Ranger (90 +4)
St. James' Park
Football League Championship
(Attendance: 37,886)
Nile Nets To Seal Palace Victory
NEWCASTLE UNITED 2
CRYSTAL PALACE 0
Coca-Cola Championship
St.James' Park
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Kick off 7.45pm
Craig Hope reports from St.James' Park ...
FULL-TIME SUMMARY
NILE Ranger netted his first goal at St.James' Park to seal a hard-fought win over a dogged Crystal Palace and restore Newcastle United's three-point lead at the summit of the Championship.
Leading by a goal to nil entering stoppage time, The Magpies found themselves pinned deep in their own half as the visitors sought a late leveller.
But a swift counter-attack produced the killer goal and, from debutant Wayne Routledge's incisive throughball, teenager Ranger raced clear before demonstrating a maturity beyond his tender years in slotting beyond Argentine stopper Julian Speroni.
United had been gifted a first-half lead when Palace skipper Shaun Derry hooked hopelessly through his own net on 20 minutes.
The South Londoners, though, refused to lie down and were only denied an equaliser midway through the second period when Steve Harper brushed Darren Ambrose's close-range volley onto the base of the post.
It was a nervy finale for the hosts but injury-time anxieties were quelled thanks to Ranger's cool finish.
SECOND-HALF UPDATES (click refresh for latest)
That's it, full-time - 2-0 United!
90+3min - NEWCASTLE GOAL (2-0): And Nile Ranger wins it for The Magpies! Routledge is the provider as his slick throughball is latched onto by the livewire frontman and he races in on goal before cooly slotting past Speroni for his maiden home strike.
90+1min - Tempers are continuing to flare and nerves continuing to fray as United defend their slender lead - they need to be strong here.
There will be five minutes added time.
87min - United are living on their nerves here and successfully defend a corner with Palace applying late pressure in search of a leveller.
86min - Butterfield drills low on target from all of 25 yards but, despite a nervy groan from the Toon Army, Steve Harper is able to shuffle to his left and saves with relative ease.
83min - Final throw of the dice for Palace sees Alan Lee, the Irish striker, replace Nick Carle.
81min - The Magpies break at pace and Nile Ranger is presented with a golden chance to make safe the points when Fabrice Pancrate drops a cross on his head. The teenager climbs at the far post but fails to get above the delivery and nods into the lower rows of the Leazes End - hardlines.
80min - United are on the back foot here and concede a corner when Coloccini snuffs out Ambrose's teasing near-post centre. Carroll is back on defensive duty and towers to head clear - good work.
77min - Coloccini is the first United man in the book for a late chop on Andrew.
74min - Nile Ranger replaces Jonas Gutierrez and the teenager joins Andy Carroll in attack.
70min - Steve Harper and Tamas Kadar combine to rescue United after a defensive lapse sees Palace steal in behind the United backline. First, it's the turn of Harper to brush Ambrose's close-range volley onto the base of the post after the former United man, unmarked six yards out, had connected with Butterfield's centre. The rebound rolls to the feet of Danns but, with the trigger cocked in aim of an unguarded target, the Palace man is robbed by a sliding Kadar who preserves his side'slender advantage!
68min - Williamson does well with a double block from first Danns and then Derry, from 20 yards, with the second spinning away for a corner. Smith wins at the near post with a powerful climb to head clear.
63min - Routledge's first involvement leads to a corner which is delivered by Guthrie and flapped clear by Speroni. Smith retrieves possession and feeds Routledge on the right. The diminutive winger clips a cross in the direction of fellow new boy Williamson but Lawrence wins to clear.
62min - Peter Lovenkrands makes way for debutant Wayne Routledge and the new boy receives a rousing reception from the home fans.
58min - Things are beginning to boil over in the middle of the park and Shaun Derry almost re-arranges the face of Alan Smith with a shoulder-high boot which the Toon skipper does well to escape - this all stems from Smith's earlier challenge on Danns.
