United's Pride hurt in Derby defeat
NEWCASTLE United were knocked off the top of the Championship tonight.
United's 15-game league unbeaten run was brought to an end at Pride Park tonight, with Derby County running out 3-0 winners thanks to goals from Rob Hulse, Kris Commons and Shaun Barker.
And the out of sorts performance will have left boss Chris Hughton scratching his head, his team having hammered Cardiff City in their previous outing.
The result saw Newcastle's three-point advantage at the top of the league wiped out, and West Bromwich Albion – who beat Scunthorpe United 2-0 – now lead the division on goal difference.
Third-placed Nottingham Forest, meanwhile, were beaten 1-0 at Coventry City.
Derby had the better of the first half, and Hulse was inches away from giving Nigel Clough's side the lead in the second minute, but the striker just couldn't reach an inviting cross from Stephen Pearson.
Hulse's strike partner Commons headed at Steve Harper a couple of minutes later, and Derby went on to boss the game for the opening half hour.
However, Jonas Gutierrez almost carved out a chance for himself in the 22nd minute when he took the ball off the woeful Nicky Hunt in front of the dugouts and ran toward goal, but the winger was stopped before he could get the ball on to his favoured right foot.
Barker almost headed a Gutierrez cross into his own net in the 30th minute as Newcastle fought back.
Derby captain Robbie Savage was booked in the 37th minute after bringing down Wayne Routledge as he raced upfield, but the much-travelled midfielder's next contribution was more telling.
Savage threaded a ball forward for the dangerous Commons to latch on to, and the former Nottingham Forest striker crossed for HULSE, who rose unmarked to head past a helpless Harper five minutes before the break.
Routledge and Kevin Nolan both forced saves from Stephen Bywater at the other end before the break, but Clough's men held on to their narrow advantage.
Hughton resisted the temptation to change his team, but after a bright spell early in the second half, things got worse, much worse, for his team just before the hour mark.
Gutierrez clipped Michael Tonge as he ran into the box, and COMMONS stepped up to convert the resulting penalty to give Derby a 2-0 lead.
And BARKER swept in the ball to make it 3-0 after a Commons corner was only half cleared five minutes later, and Hughton quickly made a triple substitution, sending on Peter Lovenkrands, Shola Ameobi and Alan Smith.
But United couldn't find a way back into the game, and they go into Saturday's tough away game at Swansea City in need of three points to leapfrog West Brom, who are in FA Cup action.
DERBY COUNTY: Bywater; Hunt, Barker, Buxton, McEveley; Tonge, Savage (Anderson, 88), Green, Pearson; Hulse (Martin, 87), Commons (Vidal, 80). Subs not used: Teale, Porter, Deeney, Moxey.
NEWCASTLE UNITED: Harper; Simpson, Williamson, Hall, van Aanholt (Smith, 67); Routledge, Nolan, Guthrie, Gutierrez; Best (Lovenkrands, 67), Carroll (Ameobi, 67). Subs not used: Krul, Kadar, Donaldson, Pancrate.
Goals: Hulse 40, Commons 59 (pen), Barker 64
Bookings: Savage 37, Nolan 57, Pearson 64, Buxton 68, Green 86
Sent off: None
Referee: Anthony Taylor (Wythenshawe)
Attendance: 28,607
For reaction to tonight's game, see tomorrow's Gazette
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Weather for South Shields
Wednesday 08 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -2 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Light rain
Temperature: 1 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South
