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Newcastle United 3 Peterborough 1

2009-11-07T12:00:00Z

NEWCASTLE fans were in strong voice at St James' Park this afternoon as United secured a comfortable 3-1 victory over Peterborough.

It was an emotional atmosphere at the ground as fans protested about Mike Ashley's decision to rename the stadium.

Jonas Gutierrez scored his first goal for the Toon and an Andy Carroll header put Newcastle 2-0 up within 20 minutes. Danny Simpson got the third shortly after the break and despite a consolation goal for Peterborough it was a convincing win for the Magpies.

Chronicle chief sports writer Lee Ryder was at the game bringing you live text commentary as Newcastle United. Just click on the link below to replay his take on the match.

Newcastle United v Peterborough United

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Hughton: I won't let anyone leave in window

2009-11-06T12:54:55Z

CHRIS HUGHTON has fired an early warning to January's transfer-window vultures that Newcastle United will not be selling anybody when the market re-opens for business next year.

That means Toon fans will avoid last season's miserable start to 2009, which resulted in the exits of Shay Given and Charles N'Zogbia.

The transfer window may well be two months away, but the Chronicle understands there has already been talk at the Reebok Stadium of Bolton Wanderers putting in a dual bid for Andy Carroll and Kevin Nolan, with the Scouser's former coach Phil Brown at Hull City also still a fan of the bustling midfielder.

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Chris Hughton urges fans to rally behind players

2009-11-06T08:56:16Z

CHRIS Hughton has urged the Football League's best supporters to set aside their differences with Newcastle United's owners and back the team against Peterborough United tomorrow.

Posh will be the first visitors to the re- branded sportsdirect.com@St James' Park since Magpies owner Mike Ashley officially took the club off the market.

The potential for rebellion is obvious, but so far this season Newcastle supporters have focused on supporting their team's promotion push during matches. On the day United were officially named the 18th best-supported football team in Europe, Hughton asked them to continue in the same vein.

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Hughton: It will always be St James' to fans

2009-11-05T13:06:08Z

CHRIS HUGHTON is not daunted by the political unrest surrounding Newcastle's stadium name changing rights ahead of the clash with Peterborough.

And he's confident that Geordie fans will make sure visiting teams know that they are playing at the real St James' Park.

Hughton has paid tribute to Toon supporters as they look to stretch their unbeaten home record until at least the end of November, and feels they are a major factor in why St James' is once again regarded as a fortress, albeit in the Championship.

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Derek Llambias reveals NUFC income has been halved

2009-11-05T09:08:37Z

NEWCASTLE United are still working with a Premier League wage bill despite dropping out of the division costing them £50million a year.

Managing director Derek Llambias has revealed that despite a summer of savage cost-cutting in which 11 senior players left with only one permanent signing - Peter Løvenkrands - to replace them, the Magpies' wages are still not at what he considers an "acceptable level" for the division they have unexpectedly found themselves in.

So far the gamble is working, with United top of the table and one of the players they kept, Kevin Nolan, voted by fans as the division's player of the month for the second consecutive time.

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Newcastle plan raid for Per Ciljan Skjelbred

2009-11-04T13:30:55Z

NEWCASTLE United boss Chris Hughton could be the Toon manager who finally ends up signing Norwegian international Per Ciljan Skjelbred.

And a move for Stoke City's 6ft 3in Leon Cort is also a growing possibility for Hughton as he looks to reinforce his defensive options.

Hughton is currently drawing up a shortlist of transfer targets after being told he can bolster his squad during the January window.

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Derek Llambias: We will back the manager

2009-11-04T09:21:23Z

DEREK Llambias has promised to back manager Chris Hughton in whatever he wants to do in the transfer market, even if it means buying players rather than loaning them this season.

Llambias and United's owner Mike Ashley are as unpopular as ever on Tyneside, but insist they are only interested in trying to get the Magpies back into the Premier League at the first opportunity.

And, while the £20m put into the club by Ashley last week is to cover operating costs and will not be part of any transfer fund, Llambias declared that there would be money available for Hughton to spend if and when he needed it.

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Andy Carroll's joy after battling with Blades

2009-11-03T13:10:32Z

GEORDIE ace Andy Carroll has revealed he was warned about the rough-and-tumble tactics of Sheffield United hard man Chris Morgan before their duel at Bramall Lane.

Morgan is one of the game's renowned tough guys, and was at the centre of controversy almost 12 months ago when he fractured Barnsley star Iain Hume's skull with a stray elbow.

And after well-documented battles with Robin Van Persie and Lee McCulloch in the past, Carroll was delighted not only to have emerged victorious, but also clutching the man-of-the-match award after leading the line alone against both Morgan and highly-rated centre-back Matt Kilgallon.

