Source: Northern_Echo
Newcastle United 2 Nottingham Forest 0
IT promises to be a Happy Easter for Newcastle United after the promotion party officially started and St James' Park got the go-ahead to plan for life back in the Premier League last night.[LNB] A clinical Shola Ameobi strike, his ninth of the season in 14 appearances, had looked enough to extend Newcastle's lead over third-placed Nottingham Forest to 13 points.[LNB] But in injury-time, after Ameobi's neat backheel pass, Jose Enrique hammered home his first for the club to cement the victory which increased Newcastle's lead at the top of the Championship to four points.[LNB] Now the Magpies' place back in the top-flight could be rubber-stamped as early as Saturday if they can win at Peterborough United and Forest fail to win at Bristol City.[LNB] More than 45,000 braved the dreadful conditions on Tyneside but, like the smile on owner Mike Ashley's face at the whistle, the conditions mattered little after all but sealing a Premier League return.[LNB] Preserving the only unbeaten home record seemed the perfect ending to a match dubbed the most important of the season by manager Chris Hughton and the champagne is being chilled for this weekend.[LNB] Forest might have lost six away matches in a row prior to their trip to the North-East, but given what was at stake last night the occasion had more of a cup tie feel to things.[LNB] With more than 3,000 travelling fans packed high in the Leazes End, Billy Davies' team were intent on making an immediate impression and started brightly enough.[LNB] Geordie hearts were in the mouths when Fabricio Coloccini slipped on the drenched surface but the loose ball carried to Steve Harper when Dexter Blackstock was through.[LNB] But once Paul Anderson had headed fellow winger Nathan Tyson's delivery on to the roof of Harper's net, Newcastle gradually found their way and created the best chance of the half.[LNB] January buy Wayne Routledge was a constant menace down the right from the moment he teased over an inviting cross. Striker Andy Carroll, playing with the gloves again, slid in to volley goalwards but Forest goalkeeper Lee Camp got down well to his left to turn away for a corner.[LNB] Carroll was also guilty of wasting another fantastic chance when the loose ball fell kindly to him after the recalled Peter Lovenkrands' surge into the area. The 21-year-old, however, wanted too much time after creating space for himself and his eventual shot was blocked and cleared.[LNB] Newcastle had control but their defence, with Mike Williamson and Enrique the two changes to the backline that shut out Doncaster, had to be alert on numerous occasions, as Forest counter-attacked regularly.[LNB] But with Williamson, sliding in to intercept many attempts on goal, epitomising Newcastle's dogged determination in the driving rain, the home team always looked more likely to open the scoring.[LNB] And on the stroke of half-time, with sliding tackles holding for ten yards and becoming more and more entertaining, left-back Enrique drove a 25-yard thunderbolt that zipped off the turf and landed just wide.[LNB] Carroll had fallen awkwardly and looked out of sorts in the first half and he lasted less than three minutes after the restart, with Ameobi emerging for his first appearance since early February 2.[LNB] It became more apparent which team required the three points more after the restart, with Forest pressing more in the hope of finding the winner that would revive their automatic promotion hopes.[LNB] With the exception of a glancing header from Nathan Tyson that landed in the arms of Harper moments after the restart, though, Forest struggled to find a way past Williamson et al.[LNB] And they were made to pay 19 minutes from time when Ameobi pounced on some lazy possession, when Kevin Nolan capitalised on a stray pass that hit the heel of Radoslaw Majewski.[LNB] Nolan played in Ameobi and, with work still to be done, the striker struck low underneath his marker and in to Camp's far corner. It might have taken time to arrive, but it was the moment the home fans had been waiting for.[LNB] Camp also had to deny Lovenkrands low to his left, after another fine delivery from Routledge, and Gutierrez was unfortunate to see his shot deflect over.[LNB] But the second goal arrived in injury-time when Enrique raced through, completed a neat one-two with Ameobi, before unleashing a low drive beyond Camp. A finish worthy of the Premier League.[LNB]
