Friend might have penalised Newcastle's Kevin Nolan for his full-blooded tackle on Kyle Walker before Taylor pounced on the loose ball. [LNB] The Blades slipped to 15th place, leapfrogged by arch-rivals Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday, and the former Leeds and Luton manager will now fear renewed pressure from the impatient Blades faithful. [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 Andy Carroll and Taylor were all booked for fouls - ended goalless.[LNB] 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] 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 Darius Henderson's point-blank header as Newcastle held on.