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Hughton praises brilliant Steve Harper

2009-11-03T08:48:20Z

CHRIS Hughton praised the spirit of his Newcastle United players and the brilliance of goalkeeper Steve Harper after the Magpies returned to winning ways away from home with a 1-0 victory over Sheffield United.

A deflected Ryan Taylor effort early in the second half was enough to give Hughton his first win on the road since September and ensured he began his reign as permanent manager on a high.

But, while the Magpies dominated the second half they still needed three excellent saves from Harper to preserve that advantage as the Newcastle defence switched off in the closing stages.

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Sheffield United 0 Newcastle United 1

2009-11-02T16:00:00Z

NEWCASTLE United climbed back to the top of the Championship but needed a lucky own goal from Sheffield United skipper Chris Morgan to do so.

Morgan inadvertently deflected Ryan Taylor's low 25-yard shot past stranded Blades goalkeeper Ian Bennett in the 54th minute to hand manager Chris Hughton a telling win in his first game since being given the job on a permanent basis.

But it was another miserable result for opposite number Kevin Blackwell, whose injury-hit side were denied by Toon goalkeeper Steve Harper's world class save in the closing stages and have now lost their last four league matches.

The Blades slipped to 15th place, leapfrogged by arch-rivals Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday, and the former Leeds and Luton manager will now fear renewed pressure from the impatient Blades faithful.

Blades defenders Jordan Stewart and Andrew Davies returned to the starting line-up, while Fabricio Coloccini, Danny Simpson and Alan Smith were back for Newcastle.

Darius Henderson should have fired the Blades ahead in the third minute when springing the offside trap, but pulled his left-footed effort wide.

At the other end Newcastle striker Andy Carroll's shot was superbly blocked by Walker, but the home side set the early pace.

A sweeping Blades move ended with Henderson teeing up Keith Treacy, but the Irish winger's snapshot whistled over the crossbar.

Henderson then crossed for Stephen Quinn to shoot first time off target as Blackwell's side built up some momentum.

Newcastle midfielder Taylor later curled a right-footed free-kick high and wide and another last-ditch challenge from Walker denied Coloccini.

Blades striker Ched Evans was inches wide with his angled shot after bustling on to Bennett's long clearance as a highly-combative first period - Morgan and Newcastle pair Carroll and Taylor were all booked for fouls - ended goalless.

A more purposeful Newcastle twice went close to breaking the deadlock within eight minutes of the restart.

Nolan's curling shot was pushed away at full stretch by Bennett and Carroll's hanging header from Taylor's cross hit the woodwork.

But then Newcastle took the lead in fortuitous circumstances in the 54th minute.
Referee Friend adjudged Nolan's thumping challenge on Walker to be fair and with the defender prostrate, Taylor pounced on to the ball in space 25 yards from goal and unleashed a low right-footed shot that took a big deflection off Morgan to wrong-foot Bennett and nestle into the goalkeeper's bottom left-hand corner.

Walker limped off five minutes later and was replaced by Ryan France.
Treacy's quality cross was headed over by Stewart in the 61st minute as the Blades, roared on by most in a crowd of 26,536, battled gamely in search of an equaliser.

Evans' low free-kick was hoofed clear by Butt and visiting goalkeeper Harper blocked Henderson close-range effort.

Harper finished strongly - smothering Treacy's shot in injury time and then brilliantly denying Henderson's point-blank header as Newcastle held on.

I was at the ground to bring you all the colour from the stadium, and you can click below to read my live blog.

Sheffield United v Newcastle United

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Jonas: Coloccini will help to shore up defence

2009-11-02T13:20:42Z

JONAS GUTIERREZ is confident that his fellow countryman Fabricio Coloccini can come out of the cold tonight at Bramall Lane and be a steadying influence in the Toon back four.

United have been without the Argentina international since the 4-0 win at Ipswich Town in September, where the player picked up a groin problem.

The £10m man returns to the fray with Zurab Khizanishvili banned after his red card horror against Doncaster and could partner Hungarian Tamas Kadar in the heart of defence.

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Chris Hughton wants a quiet revolution

2009-11-02T09:05:25Z

CHRIS Hughton hopes his appointment as permanent manager at Newcastle United will herald the start of a new era at St James's Park - even though he does not want anything to change.

As revolutions go, Hughton's is very much of the velvet variety. He is not a ranter or a raver and had never even thought about becoming United's full time manager until this season.

The former Tottenham defender has quietly got on with the job of trying to get Newcastle back into the top flight following relegation, and that has been enough for owner Mike Ashley to offer him the responsibility for the next 18 months.

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Gary Speed praises pal Kevin Nolan

2009-10-29T14:51:53Z

GARY SPEED says that Sheffield United do not need to be warned about the Kevin Nolan factor going into Newcastle United's battle with the Blades on Monday night.

