Source: Northern_Echo
Newcastle United 2 Middlesbrough 0
Newcastle United 2 Middlesbrough 0[LNB] ST JAMES' PARK might have broken the record for the highest attendance for a Championship fixture, but it will take a catastrophe for the Football League to boast Newcastle United among its ranks next season.[LNB] It is just a shame Middlesbrough look increasingly unlikely to be saying the same come May, with the contrasting fortunes of the clubs from Tyne and Tees highlighted on a freezing afternoon when almost 50,000 turned out to witness a match in English football's second tier.[LNB] Newcastle, courtesy of a goal in each half from Marlon Harewood and Shola Ameobi, are ten points clear of third-placed Nottingham Forest, with automatic promotion back to the Premier League on the cards.[LNB] And if there was an occasion that shows why, this was it, with Newcastle rarely hitting top gear against a team Chris Hughton, the Newcastle boss, still refers to as rivals for a quick return to the top-flight.[LNB] On the evidence of this, though, Gordon Strachan has major work to do in January if Middlesbrough are going to revive a season threatening to drop to even greater lows.[LNB] Making sure the team scored goals was always a problem for his predecessor Gareth Southgate, but now his successor is finding that conceding them is a major cause for concern.[LNB] While Newcastle kept their sixth clean sheet from their last eight matches, Strachan will be acutely aware he has not witnessed his players keep one since the night Southgate was sacked after defeating Derby 2-0.[LNB] That night Middlesbrough were a point off top spot, now Middlesbrough sit in the bottom half of the table and with a five point gap to make up to the play-off zone.[LNB] Mistakes have contributed to that, with goalkeeper Brad Jones' error in the build up to Harewood's opener the perfect example, just a week after the Australian's misjudgement gifted Cardiff City three points at the Riverside.[LNB] Newcastle, on the other hand, continue to roll and Ameobi's downward header just before the hour sealed a fifth straight win on home soil, extending an unbeaten run to nine matches in the process that has increased the gap over Boro to 20 points.[LNB] If Middlesbrough required any extra incentive before making the short trip north, the sight of dropping into the bottom half of the Championship table on Saturday night should have provided it.[LNB] However, with the exception of an early block from Steven Taylor when Leroy Lita went through, Newcastle looked the far more confident on the ball in the final third.[LNB] Whenever Newcastle moved forward they looked dangerous, which was as much to do with the anxiety within the Middlesbrough backline as it was the mood of the men wearing black and white.[LNB] Strachan had been forced to change things, with Sean St Ledger whose initial loan from Preston has expired - replaced at the heart of the defence by Emanuel Pogatetz.[LNB] But rather than draft in a recognised left-back in the shape of Andrew Taylor or Jonathan Grounds, the former Celtic chief gambled by fielding two right-footed full-backs.[LNB] It would be harsh to suggest that Justin Hoyte's performance at left-back, which was decent enough, was the major contributing factor to the Middlesbrough defensive shortcomings.[LNB] It would not, however, be harsh to single out goalkeeper Jones for his influence on things. Newcastle might have included two powerful front-men in their forward line, but with his hands to assist him the Aussie goalkeeper should command his area better.[LNB] Instead Jones' lack of strength was the only reason that Newcastle took the lead. There were complaints that referee Kevin Friend should have awarded a free-kick when Ameobi knocked Poagatetz to the floor when Guthrie floated over a free-kick.[LNB] But Middlesbrough could have no complaints about the way Jones charged off his line only to be beaten in the air by Ameobi, leaving Harewood to arrive in the six yard box to tap Newcastle in front.[LNB] Four minutes later Jones again ran from his line to gather a routine long ball into the left hand side of his area only to make a mess of things when he tried to gather. Guthrie's lob from the right flank, which dropped high over the empty net, spared his blushes.[LNB] Middlesbrough enjoyed a large share of possession, but it was their failure to do anything with it that prevented them from pulling level.[LNB] Newcastle might not have had the efforts on goal they would have liked, but they didn't need to because Middlesbrough gifted them the three points.