Hughton hoping for fresh momentum

NEWCASTLE boss Chris Hughton hopes to use today’s FA Cup third round trip to Plymouth as a springboard for a new winning run in the Coca-Cola Championship.

The Magpies head for Home Park sitting six points clear at the top of the Championship and favourites to make an instant return to the Barclays Premier League.

However, they took only two points from eminently winnable clashes with Sheffield Wednesday and Derby over the Christmas period, which allowed chasing West Brom to close a gap which at one point stood to 10 points.