Newcastle broke the magical 100-point barrier with a 1 nil away win at QPR.  A 70th minute goal from Peter Lovenkrands pushing the Mag’s up to 102 points for the season.

Now the real work begins!  Enjoy the Summer – Come On England!

Goals from Carroll and Ameobi almost lead to a victory in the final home game in hopefully our last ever escapade into the second flight of English football – however, three minutes into injury time, Roy ‘the dog wa*ker’’s team pulled back to equalise the game at 2-2.

A sell out 52,181 saw the team presented with the Coca Cola championship trophy.

Newcastle United: Steve Harper, Danny Simpson, Fabricio Coloccini, Mike Williamson, Jose Enrique, Wayne Routledge, Danny Guthrie, Kevin Nolan (c), Jonas Gutierrez, Andy Carroll, Peter Lovenkrands
Subs: Tim Krul, Joey Barton, Ryan Taylor, Alan Smith, Leon Best, Nicky Butt, Shola Ameobi

Finally the toon are confirmed as champions.  A cracking header from Andy Carroll followed up by a well taken goal by Wayne Routledge ensured the toon faithful went into raptures of delight!

Considering Plymouth’s defeat confirmed their relegation, all credit must be given to the Southern club and it’s fans.  The ground DJ played ‘We are the champions’, ‘Blaydon Races’ and ‘Local Hero’, whilst a couple of the Green Army fans wandered round the ground with a large banner congratulating Newcastle on their confirmation as champions – Big Respect to them!

Cause for celebration and much credit must go to Houghton for the way he’s lead the team to the championship title.

Another strong attacking performance from the Mag’s to drive home our return to the top flight last Monday.  Goals from Spiderman, Caroll, Noland and Routledge.

WE ARE PROMOTED!

Thanks to the goaless draw played out by Nottingham Forest and Cardiff – the good news is that regardless of what happens now, Newcastle United are guaranteed promotion now.

Five changes for tonight, with Houghton bringing back Danny Guthrie, Wayne Routledge and Jonas Gutierrez with Andy Carroll and Peter Lovenkrands starting up front.

Hopefully a party atmosphere at St. James Park will lead to an emphatic home win tonight!

COME ON THE TOON!

TEAM NEWS

Newcastle Utd: Steve Harper, Danny Simpson, Fabricio Coloccini, Mike Williamson, Jose Enrique, Wayne Routledge, Kevin Nolan (c), Danny Guthrie, Jonas Gutierrez, Peter Lovenkrands, Andy Carroll
Subs: Tim Krul, Tamas Kadar, Joey Barton, Leon Best, Nicky Butt, Ryan Taylor, Shola Ameobi

2-1 To The Toon

Goals from Peter Lovenkrands and a wonder scissor kick goal from Kevin Nolan seal promotion to the Premiership in style!!

Away to Peterborough United – a win for the toon and a defeat for Nottingham Forest away to Bristol City sees Newcastle guaranteed promotion! Happy days!

Peterborough 2 : 3 Newcastle United
Goals from Nolan, Barton and Ameobi gain the toon 3 more valuable points, and we are edging ever closer back to the top flight where we belong!

After the much reported on training ground punch up between Andy Carroll and Steven Taylor, who would have scripted it – Carroll plays tonight in the Championship game at Doncaster and nets the only goal of the game.  Many will have viewed Chris Houghton’s decision to play Carroll tonight with disdain, but in the end – mercenary as it seems 3 points at this stage in the season is all important.  With Carroll still out on bail pending a serious incident in a toon nightspot, the jury has to be out as to what punishment should be meted out – it can hardly have been a slap in the face for Steven Taylor to have had a broken jaw, surgery required and two nights in hospital.  Probability is that he’s out for the rest of the season now, all in all – the form Carroll’s in and the goals he’s scoring are vital, but he needs to understand that the club is bigger than he is.  We were too soft and weak in dealing with the Joey Barton mess in the early days – and whilst credit is due and all that for his current meek demeanour, Barton came with baggage was given an opportunity and still spat it back in the clubs face.  Time will tell if Andy Carroll is going down a similar path, but would a Fergie, a Wenger or one of the old school manager’s put up with it…….

Anyway, on a positive note, the toon took all three points away – thanks to Andy Carroll.

Another 5 wins and the toon are guaranteed promotion. A 5.20pm kick-off for Sky TV.  Now, a bit of a quandary - will the local pub have the toon game on, given it’s the last weekend of the six nations – the Ireland – Scotland game will definitely be on in my local, maybe I’ll take a kitchen utensil down to do a bit of stirring…

Come on Andy Carroll – give us another couple of goals and make a claim for that famous number 9 shirt!

Match Result: 2 – 2

Andy Carroll’s 75th-minute equaliser salvaged a point for the Toon, after going two nil down in the first half.

Lewin Nyatanga and Nicky Maynard put the home side in a strong position, but a sloppy throw from Bristol keeper Dean Gerken gifted an opportunity for Jonas Guiterrez to pull one back.  Constant pressure from the Newcastle resulted in Andy Carroll hitting the well deserved equaliser to the delight of the 2,000 travelling toon fans.

Newcastle face a home tie against Scunthorpe tonight.  Surely a good three points are in the bag??  Fingers crossed big Andy Carroll keeps on hitting the back of the net!  Come on the Toon!!

Team News
Harper, Simpson, Enrique, Nolan, Coloccini, Hall, Routledge, Guthrie, Carroll,
Lovenkrands, Gutierrez
Subs: Kadar, Best, Ranger

3 – 0 to the toon!!

Andy Carroll nets a brace and Peter Lovenkrands bags another as the toon march on.  It’s now 22 victorious games from 36 with still another 10 to play before promotion..

We are now 4 points clear of second placed West Brom with a game in hand, and a full 12 points clear of Nottingham Forest in third place.  Next game is away to Bristol City on Saturday.