Newcastle United moved four points clear at the top of the Championship following a 2-0 victory over Nottingham Forest at St James’ Park.
Forest, lying in third and nine points behind second placed West Brom, will have been made fully aware of the importance of this fixture by manager Billy Davies, but, after a bright, tenacious start from the visitors, it was the Magpies who took the initiative for much of the first period.
Despite having the lion’s share of possession and creating the better openings, the home side had to settle for parity at the break.
It was the visitors who edged the opening exchanges of the second period but the Magpies took the lead with twenty minutes to go when substitute Shola Ameobi fired past Lee Camp from just inside the area.
Forest, keen to attest a record of six away defeats on the bounce, rallied valiantly but failed to test Harper in the Newcastle goal.
In fact, the home side were more than comfortable as the game drew to a close and were far from flattered when Enrique played a one-two with Ameobi before slotting past Camp from a tight angle in the second minute of added time.