Magpies in a flap after scare at Accrington

GOALS from Ryan Taylor, Shola Ameobi and Peter Lovenkrands ensured Newcastle avoided a Carling Cup second-round upset at Accrington.

The npower League Two side battled well against their Barclays Premier League opponents and went in level at the break after a wonderful effort from Ray Putterill cancelled out Taylor’s equally impressive opener.

But the Magpies moved two goals ahead in the second half thanks to finishes from Ameobi and Lovenkrands before Sean Hessey’s late consolation for Stanley.

Newcastle boss Chris Hughton named an entirely different starting line-up from the one which had beaten Aston Villa 6-0 on Saturday, with Ameobi captaining a side which featured youngsters James Tavernier, Tamas Kadar, Shane Ferguson, Ryan Donaldson and Kazenga LuaLua.

Newcastle’s Nile Ranger had a snap-shot early on after connecting with LuaLua’s cross, but Dunbavin got down to save.

The goalkeeper was well and truly beaten in the 36th minute though as Taylor fired the ball into the top corner from 25 yards to put Newcastle ahead.

It was a blow for the hosts, but Accrington refused to crumble and found an equaliser in first-half stoppage time as Putterill curled a beauty past Krul.

Stanley had their tails up and emerged after the restart looking as if they believed a giant-killing was within their grasp.

The home supporters were lifted by their side’s momentum, but only a minute later, Newcastle were ahead again as Lovenkrands headed to Ameobi, who poked the ball beyond Dunbavin.

Accrington’s players complained that there had been an infringement in the build-up, but referee Robert Shoebridge judged the effort should stand.

Shortly after, it should have been 3-1 as Dunbavin’s save from Ameobi fell to Ranger, but the striker saw his shot blocked on the line.

It did not take long for the goal to come though, and Lovenkrands extended Newcastle’s advantage by hooking the ball in with a little over 20 minutes remaining.

ACCRINGTON STANLEY: Dunbavin, Bateson (Turner 66), Hessey, Edwards, Winnard, Procter, Barnett, Ryan, Putterill, McConville, Parkinson.

NEWCASTLE: Krul, Ryan Taylor, Kadar, Tavernier, Ferguson, Ranger, Donaldson, Vuckic (Nolan 90), LuaLua, Ameobi, Lovenkrands.

Referee: Rob Shoebridge.