Cardiff City 0-1 Newcastle United (UK users only)

Newcastle United climbed back to the top of the Championship after ending Cardiff's unbeaten home start at the new Cardiff City Stadium.

Fabricio Coloccini grabbed the game's only goal on 18 minutes with a header when the home side had failed to clear the danger from a corner.

Cardiff did press the Magpies but were unable to create any clear-cut chances, Gavin Rae coming closest with a volley.

Newcastle ended with 10 men after Alan Smith received a second yellow late on.

It was an unfortunate end for captain Smith who was otherwise excellent in front of the Magpies defence, which has now kept clean sheets in five consecutive league wins.

Unbeaten Newcastle began the weekend top of the Championship but victories for West Bromwich Albion and Middlesbrough on Saturday saw them drop to third going into Sunday's clash in south Wales.

606: DEBATE What a turn around from last year!! We're looking stronger game by game kentmagpie

They got off to the best possible start though, against a Cardiff side who had scored seven goals without reply in their two league games at the Cardiff City Stadium - three of them from eight-goal top scorer and Tyneside native Michael Chopra.

Ryan Taylor's 18th-minute corner was palmed away by keeper David Marshall, but only as far as Coloccini.

The £10.3m Argentine international then sent the ball back out to Taylor on the right and positioned himself well to meet the return delivery six yards out to head home.

For Newcastle it was then all about shutting up shop and holding firm as Cardiff responded positively.

They did just that and the Bluebirds found it difficult to unlock a solid Magpies defence.

Michael Chopra (right) failed to find the net against his hometown club

Cardiff's best chance came on 27 minutes when Joe Ledley sent a ball over the top to Chopra, who managed to sneak in behind the Magpies defence.

The Championship's top scorer unselfishly cut back to Gavin Rae but he could only volley over from 10 yards under pressure.

Cardiff continued to press for an equaliser after the break but lacked ideas in a scrappy affair.

They did have a shout for a penalty in the closing stages when Chris Burke robbed Jose Enrique and picked out Chopra in the box, whose shot was blocked by the arm of Steven Taylor as the defender threw himself at the ball.

But Dave Jones' men could have little complaints about their second successive defeat after wasting a host of free-kicks in good positions.

The best of those came two minutes into injury time when Smith picked up his second booking for a foul on Jay Bothroyd in the Newcastle 'D'.

Chopra stepped up, but again could not get the ball through the mass of bodies and Newcastle held out for the win.

Cardiff manager Dave Jones:

"We made the mistake in the first half and probably the only mistake in the whole game which has cost us.

"When you play top teams, that's what happens. They are one of the top teams in this division and I can't remember anything they had to do.

"Maybe we needed a little bit more better quality in our crosses and maybe better quality in our free kicks and around the area."

Newcastle acting manager Chris Hughton:

"These are very tough games for us, but we limited Cardiff to only a few chances throughout the game.

"I think Alan Smith was very unlucky to be sent off, and possibly his reputation went before him.

"He is in the thick of most things in the centre of midfield, and that is probably why he is singled out more than others.

"The games are coming thick and fast, but we now have to maintain the impetus as we have started well. It will be a few weeks before we know exactly how we are doing."

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version