Magpies flying high as Eagles’ woes continue

IT SEEMED appropriate that Newcastle took the lead in last night’s uninspiring contest with Crystal Palace courtesy of an own goal.

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.

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.

Newcastle have become masters at emerging victorious from battles of attrition.

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.

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.

The Magpies boss handed Mike Williamson an immediate chance to impress by naming him in his starting line-up alongside Fabricio Coloccini.

Williamson has joined Newcastle on loan until the end of the season, after which he is expected to complete a permanent switch to Tyneside.

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.

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.

Palace came into the game in a state of turmoil.

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 Star midfielder Victor Moses was withdrawn from the starting line-up at the behest of administrators, who are keen to cash in on the Eagles’ most saleable asset.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.

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Warnock restricted him to naming just three substitutes and Palace’s troubles continued when defender Johannes Ertl was withdrawn with what looked like a hamstring problem within five minutes of the kick-off.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.

Prior to that both sides had excellent opportunities to make an early breakthrough.

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.

But the clearest chance of the first half fell to Palace, Danny Butterfield steering a header wide from five yards.

Enrique’s injury saw substitute Fabrice Pancrate slotting in at right-back, with Tamas Kadar reverting to the left side of defence.

Newcastle had the ball in the net ten minutes before the interval but Lovenkrands was offside from Andy Carroll’s flicked pass.

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.

Lovenkrands was withdrawn, allowing Routledge to face the club where he made his league debut nine years ago.

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.

Neither side created any clear cut chances in the second half when Newcastle in particular were guilty of some very sloppy passing.

Nile Ranger should had sealed the game but his far post header sailed over the bar from Pancrate's hanging cross.

But the youngster made amends when he coolly finished after put through by debutant Routledge.

Match facts

Goals: Derry og (20, 1-0), Ranger (90,2- 0)

Bookings: Butterfield (72, foul); Coloccini (77, foul)

Referee: Russell Booth (Mansfield) 6 Attendance: 37,886

Entertainment: ✰✰

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.

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.

MAN OF THE MATCH

PETER Lovenkrands – another intelligent, hard-working display.