Andy “The Hitman” Carroll Strikes Again: Doncaster 0-1 Newcastle (Fan Report)

Andy Carroll put the weekend’s allegations and accusations behind him last night as he struck the goal which ensured the Magpies are at least to have a play-off place this season. The Geordies didn’t have it all their own way at the Keepmoat stadium and Donny fans can be forgiven for finding themselves a tad hard done by, as they played well and deserved something from the game.

It was the home side who arguably had the better of the first half and on-loan forward Billy Sharp should have done better when he fired his shot straight at Steve Harper from just six yards out. Moments earlier, Sharp had forced Harper into a fantastic one-handed save. The Geordies only had a couple of half chances that both fell to Carroll but the giant striker couldn’t connect with Ryan Taylor’s corner and shot wide earlier.

The second half seen Newcastle improve greatly in the second half and the catalyst to their improvement was once again Wayne Routledge. The speedy winger looked as dangerous as ever when he got on the ball and sure enough it was him who played a major part in the goal. A trademark surging run from the former spurs winger ended in a measured pass through for Carroll, who held off a challenge to poke the ball past veteran keeper Neil Sullivan.

Doncaster replied instantly with Billy Sharp taking one of his chances but the one time he got the ball past Harper into the net, the linesman rightly flagged the on-loan Sheffield United striker offside. This proved to be Donny’s last real sight of goal as their pretty football didn’t have much of an effect on the league leaders. When Newcastle proved they had an answer to Doncaster’s slick passing and creative style, Sean O’ Driscoll’s men had no Plan B to go to and persisted in trying to pass through one of the best defences in the league. Newcastle’s defensive awareness was too strong once they got their noses in front and they held on with relative ease until the final whistle sounded.

Joey Barton made his long-awaited comeback from his foot injury when he was brought on for the last 15 minutes in place of Danny Guthrie. The former jailbird will be hoping for a place in the starting XI for Monday’s showdown with Forest.

The Magpies are now five points clear at the summit of the Championship and still ten points ahead of third placed Nottingham Forest. Next up for the Toon are Billy Davies’ men who visit SJP next Monday in a mouth-watering clash of the big boys.

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