Source: Telegraph
Newcastle United 0 Derby County 0: match report
Newcastle United manager Chris Hughton is desperate to sign Leeds striker Jermaine Beckford and on Monday night the club's hierarchy saw exactly why as the Championship pacesetters' promotion campaign stalled.[LNB]Hughton, who is also looking to buy a centre-half, is banking on club owner Mike Ashley to tempt Leeds chairman Ken Bates with a £1.5 million bid for Beckford to bolster his attacking options after his team spurned a hatful of chances against lowly Derby. [LNB]Newcastle United caretaker manager Chris Hughton restores feelgood factorWith Marlon Harewood now back at Aston Villa following a loan spell, Newcastle lacked the cutting edge to see off Derby which means their lead at the top of the table has shrunk from 10 points to six over the festive period. [LNB]It was the first time since October that Newcastle had failed to score but Ryan Taylor would have been forgiven for thinking he had put his team ahead in spectacular fashion early on only to see his 25-yard free-kick cannon off Stephen Bywater's crossbar. [LNB]Taylor should have scored minutes later when he was sent through by Jonas Gutierrez but Bywater saved with his feet. [LNB]Nigel Clough's side threatened on the counter-attack, though, and DJ Campbell shot straight at Steve Harper. That proved to be a rare excursion out of their own half for Derby. [LNB]Steven Taylor went close after half-time but headed Carroll's inviting cross straight at Bywater as Newcastle players and supporters including the watching Alan Shearer became increasingly anxious. [LNB]In a frenzied finale, Nile Ranger should have secured his team all the points in the 88th minute but Bywater pushed his effort on to the bar. [LNB]Jay McEveley was sent off in stoppage time for a second bookable offence when he brought down Gutierrez on a frustrating night for Tyneside. [LNB]Match details[LNB]Newcastle United (4-4-2): Harper; Simpson, S Taylor, Coloccini, Enrique; R Taylor (Pancrate 70), Nolan, Smith, Gutierrez; Lovenkrands (Ranger 78), Carroll (Ameobi 65).Subs: Krul (g), Guthrie, Butt, Kadar.Derby County (4-4-2): Bywater; Connolly, Addison, Buxton, McEveley; Green, Savage, Pearson, Hendrie (Commons 68); Hulse, Campbell (Livermore 90).Subs: Deeney (g), Croft, Teale, Pringle, Dickov.Booked: McEveley, Hulse, Savage.Sent off: McEveley.Referee: K Wright (Cambridgeshire). [LNB]