54min - Carroll seizes a loose ball midway inside the Palace half before advancing and thundering a low shot towards Speroni's target, The Italian stopper is scampering to get there and, although he fails to make the ground, the ball skids wide of the base of the post - decent effort.
50min - Smith and Danns crunch into a challenge 20 yards from the Palace goal with the visiting midfielder left in a heap on the turf. Palace have the free-kick but, before it is taken, tempers flare a little on the touchline with coaching staff from both sides involved in a heated exchange.
46min - The Magpies are immediately on the offensive and Pancrate, attacking the Leazes by-line, digs out a cross into the danger zone. Lovenkrands has worked a yard off Hill and controls before spinning to shoot from the angle of the six-yard area, The Dane, though, fires high over the crossbar and fails to find the finish to match his impressive build up.
No more changes at the break as United get us started attacking the Leazes End.
FIRST-HALF UPDATES
An unspectacular first half is brought to a close with United leading thanks to Shaun Derry's own goal.
There will be two minutes added time.
44min - Lovenkrands is treated before gingerely returning to the action.
42min - Pancrate drifts infield from the right unchallenged and suddenly the target opens up for a strike, The Frenchman sets himself before dragging low across the face of goal from 20 yards. Lovenkrands and then Carroll both try in vain to turn on goal with the Dane ending up in a heap clutching his ankle on the edge of the six-yard area.
38min - Andrew's cross-cum-shot spirals up off the boot of Pancrate and loops dangerously towards the United target. Steve Harper, backpedalling furiously, manages to recover in the nick of time and slaps the ball over his crossbar - good save. The Toon stopper then comes to fist clear from Danns' centre.
36min - Lovenkrands is sprung clear on halfway by Carroll but the Dane is quickly swamped by recovering Palace shirts and the chance is gone.
32min - Steve Harper thunders a long ball downfield, Andy Carroll strides to connect and the route-one approach almost reaps an unlikely reward as the Geordie's header, from just inside the area, is clasped by what looked like a slightly panicked Speroni.
28min - Darren Ambrose bends a 30-yard free-kick on target but the ambitious effort is seized with ease by Steve Harper.
26min - Jose Enrique limps from the action and is replaced by Fabrice Pancrate - who will slot in at right-back - with Tamas Kadar switching to the opposite flank.
20min - NEWCASTLE GOAL (1-0): And from that flag-kick, flighted in by Guthrie, Carroll heads towards goal only for Shaun Derry to inexplicably slice into his own net from two yards out - the visiting skipper is left crestfallen inside the six-yard area.
19min - Gutierrez's left-wing centre causes momentary panic in the visiting backline as a nervy Hills hooks for a throw-in when really the defender had time to gather and clear upfield. Guthrie crosses from the right with Hill heading away for a corner at the near post.
13min- Palace have a gilt-edged chance of their own at the other end, Carle whipping a left-wing cross onto the brow of Butterfield, six yards out, only for the former Grimsby man to flash wide with the goal gaping - that was some miss.
10min - Gutierrez and Enrique combine to prise open the Palace backline with the latter bursting down the left flank. Lovenkrands has kept pace with the Spaniard and is duly picked out with an incisive delivery. The Dane, steaming into the six-yard area, has an open goal to aim at but with an out-stretched right boot can only poke wide much to the despair of the home crowd and an animated Chris Hughton on the Milburn Stand touchline.
7min - Williamson's wedged forward ball finds Carroll and the frontman looks as if he could be in on goal. Palace have numbers scamopering back into position, however, and the Geordie is forced to check his forward advances before switching play to Gutierrez. The Agrentine gathers a bouncing ball before releasing a half volley from 20 yards which drags wide of Speroni's goal.
6min - Palace, with just three subs, are forced into an early change as Johannes Ertl is replaced by Matt Lawrence.
4min - Ambrose charges at a retreating United backline and slips a neat pass between shirts for Andrew to chase. The rangey frontman gallops through on goal but, when he tries to nick by the fast closing Steve Harper, the Toon stopper spreads his frame to steal possession and rescues his side.
