Ameobi goal sees Newcastle move up to top half of table

FT: Wigan 0 Newcastle 1

Newcastle moved back into the top half of the Barclays Premier League thanks to Shola Ameobi’s close-range finish at Wigan.

Ameobi, in the Magpies side as a replacement for injured top-scorer Andy Carroll, pounced in the 19th minute when Ali Al Habsi blocked Joey Barton’s shot and Peter Lovenkrands’ follow-up hit the post.

Fabricio Coloccini and Steven Taylor also both struck the woodwork for the visitors, while Gary Caldwell saw his header come back off the bar for the Latics.

Lovenkrands and Ameobi came off for Wayne Routledge and Leon Best as the visitors looked to close out the game.

Boselli claimed his shot had been blocked by Taylor’s hand in the box, but referee Howard Webb waved play on.

The Yorkshire official, who was made an MBE in the Queen’s New Year Honours List, then booked Barton for a rash challenge on McArthur.

Newcastle might have added a second goal towards the end as first Best poked wide after finding himself through one on one and then Enrique blasted over, but come the final whistle, they had done enough.