Source: Telegraph
Sheffield United 0 Newcastle United 1: match report
Newcastle manager Chris Hughton is not normally prone to showing his emotions, but on Monday night his celebratory touchline jig demonstrated just how much returning his side to the top of the Championship meant to him. [LNB]Newcastle regained pole position thanks to an own goal from Sheffield United captain Chris Morgan. The game had begun brightly for under-pressure Sheffield United manager Kevin Blackwell's side, as Darius Henderson and Keith Treacy went close, but Newcastle should have snatched the lead when Ryan Taylor volleyed straight into Ian Bennett's arms from close range. [LNB]Football Fixtures 2009/2010: ChampionshipFabricio Coloccini could have been sent off for kicking out at Henderson as an untidy game threatened to boil over, and then Andy Carroll was booked for throwing Andrew Davies to the ground. [LNB]Ched Evans went close to putting the home side ahead in first-half stoppage time, sending a low angled drive just wide after rookie Tamas Kádar's misjudgement and Coloccini's half-hearted challenge. [LNB]Newcastle tightened up after half-time and only a cracking fingertip save by Bennett kept out Kevin Nolan's curling shot following Jose Enrique's surge into the penalty box. [LNB]Hughton's team had suddenly raised their game and their opponents wilted in the face of mounting pressure which saw a towering header from Carroll brush against the post. [LNB]The respite was, however, brief for Sheffield United because then the fates conspired to condemn Blackwell's team to a defeat which means they have only taken two points from the last 21 that have been available. [LNB]The deadlock was broken in the 53rd minute after the careless Kyle Walker was dispossessed by Nolan's crunching tackle as he tried to run the ball out of defence. The ball fell kindly to former Wigan midfielder Taylor, whose 25-yard shot was off target until it took a heavy deflection off Morgan's back and left Bennett hopelessly wrong-footed. [LNB]That caused Hughton to momentarily lose control as he celebrated the breakthrough with assistant manager Colin Calderwood, their appointment until the end of next season by club owner Mike Ashley seemingly vindicated. [LNB]Newcastle's tails were up as Blackwell's team suffered the jitters. Walker hobbled around and Carroll volleyed over a very presentable chance as Blackwell's team threatened to implode.[LNB]Match details:[LNB]Sheffield United (4-4-2): Bennett; Morgan, Kilgallon, Walker (France 60), Davies; Stewart (Cotterill 70) Harper, Treacy, Quinn; Henderson, Evans (Camara 76).Subs: Bunn (g), Reid, Williamson, Little.Booked: Morgan.[LNB]Newcastle (4-5-1): Harper; Simpson (Ranger 76), Coloccini, Kádar, Enrique; R Taylor, Nolan, Butt, Smith, Gutiérrez (Harewood 84); Carroll.Subs: Krul (g), Tozer, Guthrie, Geremi, Donaldson.Booked: Taylor, Carroll.Referee: K Friend (Leicestershire).[LNB]