1min - Coloccini gifts possession to Butterfield, 25 yards out, but the Palace wideman fails to find any notion of composure and slices erratically wide.
We're underway at Gallowgate with United defending the Leazes End.
Mike Williamson takes to the field for the first time alongside his new team-mates as the familiar sound of Local Hero greets the sides on their emergence from the Milburn Stand tunnel.
TEAM NEWS
NEWCASTLE United new boy Mike Williamson is thrown straight into the starting line-up for the visit of The Eagles, but fellow signing Wayne Routledge must settle for a place on the bench against his former club.
Williamson, a 6ft 4ins centre-back, starts in a back four made up by Fabricio Coloccini, Tamas Kadar and Jose Enrique, while Steve Harper returns in goal.
Peter Lovenkrands, with four goals from his previous two outings, returns from compassionate leave to join Andy Carroll, scorer of two goals at West Brom on Saturday, in attack.
United's midfield four consists of skipper Alan Smith, top scorer Kevin Nolan, Danny Guthrie and Jonas Gutierrez.
Missing from the Magpie squad is Ryan Taylor (suspension), Steven Taylor (knee), Danny Simpson (ankle) and Shola Ameobi (shoulder).
Palace are without star striker Victor Moses after the club's administrators withdrew their prize asset from the squad and are able to name just three substitutes.
TEAMS
NUFC: Steve Harper, Tamas Kadar, Fabricio Coloccini, Mike Williamson, Jose Enrique, Danny Guthrie, Alan Smith (c), Kevin Nolan, Jonas Gutierrez, Peter Lovenkrands, Andy Carroll
Subs: Tim Krul, Ben Tozer, Nicky Butt, Fabrice Pancrate, Nile Ranger, Wayne Routledge, Ryan Donaldson
CPFC: Julian Speroni, Nathaniel Clyne, Jonhannes Ertl, Danny Butterfield, Clint Hill, Neil Danns, Shaun Derry (c), Nick Carle, Darren Ambrose, Calvin Andrew, Lee Hills
Subs: Matt Lawrence, Alan Lee, Kieran Djilali
Referee: Russell Booth
Attendance: 37, 886
Foul by Shaun Derry(Crystal Palace) on Danny Guthrie(Newcastle). Indirect free kick taken right-footed by Steve Harper(Newcastle) from own half, resulting in open play.
Foul by Andrew Carroll(Newcastle) on Shaun Derry(Crystal Palace). Indirect free kick taken right-footed by Julian Speroni(Crystal Palace) from own half, resulting in open play.
Goal by Nile Ranger(Newcastle) right-footed (bottom-right of goal) from right channel (12 yards).Newcastle 2-0 Crystal Palace. Assist (pass) by Wayne Routledge(Newcastle) from right wing.
Handball by Danny Guthrie(Newcastle). Indirect free kick taken right-footed by Julian Speroni(Crystal Palace) from own half, resulting in open play.
Corner from right by-line taken short right-footed by Danny Guthrie(Newcastle).
Foul by Alan Lee(Crystal Palace) on Mike Williamson(Newcastle). Indirect free kick taken right-footed by Steve Harper(Newcastle) from own half, resulting in open play.
Handball by Nile Ranger(Newcastle). Direct free kick taken right-footed by Kieran Djilali(Crystal Palace) from right channel, resulting in open play.
Outswinging corner from right by-line taken right-footed by Darren Ambrose(Crystal Palace) to centre, header by Clint Hill(Crystal Palace) from right channel (12 yards), missed right.
Shot by Neil Danns(Crystal Palace) left-footed from left channel (25 yards), blocked by Nile Ranger(Newcastle).
Foul by Fabrice Pancrate(Newcastle) on Alan Lee(Crystal Palace). Direct free kick taken left-footed by Kieran Djilali(Crystal Palace) from own half, resulting in open play.
Outswinging corner from right by-line taken right-footed by Danny Guthrie(Newcastle) to near post, clearance by Clint Hill(Crystal Palace).