[LNB] The healthy contingent of travelling Teessiders did think they had witnessed an equaliser just after the half hour; Newcastle somehow survived.[LNB] When Gary O'Neil's free-kick changed direction, goalkeeper Steve Harper could only parry. Isaiah Osbourne slid into shoot goalwards, which was initially thwarted by the hand of Steven Taylor, then the face of Harper before bouncing off the post.[LNB] Friend, the official, could quite easily have given a penalty for the handball, but instead play was waved away and Newcastle retained their slender lead.[LNB] Newcastle, defending in a manner in which their North-East counterparts must strive towards, successfully reached half-time in front and Strachan attempted to change things by replacing the ineffective Dave Kitson.[LNB] But Marcus Bent, running out of time to make an impression before his loan from Birmingham expires, was equally unable to spark things off in the final third, with Taylor and Fabricio Coloccini keeping things tight.[LNB] As Middlesbrough's frustration grew, particularly after David Wheater had headed O'Neil's free-kick over the bar just before the hour, Newcastle wrapped up the result moments later.[LNB] It was again Guthrie who was the architect. This time he curled over a perfect delivery to Jones' back post, Ameobi charged in, leapt above Wheater and nodded powerfully into the Middlesbrough net.[LNB] For Newcastle the events could not have gone more to plan, with Middlesbrough's occasional foray forward competently dealt with while providing enough of a threat to deliver the match-winning goals.[LNB] Had it not been for Jones' quick thinking in the final stages it could have been three. He initially palmed away Guthrie's well struck free-kick, before Jones pounced on Ameobi's fortuitous rebound that almost crossed the line.[LNB] Match facts Goals:[LNB] 0-1: Harewood (16, tapped in rebound after Jones flapped at Guthrie's delivery);[LNB] 0-2: Ameobi (59, applied the perfect header to the perfect Guthrie cross) Bookings: R Williams (30, foul); Pogatetz (45, dissent); Simpson (58, foul)[LNB] Referee: Kevin Friend (Leicester) - Boro might be aggrieved by a couple of his decisions but he was not to blame. 4[LNB] Attendance: 49,644[LNB] Entertainment: [LNB] NEWCASTLE UNITED (4-4-2):[LNB] 6 Harper: Might not have known too much about it but made a vital stop at 1-0.[LNB] 6 Simpson: Never gave Arca or Yeates the freedom to exploit the left flank.[LNB] 7 S Taylor: His partnership with Coloccini laid the foundations for the win.[LNB] 7 Coloccini: Calm, composed and a tower of strength at the back.[LNB] 6 Enrique: Most of his work was done defensively but occasionally pushed forward.[LNB] 8 GUTHRIE: Deliveries led to both goals and he was a nuisance to Boro throughout.[LNB] 6 Smith: Strong in the tackle and further proved why he is now appreciated by the fans.[LNB] 6 Nolan: Left the scoring to others, but still enjoyed a fair game.[LNB] 6 Gutierrez: Faded after a lively start but can be satisfied with his performance.[LNB] 7 Ameobi: Scored one and laid the opener on a plate for Harewood.[LNB] 6 Harewood: Capitalised on Jones' mistake to tap Newcastle ahead.[LNB] Subs:[LNB] Butt (for Smith 49): Slotted in to replace Smith well. 5 Ranger (for Harewood 66): Eager to make an impression. 5 Pancrate (for Ameobi 83) (not used): Lovenkrands, R Taylor, Krul, Kadar.[LNB] MIDDLESBROUGH (4-4-2):[LNB] 4 Jones: Looked a bag of nerves until it was too late.[LNB] 6 McMahon: Can't be faulted for the defeat and did well against Gutierrez.[LNB] 6 Wheater: Out-jumped by Ameobi for the second goal, seconds after he went close to scoring himself.[LNB] 6 Pogatetz: Was fouled in the build-up to Harewood's opener.[LNB] 4 Hoyte: Out of position but still tried to push on when he could.[LNB] 6 O'NEIL: Back in the team and the captain tried to lead a revival.[LNB] 5 R Williams: Made a couple of driving runs from midfield.[LNB] 5 Osbourne: Was not the worst man on the pitch, but he was far from the being the best[LNB] 5 Arca: Struggled to make an impact on the left in the absence of Johnson;[LNB] 5 Lita: Made numerous runs into the Newcastle half but failed to test Harper[LNB] 4 Kitson: Won a couple of headers but rarely looked a threat to the Magpies defence.[LNB] Subs:[LNB] Bent (for Kitson 46): Failed to make the difference Strachan craved. 5 Yeates (for Arca 66): A surprise omission from the start. 5 Franks (for Lita 83) (not used): A Taylor, Riggott, Coyne, L Williams.[LNB] MAN OF THE MATCH[LNB] DANNY Guthrie turned in a match-winning display from the flank with his dynamite deliveries.[LNB]
