COVENTRY CITY 0
NEWCASTLE UNITED 2
Coca-Cola Championship
Ricoh Arena
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Kick-off 7.45pm

Craig Hope reports from Ricoh Arena ...

FULL-TIME SUMMARY

SHOLA Ameobi netted on his return from injury and Nile Ranger opened his scoring account as table-topping Newcastle United made it seven wins on the spin at Coventry City.

An open first half saw both sides pass up chances to seize the lead but it was touch of class from Ameobi which broke the deadlock on the cusp of half-time.

Receiving a low pass from the impressive Jose Enrique, the Geordie striker spun clear of marker Jermain Grandison before lashing left-footed between Keiren Westwoood and his near post for his sixth of the season.

United were made to withstand spells of Sky Blue pressure on the way to their fourth consecutive clean sheet and substitute Ranger made sure of the points in the 81st minute with a close-range volley after yet more good work from Enrique.

The win opens up a seven-point lead over second-placed West Brom with a trip to Barnsley next up on Saturday.

SECOND-HALF UPDATES (click refresh for latest)

Full-time, it's seven wins on the spin now for United.

90+1min - And the hosts earn another flag-kick but again it's a yellow head, this time Alan Smith's, which meets to clear.

There will be three minutes added time.

89min - City win a late corner as Enrique blocks McIndoe's cross. The former Bristol City man delivers but it's Coloccini's curly locks which rise from the crowd to head clear.

85min - Gary Madine and David Bell are on for Aron Gunnarsson and Jack Cork for the hosts.

81min - NEWCASTLE GOAL (0-2): And Nile Ranger gets that first United goal! Jose Enrique charges down the left flank before dropping a delightful cross onto the boot of a grateful Ranger who guides a first-time volley into the gaping net at the far post.

76min - A swift breakaway sees Pancrate slip a pass wide to Harewood in the right channel. The forward carries to the angle of the area before sweeping a low cross to the far post in the direction of Nile Ranger, The Londoner slides to turn back on goal but the ball ricochets up off Van Aanholt and away for a corner - that looked for all the world as if Ranger was about to break his United duck. Ryan Taylor replaces Fabrice Pancrate before the corner is taken and it is he who delivers only for a blue shirt to power clear.

70min - Steven Taylor comes to Steve Harper's rescue as the Toon stopper spills Gunnarsson's low bouncer from 20 yards with his Geordie centre-back steaming in to scramble clear the rebounds from Leon Best.

68min - Eastwood spins in the area but cannot get past a well-placed Steve Harper with what was a powerful strike.

66min - From our position in the Press Box it looks as though Alan Smith has opened his Toon account but a low, 20-yard drive is somehow snaffled by the claws of a diving Westwood - great save.

65min - The visitors are making a double change and strike pairing Shola Ameobi and Peter Lovenkrands will be replaced by another front duo, Marlon Harewood and Nile Ranger.

61min - United are caught napping at the back and Cork races in behind down the left. The Chelsea youngster shows a presence of mind to draw back for Eastwood, arriving just inside the area, to strike. But it's Shola Ameobi of all people who is back on defensive duty and blocks with his chest on the edge of the six-yard box - that was a real chance.

59min - With Nicky Butt sitting in front of the back four, Alan Smith has been deployed in a more attacking role and the midfielder is almost sprung clear by Ameobi's deft chip only for the ball to have slighlty too much weight and run through to Westwood off a greasy surface.

55min - Nicky Butt works a corner short to Enrique who lifts high to the far post, Steven Taylor climbs to meet but the Geordie is stretching and merely succeeds in cushioning a header onto the roof of the City net.

53min - Coventry are without a win in nine games and perhaps that pressure is beginning to show as manager Chris Coleman discards his tie on the touchline.

50min - Nicky Butt slides across the turf to block Gunnarsson's attempted strike with the Iceland midfielder taking aim just inside the area - that was brave play from the skipper and a vital intervention.

Shola Ameobi and Alan Smith get us started for this second period with United attacking the end where their fans are housed.

FIRST-HALF UPDATES

Half-time, United lead thanks to Shola's late goal.

45+1min - NEWCASTLE GOAL (0-1): But Ameobi makes no mistake this time, spinning clear of Grandison from Enrique's low feed before lashing left-footed beyond Keiran Westwood from 10 yards out - superb finish for his sixth of the season.

43min - Jonas weaves his way between two home shirts and drives into the danger zone down the left channel. He opts for a sharp pullback and finds Ameobi 12 yards out. The striker takes a touch and that robs him of the vital split-second to shoot as City shirts recover to crowd out the United man.

40min - Jack Cork, the young midfielder on loan from Chelsea, is booked for a blatant tug on Gutierrez.