Shot by Danny Butterfield(Crystal Palace) left-footed from left channel (25 yards), save (caught) by Steve Harper(Newcastle).
Foul by Mike Williamson(Newcastle) on Calvin Andrew(Crystal Palace). Direct free kick taken right-footed by Darren Ambrose(Crystal Palace) from right channel, resulting in open play.
Cross by Wayne Routledge(Newcastle), save (caught) by Julian Speroni(Crystal Palace).
Crystal Palace substitution: Nick Carle replaced by Alan Lee (tactical).
Cross by Danny Guthrie(Newcastle), resulting in ball out of play.
Cross by Fabrice Pancrate(Newcastle), header by Nile Ranger(Newcastle) from left channel (6 yards), over the bar.
Outswinging corner from right by-line taken right-footed by Darren Ambrose(Crystal Palace) to near post, clearance by Fabricio Coloccini(Newcastle).
Cross by Kieran Djilali(Crystal Palace), clearance by Fabricio Coloccini(Newcastle).
Foul by Fabricio Coloccini(Newcastle) on Calvin Andrew(Crystal Palace). Direct free kick taken right-footed by Darren Ambrose(Crystal Palace) from right channel, resulting in open play. Fabricio Coloccini(Newcastle) booked for unsporting behaviour.
Foul by Shaun Derry(Crystal Palace) on Alan Smith(Newcastle). Direct free kick taken right-footed by Danny Guthrie(Newcastle) from left channel, resulting in open play. Crystal Palace substitution: Lee Hills replaced by Kieran Djilali (tactical).
Foul by Calvin Andrew(Crystal Palace) on Alan Smith(Newcastle). Indirect free kick taken right-footed by Steve Harper(Newcastle) from own half, resulting in open play.
Foul by Wayne Routledge(Newcastle) on Nick Carle(Crystal Palace). Direct free kick taken right-footed by Lee Hills(Crystal Palace) from own half, resulting in open play. Newcastle substitution: Jonas Gutierrez replaced by Nile Ranger (tactical).
Foul by Danny Butterfield(Crystal Palace) on Wayne Routledge(Newcastle). Direct free kick taken right-footed by Fabrice Pancrate(Newcastle) from right wing, resulting in open play. Danny Butterfield(Crystal Palace) booked for unsporting behaviour.
Corner from right by-line taken short right-footed by Darren Ambrose(Crystal Palace).
Shot by Nick Carle(Crystal Palace) right-footed from right channel (6 yards), blocked by Tamas Kadar(Newcastle).
Shot by Darren Ambrose(Crystal Palace) right-footed from right channel (6 yards), hit post.
Foul by Andrew Carroll(Newcastle) on Danny Butterfield(Crystal Palace). Indirect free kick taken right-footed by Julian Speroni(Crystal Palace) from own half, passed.
Foul by Nick Carle(Crystal Palace) on Andrew Carroll(Newcastle). Indirect free kick taken right-footed by Steve Harper(Newcastle) from own half, resulting in open play.
Inswinging corner from left by-line taken right-footed by Darren Ambrose(Crystal Palace) to near post, clearance by Alan Smith(Newcastle).
Shot by Nick Carle(Crystal Palace) left-footed from left channel (18 yards), blocked by Mike Williamson(Newcastle).
Wayne Routledge(Newcastle) caught offside. Indirect free kick taken right-footed by Julian Speroni(Crystal Palace) from own half, resulting in open play.
Foul by Clint Hill(Crystal Palace) on Wayne Routledge(Newcastle). Direct free kick taken right-footed by Alan Smith(Newcastle) from right channel, resulting in open play.
Cross by Wayne Routledge(Newcastle), clearance by Clint Hill(Crystal Palace).
Inswinging corner from left by-line taken right-footed by Danny Guthrie(Newcastle) to far post, save (punched) by Julian Speroni(Crystal Palace).
Cross by Jonas Gutierrez(Newcastle), clearance by Neil Danns(Crystal Palace).
