PRESTON NORTH END 0
NEWCASTLE UNITED 1
Coca-Cola Championship
Deepdale
Monday, November 23
Kick-off 7.45pm

Craig Hope reports from Deepdale ...

FULL-TIME SUMMARY

NEWCASTLE United claimed their third 1-0 Monday-night victory of the season to regain top spot as Kevin Nolan's goal split the sides at Deepdale.

A largely scrappy affair had been lacking in real goalmouth incident and both teams had struggled to carve any openings of note until Nolan popped up to win it for the visitors with his ninth of the campaign on 74 minutes.

Danny Guthrie's deep centre was missed by all and it was Nolan, lurking at the far post, who swiveled to steer a low shot back across goal and beyond a rooted Andy Lonergan.

The victory, United's fourth on the bounce, re-establishes the Geordies' two-point lead at the top of the table with Swansea City next up at Gallowgate on Saturday.

SECOND-HALF UPDATES (click refresh for latest)

But it matters little as United hold on to regain top spot.

90+4min - Gutierrez should make sure of the result but, with just Lonegran to beat, skies woefully wide after being slipped in by Lovenkrands.

90+3min - The Magpies are using all of their experience to see this one out.

There will be four minutes added time.

90min - Danny Guthrie trots out of the action with Peter Lovenkrands entering the fray.

87min - "We are top of the league" rings out from the Toon Army.

86min - Alan Smith watches a ball run away for a goal-kick to eat up yet more vital seconds.

85min - The home fans are growing frustrated as, amid torrential rain, United's rearguard holds strong to snuff out the hosts' latest attacking forray.

80min - North End striker Jon Parkin is booed on by the home fans as he replaces Chris Sedgwick - the same player received a far-from-welcome recepetion from the Stoke fans when he came on against United in the FA Cup Third Round two seasons ago - he later had a shot cleared off the line during that goalless draw at the Britannia Stadium.

79min - United are having to withstand a Preston fightback here and Mellor forces a smart save from Harper before Chaplow blasts wide from the edge of the area.

74min - NEWCASTLE GOAL (0-1): Danny Guthrie levers a cross into the box from the right and Nile Ranger challenges with Chilvers. That pair fail to connect and the ball runs through to Kevin Nolan who swivels before guiding a low left-footed shot back across goal and into the far corner past a rooted Andy Lonergan - that's the midfielder's ninth of the season.

73min - Callum Davidson is replaced by Eddie Nolan.

70min - Nile Ranger bursts clear of minder Collins before dispatching a 20-yard strike which shaves the base of Lonergan's post - quick thinking from the Londoner and that was close.

68min - Tempers are beginning to flare and, after an incident which sees a bloodied Chris Brown leave the pitch with a head wound, skippers Smith and Davidson have to be separated amid a crowd of bodies following a verbal exchange on halfway.

66min - And Kadar is almost caught cold when Sedgwick ghosts in on his blind side before foraging into the area. The Hungarian keeps pace with his opponent and perhaps does enough to distract as the former Rotherham man stabs wide with just Harper to beat.

65min - Another change for The Magpies looks to be an enforced one with Danny Simpson replaced by Tamas Kadar - Steven Taylor switching to right-back.

62min - Nile Ranger is going to be introduced in an effort to inject some attacking energy with Andy Carroll making way.

54min - United fashion the best move of the match with Guthrie, having received a short pass from Harewood, slipping a measured ball wide to the over-lapping Simpson. The full-back opts for the first-time cross, again it's an enticing delivery but Chivers shows the greatest desire to extend his neck muscles and head away for a corner. Guthrie's ball drops through Coloccini's legs before clattering off the shins of Tonge and rolling rather fortunately into arms of keeper Lonergan.

53min - Paul Parry's low free-kick from range is snaffled with relative ease by Steve Harper.

51min - Danny Guthrie feeds a low ball forward for Harewood to chase, the striker uses his strength to hold off the attentions of Collins before snapping a low cross into the six-yard area, Andy Carroll is making strides to get there but Chivers arrives to side-foot away for a corner. But again it's a Preston head which meets to clear.

47min - Andy Carroll receives possession on the right-hand side of the penalty area and, rather than strike on his prefered left foot, shifts the ball on to his right before drilling low into the side-netting - good effort but you feel Lonergan had it covered.

The teams are back out for the second period with Preston forced into a change, the injured Youl Mawebe replaced by Liam Chivers.

FIRST-HALF UPDATES

And so the whistle sounds to bring a largely uneventful opening period to a close - let's hope the second-half picks up ...

There will be one minute added time.

45min - Preston are finishing much the stronger and win a corner when Enrique is forced to poke away from Chaplow on the right. Tonge centres but United clear.

43min - Danny Guthrie's attempted pass to Kevin Nolan is seized upon by an alert Richard Chaplow 30 yards out. The midfielder leaves his yellow-shirted opponents trailing in his wake and has Preston fans out of their seats as his dipping strike drops just the wrong side of Steve Harper's crossbar.