38min - Leon Best fashions space for a shot 12 yards out and is only denied a goal by the fingertips of Steve Harper who diverts up and onto the crossbar. Still, though, the danger exists and, when the ball is returned, Gunnarsson climbs to loop a header onto the top of the woodwork - United survive but they were nervy moments.

36min - Still, six minutes later, Lovnekrands protests the earlier non-award of a free-kick and what could have been a red card for the City defender.

30min - Peter Lovenkrands is furious as he gets the wrong side of a pedestrian Barnett before being felled by the cumbersome defender just outside the area only for the man in black to wave play on - unbelievable!

28min - Gunnarsson forces his way into the area and the Iceland international somehow manages to maintain possession depsite the presence of a cluster of yellow shirts. The 20-year-old goes to ground amid a combination of challenges yet still attempts to release a shot only for it to be smothered by the legs of Steven Taylor on the edge of the six-yard area.

26min - Butt's corner is only half cleared as far as Enrique, the Spaniard controls on his chest before confidently unleashing a rasper of a volley which brushes off a home shirt before narrowly evading Westwood's frame . The second flag-kick flashes through bodies and runs away for a goal-kick.

24min - A tangle of legs sees Shola sent sprawling inside the area but the striker is incensed when no spot-kick is given and, to be fair, it looked like he had a case.

22min - An injury has forced 18-year-old full-back Jordan Clarke to withdraw and the City Academy product is replaced by Jermaine Grandison.

19min - Gutierrez spots the diagonal dart of Lovenkrands and finds the Dane with an incisive throughball. The Toon forward has been forced wide but looks to pick out Alan Smith, haring into the six-yard area, with a low cross. City, though, have too many blue shirts back in attendance and before the ball reaches the United midfielder the danger is snuffed out by Martin Cranie.

13min - Ameobi steals away in behind the City backline, the narrow angle prevents the shot so he instead pulls sharply back for Pancrate but the Frenchman's first-time stab dribbles harmlessly wide.

11min - Teenage left-back Patrick van Aanholt must be quick - he's just outstripped United pace ace Fabrice Pancrate after the Frenchman had done well to block Cranie's attempted clearance before giving chase.

8min - You have to say City have started the brighter and it's only the rangey Gutierrez, galloping back in chase of Eastwood, who prevents the former Southend forward getting a clean strike on goal from the edge of the area - good work from the Argentine.

3min - Ameobi brings Enrique's forward clip under his command with a deft touch before winning the game's first corner as his cross is deflected behind by Clarke. No Danny Guthrie or Ryan Taylor means Nicky Butt is on flag-kick duty and the skipper's rustiness at these deadball situations perhaps shows as his cross carries well clear of all inside the area.

1min - Eastwood lofts a ball to the far post, the delivery beats Coloccini and Taylor but skipper Nicky Butt has read the unfolding danger and arrives to contain with a smart headed clearance.

United, kitted in yellow, and Coventry, in their traditional sky blue, emerge from the tunnell with the visiting players acknowledging their 3,500-strong backing away to the right.

TEAM NEWS

CHRIS Hughton makes three changes for tonight's game with Fabrice Pancrate, Shola Ameobi and Nicky Butt all handed starts.

Ameobi has not figured since injuring his foot in the Carling Cup win over Huddersfield Town back in August having plundered five goals in as many matches during a blistering start to the campaign.

Marlon Harewood is the man who makes way for the Nigerian-born striker with Peter Lovenkrands, who has now netted in his last two games, keeping his place in attack.

Pancrate, who opened his Magpie scoring account in stunning fashion during Saturday's 2-0 win against Watford, comes in for his full debut in place of Danny Guthrie on the right-hand side of midfield.

Skipper Butt replaces the suspended Kevin Nolan in the Toon engine room.

TEAMS

CCFC: Keiran Westwood, Jordan Clarke, Patrick Van Aanholt, Martin Cranie, Leon Barnett, Freddy Eastwood, Aron Gunnarsson, Jack Cork, Michael McIndoe, Clinton Morrison (c), Leon Best
Subs: Daniel Ireland, James McPake, David Bell, Chris Hussey, Gary Madine, Jermaine Grandison, Shaun Jeffers

NUFC: Steve Harper, Danny Simpson, Steven Taylor, Fabricio Coloccini, Jose Enrique, Fabrice Pancrate, Alan Smith, Nicky Butt (c), Jonas Gutierrez, Shola Ameobi, Peter Lovenkrands
Subs: Danny Guthrie, Marlon Harewood, Zurab Khizanishvili, Ryan Taylor, Tim Krul, Tamas Kadar, Nile Ranger

Referee: G Hegley
Attendance: 21, 688