NEWCASTLE UNITED 6
BARNSLEY 1
Coca-Cola Championship
St.James' Park
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Kick off 3pm

Craig Hope reports from St.James' Park ...

FULL-TIME SUMMARY

NEWCASTLE United fans finally got to see Jonas Gutierrez don his Spiderman mask as the Argentine netted a 25-yard stunner during Saturday's 6-1 thumping of Barnsley.

The Magpies were already leading by three when Gutierrez cut infield from the left on the hour mark before thundering home via the underside of the crossbar.

And, as promised, the ponytailed South American produced the webbed headpiece in celebration, much to the delight of the home crowd.

That was after Peter Lovenkrands had fired United into a 44th-minute lead from the penalty spot after he had been fouled by Barnsley keeper Luke Steele who was shown a straight red card.

The floodgates opened after the break and Lovenkrands headed a second from Andy Carroll's expert centre on 48 minutes before man of the match Danny Guthrie rocketed home from 20 yards just moments later.

Gutierrez then netted the goal of the game and Guthrie got his second to make it five when his free-kick drifted through a sea of bodies on 69 minutes.

And skipper Kevin Nolan got in on the act with a neat finish in the 71st minute after latching onto Carroll's headed flick and rounding substitute stopper David Preece.

Daniel Bogdanovic bagged a consolation for the visitors with seven minutes remaining.

SECOND-HALF UPDATES (click refresh for latest)

Full-time: The Toon Army greet the full-time whistle with an almighty roar in appreciation of today's display.

89min - Ryan Taylor volleys narrowly wide after Fabrice Pancrate had pulled back to his team-mate on the penalty spot.

87min - Danny Guthrie is confirmed as the sponsors' man of the match - an announcement that draws a loud roar of approval from the home crowd.

83min - BARNSLEY GOAL (6-1): Daniel Bogdanovic capitalises upon a misunderstanding between Simpson and Coloccini to race through on goal and slot past Steve Harper from 12 yards.

82min - Still West Brom trail by three goals to one at QPR - United are currently nine points clear at the top.

78min - Fabrice Pancrate should square for Peter Lovenkrands, who would have been left with an open goal, but instead the Frenchman decides to shoot and pokes wide with just Preece to beat.

77min - Leon Best lashes a low ball through the six-yard area but no United shirts gamble and the cross skids away for a throw-in.

74min - Peter Lovenkrands comes agonisingly close to netting his hat-trick as a deft header, from Jonas Gutierrez's cross, bounces off the inside of the post before being claimed by the gloves of David Preece on the goal-line.

73min - And that is Kevin Nolan's last involvement as he is replaced by Ryan Taylor with Andy Carroll also making way for Leon Best - Fabricio Coloccini takes the armband.

71min - NEWCASTLE GOAL (6-0): Skipper Kevin Nolan gets in on the act as he latches onto Andy Carroll's headed flick before rounding the grounded David Preece and tucking into the empty net from six yards.

69min - NEWCASTLE GOAL (5-0): Danny Guthrie's free-kick, delivered as a cross from 40 yards, drifts through a sea of bodies inside the area before bouncing beyond a forlorn David Preece for the midfielder's second of the game.

65min - Pancrate fires low into the six-yard area from the right. Andy Carroll is closing on the shoulder of Bobby Hassell but the Tykes full- back keeps his cool in controlling before hacking clear.

63min - A double change for Barnsley sees Jon Macken and Daniel Bogdanovic replace Andy Gray and Emil Hallfredsson.

60min - NEWCASTLE GOAL (4-0): At last we see Jonas Gutierrez's Spiderman mask! And what a goal it was; the Argentine cutting infield from the left before smashing right-footed into the back of the net via the underside of the crossbar from 20 yards!

58min - Midfield schemer Guthrie is taking this game by the sruff of the neck and comes close to doubling his tally with a measured curler from 20 yards which drifts narrowly wide of the Tykes target.

57min - Danny Guthrie drives United forward and wins a corner off the shins of Dickinson. His corner, though, lacks height and is hacked away at the near post by Gray.

55min - Fabrice Pancrate's right-wing centre causes problems and, when the ball drops onto the boot of Kevin Nolan on the angle of the six-yard area, he blasts into the side-netting - to be fair it was a difficult chance.

50min - NEWCASTLE GOAL (3-0): Peter Lovenkrands turns provider as he rolls a pass back to Danny Guthrie, 25 yards from goal, and the midfielder thunders right-footed through bodies with the ball zipping beyond a flat footed David Preece - what a strike!

48min - NEWCASTLE GOAL (2-0): Skipper Stephen Foster gifts possession to Andy Carroll on the left and the striker serves up an inch-perfect delivery for strike partner Peter Lovenkrands to leap and steer home a header from ten yards - that's his twelfth of the season and puts him level with top scorer Kevin Nolan.

There have been no further changes during the break as Barnsley restart play.

FIRST-HALF UPDATES

Half-time: United lead thanks to Peter Lovenkrands' 44th-minute penalty.

44min - NEWCASTLE GOAL (1-0): David Preece replaces Anderson de Silva and the goalkeeper's first job is to pick the ball out of the back of the net as Peter Lovenkrands steps up to blast into the right corner for his 11th of the season.