39min - Preston break at speed through Chaplow and the midfielder slips a sharp pass wide to Sedgwick on the right. He pauses before wedging a dangerous centre into the six-yard area with Steven Taylor taking no  chances in guiding behind for a corner. United fail to clear from Parry's ball and, after a string of tackles of mis-placed passes, Mellor fires wide from the edge of the area.

35min - Brown digs out a looping cross from the right, Sedgwick steams in to connect on the shoulder of Simpson and manages to out-jump his opponent but the midfielder's header drops on to the roof of Steve Harper's goal.

32min - Simpson serves up a delightful cross from the right but it's the affro-headed Mawene who reads to connect inside the six-yard area with Tonge completing the clearance - Chris Hughton will be wondering where the United bodies were, that was some ball!

28min - A well-worked United move culminates in Enrique's square pass infield finding the unmarked Gutierrez 12 yards from goal. The Argentine uses his first touch to nick by the grounded Collins but then gets his feet in a tangle with the ball rolling away for a goal-kick - that was a real chance!

24min - United fail to deal with a hopeful up and under and, when the ball drops for Chaplow 20 yards out, the bald-headed midfielder merely succeeds in lashing a left-footed effort high into the travelling fans behind Steve Harper's goal.

18min - From the resultant free-kick Chris Brown fashions a yard to shoot and, despite a narrow angle, forces Steve Harper to beat clear his stinging effort.

17min - Alan Smith sees yellow as he leads with an arm on Chris Sedgwick - the United skipper must be careful now.

16min - North End shave the United target twice in the space of 60 seconds with first Chaplow and then debutant Tonge going close from long range.

15min - Kevin Nolan does well to trap a wild Preston clearance before stepping away from Tonge 40 yards from goal.The midfielder shortens the yardage from the target with a short burst foward before testing Lonergan with a low drive which is comfortably gathered by the home stopper.

12min - The Magpies win another flag-kick but again it's a home shirt which clears.

10min - The early pressure has been all United's and Danny Simpson looks for a way through the North End rearguard with a quick double-touch on the right. It's inventive from the full-back but he is crowded out by white shirts and the hosts clear.

5min - Harewood threads a ball in behind Jones with Gutierrez the recepient. The Argentine opens up his legs and drives into the area, Preston are stretched but the winger's delivery is scuffed and United are lucky to earn a corner when the ball rolls behind off the shins of Collins. Guthrie centres but Collins is the first to meet with a powerful header clear.

1min - We're off and there's an early test for Steven Taylor as he steers Callum Davidson's long downfield punt back to Steve Harper.

There is a swirling light rain inside Deepdale as United, kitted in their yellow change, and North End, in their traditional white shirts and navy shorts, emerge from the tunnell.

There's been a late change here for The Magpies with Ryan Taylor forced to pull out of the warm-up because of a calf strain with Marlon Harewood taking his place in the starting line-up. Ryan Donaldson comes in on the bench.

TEAM NEWS

CHRIS Hughton makes just one change from the side which beat Peterborough United 16 days ago with Ryan Taylor replacing Marlon Harewood.

That means The Magpies are likely to revert a 4-5-1 system often deployed on the road this season.

Eight-goal top marksman Kevin Nolan will push forward in an advanced role off Andy Carroll who returns to the club with which he made his league debut during a loan spell two seasons ago.

Jonas Gutierrez has overcome the slight thigh problem which forced him to withdraw during the first-half of that 3-1 victory over Posh to take his place on the left-wing.

Ryan Taylor will play on the opposite flank with skipper Alan Smith and Danny Guthrie occupying the central berths.

An expected back five of Steve Harper, Danny Simpson, Steven Taylor, Fabricio Coloccini and Jose Enrique continue for United.

French new boy Fabrice Pancrate, who penned a deal until the end of the season over the weekend, has received clearance to take his place on the bench.

Nicky Butt misses out with a slight calf strain.

TEAMS

PNEFC: Andrew Longeran, Callum Davidson (c), Richard Chaplow, Youl Mawene, Neill Collins, Chris Sedgwick, Chris Brown, Paul Parry, Michael Tonge, Billy Jones, Neil Mellor
Subs: Veliche Shumulikoski, Darren Carter, Liam Chilvers, Wayne Henderson, Jon Parkin, Eddie Nolan, Stephen Elliott

NUFC: Steve Harper, Danny Simpson, Steven Taylor, Fabricio Coloccini, Jose Enrique, Danny Guthrie, Alan Smith (c), Jonas Gutierrez, Kevin Nolan, Andy Carroll, Marlon Harewood
Subs: Tim Krul, Ryan Donaldson, Peter Lovenkrands, Geremi, Fabrice Pancrate, Tamas Kadar, Nile Ranger

Referee: Mr S W Mathieson
Attendance: 16, 925