Newcastle United

The rebranding of Newcastle United continues. While renaming their stadium Sportsdirect.com@ St James' Park has been widely ridiculed, Chris Hughton's side are reinventing themselves as winners. A fourth successive triumph returned them to the summit of the Championship and was secured by Kevin Nolan, restoring his reputation as a goalscoring midfielder after three barren seasons.

Preston's initial threat came from their new-look central midfield combination. First Richard Chaplow drilled a shot just wide and then Michael Tonge, debuting after being borrowed from Stoke, whistled an effort past the post. With Neil Mellor then testing Steve Harper from an acute angle, it marked an encouraging spell from North End.

Newcastle had begun better, despite the disruption caused to their plans by Ryan Taylor's late withdrawal. Originally demoted to the bench, Marlon Harewood was swiftly promoted back to the team. However, their first meaningful opportunity fell the way of his strike partner, Andy Carroll, but his header from Danny Guthrie's free-kick was weak.

Thereafter, however, frustration set in as Jonas Gutierrez spurned several promising positions on the left flank while Paul Parry looped a header over the bar for Preston. Mellor could have benefited from Sedgwick's supply line, too, but volleyed straight at Harper. Yet while Lonergan had been required to block bravely at the feet of Harewood, in a collision that resulted in the substitution of Youl Mawene, he was only occupied by one shot? an effort that lacked menace from Kevin Nolan? in the first 45 minutes.

The second period began in a similar vein with Carroll, Jose Enrique and then off target while Mawene was taken to hospital with suspected medial ligament damage to his right knee. Indeed, Lonergan was tested more by one of his own defenders, Liam Chilvers, when the substitute turned Guthrie's corner towards his own goal.

But when a successful finish eventually came, it was expertly executed. Guthrie's cross made its way, via Harewood, to Nolan, whose precise shot just inside the far post gave him a ninth goal of the season and condemned Preston to defeat.

This is not a news report and may contain views expressed by the author which are not supported by GNM.

The rebranding of Newcastle United continues. While renaming their stadium Sportsdirect.com@ St James' Park has been widely ridiculed, Chris Hughton's side are reinventing themselves as winners. A fourth successive triumph returned them to the summit of the Championship and was secured by Kevin Nolan, restoring his reputation as a goalscoring midfielder after three barren seasons.

Preston's initial threat came from their new-look central midfield combination. First Richard Chaplow drilled a shot just wide and then Michael Tonge, debuting after being borrowed from Stoke, whistled an effort past the post. With Neil Mellor then testing Steve Harper from an acute angle, it marked an encouraging spell from North End.

Newcastle had begun better, despite the disruption caused to their plans by Ryan Taylor's late withdrawal. Originally demoted to the bench, Marlon Harewood was swiftly promoted back to the team. However, their first meaningful opportunity fell the way of his strike partner, Andy Carroll, but his header from Danny Guthrie's free-kick was weak.

Thereafter, however, frustration set in as Jonas Gutierrez spurned several promising positions on the left flank while Paul Parry looped a header over the bar for Preston. Mellor could have benefited from Sedgwick's supply line, too, but volleyed straight at Harper. Yet while Lonergan had been required to block bravely at the feet of Harewood, in a collision that resulted in the substitution of Youl Mawene, he was only occupied by one shot? an effort that lacked menace from Kevin Nolan? in the first 45 minutes.

The second period began in a similar vein with Carroll, Jose Enrique and then off target while Mawene was taken to hospital with suspected medial ligament damage to his right knee. Indeed, Lonergan was tested more by one of his own defenders, Liam Chilvers, when the substitute turned Guthrie's corner towards his own goal.

But when a successful finish eventually came, it was expertly executed. Guthrie's cross made its way, via Harewood, to Nolan, whose precise shot just inside the far post gave him a ninth goal of the season and condemned Preston to defeat.

This is not a news report and may contain views expressed by the author which are not supported by GNM.