42min - Dickinson dithers in possession and is robbed by Pancrate who threads a pass in behind the Barnsley backline for Lovenkrands to latch onto. He touches by the on-rushing Luke Steele before tumbling to the turf just yards from goal. Referee Grant Hegley shows no hesitation in pointing to the spot before flashing a red card in the direction of the visiting stopper - penalty.

38min - Pancrate's far post cross from the left runs invitingly for Danny Simpson who is arriving from the full-back position. Closing red shirts deny the chance for a first time strike and Simpson instead controls before jinking to the by-line. He somehow manages to dink a dangerous centre into the goalmouth area and only the bravery of Forster, heading from underneath his own crossbar, prevents Lovenkrands from forcing home. Barnsley clear the resulting corner at the near post.

33min - It looks as though Jose Enrique has suffered a reoccurence of his hamstring problem and he is replaced by Tamas Kadar.

31min - Enrique and Pancrate swap passes down the left and that intricate play allows the Frenchman a yard to cross. He manages to dig out a terrific ball for Carroll to attack. The Geordie climbs to turn on goal from six yards and comes within inches of breaking the deadlock as his header bounces narrowly wide of the base of the post.

28min - United build promisingly down the right as Nolan slides a low pass in behind Dickinson. Gutierrez runs onto the ball and checks inside the recovering Barnsley full-back before throwing a left-footed cross to the far post. Fabrice Pancrate is backpedalling to connect but the ball skips away for a goal-kick via the back of the Frenchman's head.

25min - The Tykes earn their first flag-kick as Coloccini pokes from the boot of De Silva on the left. De Silva crosses left footed and it's the towering Shotton who climbs to head over on the edge of the six-yard area - good leap from the young centre-back but he couldn't get over the ball.

23min - Guthrie roars forward and slips a pass to his right and to the supporting Pancrate. The Frenchman's first touch, however, is heavy and allows Luke Steele to scamper from his line and slide to claim at the feet of the United man 10 yards from goal.

19min - QPR are winning 2-0 at home to West Brom - United are seven points clear of The Baggies as things stand.

17min - Jose Enrique skips inside two red shirts cutting in from the left channel and, with the crowd willing the Spaniard to shoot, he duly obliges only for a 30-yard effort to spiral well wide and nestle in the lower reaches of th Gallowgate End.

13min - Teixeria lobs a high ball wide to Hallfredsson who is in acres of space on the left, The Icelandic midfielder's first touch takes him away from goal and that robs him of a clear sight of Steve Harper's target, Still, though, he manages to unleash a left-footed strike but, despite the power, Harper is able to crouch and stop at the near post.

9min - Teixeira carries forward having seized possession 40 yards from goal. The Portuguese has options either side but elects to shoot and, in hindsight, that was maybe the wrong decision as his 20-yard effort dribbles wide.

6min - Peter Lovenkrands has the ball in the net with a slick finish from an acute angle but the Dane is denied a goal by a linesman's flag which correctly rules the United man half a yard offside.

5min - United have been camped in Barnsley's half during these early exchanges.

3min - The game's first corner comes the way of the hosts after a forward burst from Pancrate. Guthrie lifts to the far post but his ball has too much height and weight and Andy Carroll is unable to hook back into the mix and The Tykes have a goal-kick.

2min - Peter Lovenkrands is toppled by Ryan Shotton 30 yards from goal and United have a free-kick. Danny Guthrie goes for goal rather than cross to a crowded penalty area and Luke Steele is able to claim with ease.

United get us started attacking the Gallowgate End.

A minute's applause is observed before kick off as a mark of respect to former Magpie star Charlie Crowe and Macclesfield Town boss Keith Alexander who both passed away earlier this week.

A light drizzle is swirling around inside St.James' Park as the two teams emerge from the Milburn Stand tunnel.

TEAM NEWS

ALAN Smith misses out after picking up a knock in training and he is replaced in midfield by Fabrice Pancrate.

The French winger comes in for his first league start since the 2-2 draw at Barnsley in December and will occupy the right flank.

That means Danny Guthrie will move into the centre of the park, alongside skipper Kevin Nolan, with Jonas Gutierrez on the left.

Jose Enrique returns to the backline after a seven-game hamstring absence, while Peter Lovenkrands is preferred to Leon Best in attack.

TEAMS

NUFC: Steve Harper, Danny Simpson, Fabricio Coloccini, Mike Williamson, Jose Enrique, Fabrice Pancrate, Kevin Nolan (c), Danny Guthrie, Jonas Gutierrez, Andy Carroll, Peter Lovenkrands
Subs: Fitz Hall, Ryan Taylor, Leon Best, Tim Krul, Tamas Kadar, Nicky Butt, Nile Ranger

BFC: Luke Steele, Stephen Foster (c), Carl Dickinson, Nathan Doyle, Filipe Teixeira, Hugo Colace, Emil Hallfredsson, Bobby Hassell, Ryan Shotton, Andy Gray, Anderson De Silva
Subs: David Preece, Adam Hammill, Iain Hume, Luke Porter, Jonathan Macken, Daniel Bogdanovic, Darren Moore

Attendance: 44, 464
Referee: Grant Hegley