Foul by Alan Smith(Newcastle) on Lee Hills(Crystal Palace). Indirect free kick taken right-footed by Julian Speroni(Crystal Palace) from own half, resulting in open play. Alan Smith(Newcastle) booked for unsporting behaviour.Newcastle substitution: Peter Lovenkrands replaced by Wayne Routledge (tactical).
Foul by Shaun Derry(Crystal Palace) on Jonas Gutierrez(Newcastle). Direct free kick taken left-footed by Tamas Kadar(Newcastle) from left channel, resulting in open play.
Lee Hills(Crystal Palace) caught offside. Indirect free kick taken right-footed by Steve Harper(Newcastle) from own half, resulting in open play.
Kevin Nolan(Newcastle) caught offside. Indirect free kick taken right-footed by Julian Speroni(Crystal Palace) from own half, resulting in open play.
Foul by Shaun Derry(Crystal Palace) on Alan Smith(Newcastle). Direct free kick taken right-footed by Fabricio Coloccini(Newcastle) from own half, resulting in open play.
Foul by Matthew Lawrence(Crystal Palace) on Andrew Carroll(Newcastle). Direct free kick taken left-footed by Tamas Kadar(Newcastle) from left channel, resulting in open play.
Peter Lovenkrands(Newcastle) caught offside. Direct free kick taken left-footed by Clint Hill(Crystal Palace) from own half, resulting in open play.
Shot by Andrew Carroll(Newcastle) right-footed from right channel (30 yards), missed left.
Foul by Calvin Andrew(Crystal Palace) on Alan Smith(Newcastle). Indirect free kick taken right-footed by Steve Harper(Newcastle) from own half, resulting in open play.
Foul by Alan Smith(Newcastle) on Neil Danns(Crystal Palace). Indirect free kick taken right-footed by Julian Speroni(Crystal Palace) from own half, resulting in open play.
Foul by Darren Ambrose(Crystal Palace) on Alan Smith(Newcastle). Indirect free kick taken right-footed by Steve Harper(Newcastle) from own half, resulting in open play.
Outswinging corner from right by-line taken right-footed by Danny Guthrie(Newcastle) to centre, clearance by Calvin Andrew(Crystal Palace).
Shot by Peter Lovenkrands(Newcastle) right-footed from right side of penalty area (12 yards), missed right.
Foul by Shaun Derry(Crystal Palace) on Andrew Carroll(Newcastle). Direct free kick taken right-footed by Fabricio Coloccini(Newcastle) from left channel, passed.
Cross by Alan Smith(Newcastle), resulting in ball out of play.
Shot by Kevin Nolan(Newcastle) right-footed from right channel (18 yards), blocked by Clint Hill(Crystal Palace).
Inswinging corner from left by-line taken right-footed by Darren Ambrose(Crystal Palace) to far post, clearance by Mike Williamson(Newcastle).
Shot by Nick Carle(Crystal Palace) left-footed from left channel (20 yards), blocked by Andrew Carroll(Newcastle).
Foul by Kevin Nolan(Newcastle) on Neil Danns(Crystal Palace). Direct free kick taken right-footed by Darren Ambrose(Crystal Palace) from right channel, resulting in open play.
Inswinging corner from left by-line taken right-footed by Darren Ambrose(Crystal Palace) to out of play, resulting in ball out of play.
Shot by Calvin Andrew(Crystal Palace) left-footed from left channel (18 yards), over the bar.
Cross by Lee Hills(Crystal Palace), resulting in open play.
Peter Lovenkrands(Newcastle) caught offside. Indirect free kick taken right-footed by Julian Speroni(Crystal Palace) from own half, resulting in open play.
Darren Ambrose(Crystal Palace) caught offside. Indirect free kick taken left-footed by Steve Harper(Newcastle) from own half, resulting in open play.
Header by Andrew Carroll(Newcastle) from right channel (20 yards), save (caught) by Julian Speroni(Crystal Palace).
Foul by Neil Danns(Crystal Palace) on Kevin Nolan(Newcastle). Indirect free kick taken right-footed by Steve Harper(Newcastle) from own half, resulting in open play.
