Source: Northern_Echo
Newcastle United 2 Crystal Palace 0
Newcastle United 2 Crystal Palace 0[LNB] IT SEEMED appropriate that Newcastle took the lead in last night's uninspiring contest with Crystal Palace courtesy of an own goal.[LNB] Nile Ranger's smart finish in the third minute of injury team added a late flourish to a victory that offered few moments of quality but kept the Championship's chasing pack at bay.[LNB] In back-to-back games with title-challengers West Brom, who now sit eight points behind the Magpies, Chris Hughton's side offered thrills aplenty but last night's encounter was a dreadfully dull affair.[LNB] Newcastle have become masters at emerging victorious from battles of attrition.[LNB] While West Brom and Nottingham Forest are the sides any neutral would pay to watch, Newcastle continue to make hard work of their drive towards promotion.[LNB] That will be of little concern to Hughton, who has built a team to grind out results while rarely seducing the St James' Park faithful with the quality football they crave.[LNB] The Magpies boss handed Mike Williamson an immediate chance to impress by naming him in his starting line-up alongside Fabricio Coloccini.[LNB] Williamson has joined Newcastle on loan until the end of the season, after which he is expected to complete a permanent switch to Tyneside.[LNB] The former Watford defender kept things simple last night and he could prove a timely addition as Newcastle's injury crisis deepened following left-back Joe Enrique's hamstring strain that could sideline the Spaniard for at least a couple of weeks.[LNB] Hughton's other new signing, winger Wayne Routledge, began the game on the bench, while Peter Lovenkrands returned to the side after being given compassionate leave following the death of his father.[LNB] Palace came into the game in a state of turmoil.[LNB] Monday's announcement that the club had been placed into administration, triggering a ten-point deduction, proved to have a destabilising effect on their pre-match preparations, both on and off the pitch. Star midfielder Victor Moses was withdrawn from the starting line-up at the behest of administrators, who are keen to cash in on the Eagles' most saleable asset. Moses has drawn interest from both Newcastle and Sunderland.[LNB] The financial constraints placed on Palace manager Neil Warnock restricted him to naming just three substitutes and Palace's troubles continued when defender Johannes Ertl was withdrawn with what looked like a hamstring problem within five minutes of the kick-off. They then handed Newcastle the lead when Shaun Derry fired past his own keeper when attempting to clear Danny Guthrie's corner.[LNB] Prior to that both sides had excellent opportunities to make an early breakthrough.[LNB] A storming dash down the left flank by Enrique caught the visitors sleeping but Lovenkrands could only steer the left-back's cross wide of the upright.[LNB] But the clearest chance of the first half fell to Palace, Danny Butterfield steering a header wide from five yards.[LNB] Enrique's injury saw substitute Fabrice Pancrate slotting in at right-back, with Tamas Kadar reverting to the left side of defence.[LNB] Newcastle had the ball in the net ten minutes before the interval but Lovenkrands was offside from Andy Carroll's flicked pass.[LNB] Steve Harper had to be alert to tip Andrew's looping effort over the bar just before the break. Then Lovenkrands spurned a great chance to double Newcastle's lead, firing over the bar.[LNB] Lovenkrands was withdrawn, allowing Routledge to face the club where he made his league debut nine years ago.[LNB] He was given a rousing reception by the home supporters who had been starved of thrills during a very scrappy encounter. The travelling supports gave their former winger a less encouraging welcome.[LNB] Neither side created any clear cut chances in the second half when Newcastle in particular were guilty of some very sloppy passing.[LNB] Nile Ranger should had sealed the game but his far post header sailed over the bar from Pancrate's hanging cross.[LNB] But the youngster made amends when he coolly finished after put through by debutant Routledge.[LNB] Match facts Goals: Derry og (20, 1-0), Ranger (90,2- 0)[LNB] Bookings: Butterfield (72, foul); Coloccini (77, foul)[LNB] Referee: Russell Booth (Mansfield) 6 Attendance: 37,886[LNB] Entertainment: [LNB] NEWCASTLE UNITED (4-4-2): Harper 7; Kadar 6, Williamson 6, Coloccini 6, Enrique 6 (Pancrate 26, 4);Guthrie 5, Smith 6, Nolan 5, Gutierrez 5 (Ranger 73), LOVENKRANDS 7, (Routledge 62, 7), Carroll 6. Subs (not used): Krul, Tozer, Donaldson, Butt.[LNB] CRYSTAL PALACE (4-5-1): Speroni 6; Clyne 6, Hill 5, Ertl (Lawrence 5, 6), Hills 6 (Djilali, 75); Carle 7 (Lee 73), Derry 4, Danns 7, Butterfield 5, AMBROSE 7; Andrews 7.[LNB] MAN OF THE MATCH[LNB] PETER Lovenkrands another intelligent, hard-working display.[LNB]
