Magpies back on top after lucky win

NEWCASTLE climbed back to the top of the Coca-Cola Championship last night 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 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 Newcastle goalkeeper Steve Harper’s world class save in the closing stages and have now lost their last four league matches. On another night Leicestershire referee Kevin Friend might have penalised Newcastle’s Kevin Nolan for his full-blooded tackle on Kyle Walker before Taylor pounced on the loose ball.