Source: Telegraph
Newcastle United 3 Swansea City 0: match report
Until now, Marlon Harewood has been more used to boos than cheers at St James' Park, but the striker left the field to applause, having helped Newcastle United cement their place at the top of the Championship with a fifth successive victory.[LNB]However, Harewood, whose work-rate has been a source of frustration to the club's fans, trudged off the field when replaced with a scowl on his face, having been eyeing a hat-trick.[LNB] Related ArticlesChampionship tableTelegraph player raterChampionship fixturesSport on television"I would have been surprised if he was pleased to be taken off I'm sure he would have liked the opportunity to score a third," said Hughton.[LNB]Newcastle United facing a side whose defensive record was only bettered by their own, didn't hang around, and were a goal to the good by the sixth minute. Danny Guthrie found Alan Smith with a short corner, and United's captain clipped a ball to Fabricio Coloccini, who flicked the ball on to Harewood to head past Dorus de Vries.[LNB]By the 21st minute it was 2-0, with Peter Lovenkrands netting his first goal of the campaign from close range after Jonas Gutierrez broke down the left and crossed.[LNB]Swansea City manager Paulo Sousa who strung five across his midfield hoping to stifle the league leaders watched in frustration as Harewood headed a third from a Lovenkrands left-wing cross seven minutes later. From then on, Newcastle's forays upfield were few and far between.[LNB]Goalkeeper Steve Harper, struggling with a back problem, stayed on the pitch long enough to deny Darren Pratley and Andrea Orlandi before the break, and the game was as good as over by the time the two filed down the tunnel for the interval.[LNB]And Harper's replacement, Tim Krul, ensured United recorded a 10th clean sheet with two superb second-half saves.[LNB]Before the game, Newcastle's managing director, Derek Llambias, pleaded for unity amid the uproar over Mike Ashley's tenure, and defended the decision to sell the naming rights to St James's Park. The call went unheeded, but there was no doubting the unity on the field, and Newcastle's form looks ominous.[LNB]Sousa said: "It will be very difficult for anyone to catch Newcastle. West Brom have a great squad, and they could do it, but Newcastle have more claims for the Championship." [LNB]
