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.

By (AFP)

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Published: Sat 13 Feb 2010, 11:57 PM

Last updated: Mon 6 Apr 2015, 4:06 AM

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 56th 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 87th 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 31st 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 16th 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 10th 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.


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