Foul by Neil Danns(Crystal Palace) on Jonas Gutierrez(Newcastle). Free kick crossed right-footed by Danny Guthrie(Newcastle) from left channel, save (caught) by Julian Speroni(Crystal Palace).
Foul by Clint Hill(Crystal Palace) on Peter Lovenkrands(Newcastle). Free kick crossed right-footed by Danny Guthrie(Newcastle) from right channel, clearance by Clint Hill(Crystal Palace).
Foul by Fabrice Pancrate(Newcastle) on Darren Ambrose(Crystal Palace). Free kick taken right-footed by Darren Ambrose(Crystal Palace) from left channel (25 yards), save (caught) by Steve Harper(Newcastle).
Newcastle substitution: Sanchez Jose Enrique replaced by Fabrice Pancrate (injury).
Shot by Neil Danns(Crystal Palace) right-footed from right channel (25 yards), save (caught) by Steve Harper(Newcastle).
Shot by Darren Ambrose(Crystal Palace) right-footed from right channel (12 yards), blocked by Mike Williamson(Newcastle).
Cross by Sanchez Jose Enrique(Newcastle), save (caught) by Julian Speroni(Crystal Palace).
Own goal by Shaun Derry(Crystal Palace) left-footed (bottom-right of goal) from own half (6 yards).Newcastle 1-0 Crystal Palace.
Outswinging corner from right by-line taken right-footed by Danny Guthrie(Newcastle) to centre, resulting in open play.
Cross by Danny Guthrie(Newcastle), clearance by Lee Hills(Crystal Palace).
Cross by Peter Lovenkrands(Newcastle), save (caught) by Julian Speroni(Crystal Palace).
Foul by Clint Hill(Crystal Palace) on Andrew Carroll(Newcastle). Direct free kick taken left-footed by Sanchez Jose Enrique(Newcastle) from left wing, resulting in open play.
Peter Lovenkrands(Newcastle) caught offside. Indirect free kick taken right-footed by Julian Speroni(Crystal Palace) from own half, resulting in open play.
Calvin Andrew(Crystal Palace) caught offside. Indirect free kick taken right-footed by Steve Harper(Newcastle) from own half, resulting in open play.
Foul by Andrew Carroll(Newcastle) on Clint Hill(Crystal Palace). Direct free kick taken left-footed by Clint Hill(Crystal Palace) from own half, resulting in open play.
Foul by Darren Ambrose(Crystal Palace) on Alan Smith(Newcastle). Direct free kick taken right-footed by Tamas Kadar(Newcastle) from right channel, passed.
Cross by Nick Carle(Crystal Palace), header by Danny Butterfield(Crystal Palace) from right side of penalty area (6 yards), missed right.
Cross by Sanchez Jose Enrique(Newcastle), shot by Peter Lovenkrands(Newcastle) right-footed from right side of penalty area (6 yards), missed right.
Cross by Sanchez Jose Enrique(Newcastle), resulting in ball out of play.
Shot by Jonas Gutierrez(Newcastle) right-footed from left channel (25 yards), missed left.
Foul by Nick Carle(Crystal Palace) on Jonas Gutierrez(Newcastle). Direct free kick taken left-footed by Sanchez Jose Enrique(Newcastle) from own half, resulting in open play.
Foul by Calvin Andrew(Crystal Palace) on Mike Williamson(Newcastle). Indirect free kick taken right-footed by Steve Harper(Newcastle) from own half, resulting in open play.
Andrew Carroll(Newcastle) caught offside. Indirect free kick taken right-footed by Julian Speroni(Crystal Palace) from own half, resulting in open play. Crystal Palace substitution: Johannes Ertl replaced by Matthew Lawrence (injury).
Inswinging corner from left by-line taken right-footed by Danny Guthrie(Newcastle) to centre, save (punched) by Julian Speroni(Crystal Palace).
Shot by Darren Ambrose(Crystal Palace) right-footed from right channel (25 yards), missed right.