Speed and Nolan are close pals from their time together in Bolton Wanderers engine room under ex-Toon boss Sam Allardyce, and the Sheffield United assistant manager is wary of the Newcastle midfielder's threat in front of goal.

Nolan has netted eight times this season and is currently on a real high after firing in a stunning winner against Doncaster Rovers to keep the Mags on top of the Coca-Cola Championship.

And the respected figure of Speed - who helped Newcastle get to the Champions League and challenge for the Premier League - told the Chronicle: "We don't need to be reminded how dangerous Kevin is.

"Kev's got a great eye for goal.

"He's a great player, and I speak to him quite a bit.

"I enjoyed a couple of great years playing alongside him, and I thought we complemented each other well.

"It was great playing with him.

"He's a leader, and gives 100% in every game and on the training pitch.

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Freddie Shepherd furious over naming sponsor

2009-10-29T09:35:38Z

FORMER chairman Freddie Shepherd has criticised Mike Ashley for trying to sell Newcastle United's soul.

The Magpies will listen to companies interested in sponsoring St James's Park, which would have its name changed to incorporate theirs.

It is not a new concept, and one which is widespread in the United States but yet to be adopted by the traditional homes of any leading English football club.

Shepherd revealed he turned down the opportunity after interest from three or four companies including an insurance firm following United's 1997 Stock Market flotation because "there are some things money can't buy".

"I can remember when we had the chance to change the name of the ground when I was chairman," said the businessman, who ran the club from 1996 to 2007. "It was just after flotation and big-name companies were falling over themselves to get involved in football - and back then, Newcastle were right up there with the Manchester Uniteds, Liverpools and Arsenals.

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Mike Ashley's decision is bad news for Newcastle

2009-10-28T13:50:11Z

It is bad news, upsetting and depressing, but it is not unexpected. If Mike Ashley is staying at Newcastle United then he is staying and there is precious little we can do about it other than hope the club gets promoted in May and a football mad billionaire with money to burn fancies buying the club in the summer.

Actually, we've already had a football mad billionaire haven't we, only he doesn't have money to burn and has presided over more than two years of blunders and short sighted decisions which have led United into the Championship.

Ashley may be a little on the tubby side, he may be from down south (I dispute he's a Cockney given he isn't actually from London) but he isn't getting out of the club.

There will be a feeling of impotence, which will spark renewed talk of boycotts and direct action, all of which are potentially going to have a negative effect on the team's results on the pitch.

This is far from ideal. In fact, to coin an American phrase from my youth, it sucks, but I can only repeat, the most important thing, both for the short term and long term vitality of Newcastle United, is promotion.

If Newcastle are promoted they can be revived, whether by Ashley or some other oaf with more money than sense.

If they stay in the Championship, they could go into terminal decline. I just hope Ashley has fully grasped that fundamental truth and strengthens the squad in defence and attack in January.

If we are honest, we have expected this decision for weeks, if not months. I've been saying since the start of the season that if a takeover was going to happen it would have happened a long time ago.

It just makes it even more frustrating that we have been misled for so long, not just by Ashley and Barry Moat, but by the other mysterious consortiums who have supposedly shown an interest since May. What a waste of all our time.

None of this means we have to like Ashley, far from it in fact. He will never win any popularity contests. It's whether the anger towards him becomes all consuming or whether the club and the team remain deserving of the same level of passionate support they have always received.

Newcastle is a football club. It is about more than Mike Ashley or Derek Llambias, Chris Hughton or any players. But it still leaves a nasty taste in the mouth when supporting your football team means giving tacit acceptance to a regime which has been guilty of so many wrongs. Then again, Freddie Shepherd and Douglas Hall have already benefited from that.

More than 40,000 people have remained loyal this season. It is a remarkable figure in the circumstances and has shut plenty of people up around the country who questioned whether Newcastle's support really was as special as has been claimed. But will that number hold now that Ashley is definitely staying put?

The announcement the club are looking for commercial sponsors for St James's Park is just a further erosion of the club's traditions by a regime which still fails to grasp the mood and emotions of its fan base, sorry customers.

Its timing is ridiculous, although I suppose there is a view it's better to get all the bad news out in one, big blow. My money is on it being the Sports Direct Stadium by the end of the season! No, surely not.

How about the Emirates? British Telecom? Northern Rock?! And I wonder whether St James's will figure in any of the re-branding? More cause for exasperation, but this is the way of the world, just look at your prime time television shows, they're all sponsored.

For me, it is better to channel anger towards a positive. It is better to chant anti-Ashley songs at games than it is to merely stay away in a vague hope of hitting him in the pocket to try to to get him to sell.

The club is off the market, he isn't going to sell until the end of the season at the earliest and lower crowds mean less income and raise the prospect of players been sold. It hurts doesn't it?