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Newcastle back on top after late leveller

LONDON - Newcastle moved back to the top of the Championship after Andy Carroll’s late equaliser rescued a 1-1 draw against promotion rivals Swansea on Saturday.

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Chris Hughton’s side are one point clear of second-placed West Bromwich Albion, who were in FA Cup action at Reading, while third-placed Nottingham Forest are now five points behind the leaders after losing 1-0 at Doncaster.

It turned out to be a decent day for Newcastle thanks to Carroll but it looked like being a depressing visit to the Liberty Stadium when David Cotterill gave fourth-placed Swansea the lead with a superb effort from the edge of the area in the 56^th minute.

However, Carroll, who had escaped a red card for an ugly foul on Garry Monk just minutes earlier, headed home Leon Best’s cross from close range in the 87^th minute.

Forest missed a chance to close the gap on the automatic promotion places as Billy Davies’s side slumped to their third defeat in four matches.

After a long unbeaten run in the league, Forest are in danger of having to settle for a play-off place as they have now played a game more than Albion.

Billy Sharp got the only goal in the 31^st minute when he converted James Chamber’s cross and Forest also had Garath McLeary sent off in the second half for a foul on John Oster.

Leicester remain in sixth place after a 5-1 demolition of struggling Scunthorpe at the Walkers Stadium.

Michael Morrison headed the Foxes in front early on and Paul Gallagher added a second in the 16^th minute from the edge of the area.

Gallagher then curled home a free-kick to put Nigel Pearson’s side in complete control before Martyn Waghorn volleyed a fourth 11 minutes before the interval.

Paul Hayes pulled one back before Gallagher completed his hat-trick with a header.

Sheffield United kept up the heat on the play-off places with a 2-0 win over Bristol City at Bramall Lane.

Barry Robson fired home his first goal for Middlesbrough to give Gordon Strachan’s side a 1-0 victory at home to bottom club Peterborough.

Struggling QPR suffered further misery as they went down 1-0 at Coventry, who scored through Gary Deegan’s deflected effort in the 10^th minute.

Plymouth came from a goal down to claim a 3-1 victory at Barnsley and Lancashire rivals Preston and Blackpool played out a 0-0 draw at Deepdale.