Newcastle 1 City 0
A Danny Guthrie strike proved enough to give Newcastle the edge over City in a rainswept evening encounter at St James' Park.
The win took the north-east club, who remain managerless after five games of the season, to the top of the Championship.
But City, who themselves would have claimed top spot with a victory by three goals or more, were once again left to reflect on what could have been.
Nigel Pearson, a former Toon coach and caretaker boss, made just one change to the starting eleven from the side which beat Barnsley. Striker Steve Howard, making a surprisingly swift return after a hamstring injury, replaced Lloyd Dyer, with Paul Gallagher switching to the left. New loan signing Ryan McGivern was forced to settle for a place among the substitutes alongside fellow loanee Martyn Waghorn.
Despite a pitiful recent record on Tyneside – just one win and a draw in the previous fifteen visits – many among the travelling City hordes were optimistic of securing at least a point from the trip. This confidence arose from the hosts' continuing off-field turmoil and the summer player exodus which had left their squad paper-thin. Injuries and international calls weakened the Newcastle side for this game still further, leaving them with teenager Nile Ranger, making his first league start, as their only recognised striker….
However, the home side started strongly and had a loud penalty claim turned down as a Ryan Taylor cross struck the arm of defender Wayne Brown. Fortunately for City, though, the contact was deemed to be unintentional.
The remaining action of the first-half was largely in the home penalty area, with keeper Steve Harper making excellent saves from a Howard header and a Gallagher free-kick.
This was followed by City's best chance of the game. Dany N'Guessan sent Matty Fryatt clear on the right, but the striker turned onto his weaker foot, and with colleagues unmarked in the centre, turned his shot wide.
Half-time arrived moments later with the City contingent, situated once again in the most stratospheric section of St James' Park, wondering whether their side would be forced to pay for their profligacy in front of goal.
Six minutes after the restart, as the rain grew heavier, the answer was delivered in emphatic style. Ranger played in Guthrie on the edge of the City penalty area, and the midfielder was allowed to take aim and find the target.
The goal lifted the spirits and confidence of the home side, as Geremi came close to adding to their lead with another long-range shot which on this occasion flew narrowly wide. Meanwhile Pearson made changes in attack, with Fryatt and Gallagher being replaced by Waghorn and Dyer, but to little noticeable effect.
Indeed, City's play became more ragged as the game progressed, as passes were misplaced and tackles lost on an increasingly frequent basis. Howard and Waghorn failed to make headway against a makeshift home defence and doubts persist as to whether either would have played had this match taken place anywhere other than their native Tyneside The malaise on the field also appeared to affect the bench, with Pearson, ludicrously, waiting until stoppage-time before bringing Nicky Adams on for N'Guessan.
The final whistle came with Newcastle comfortably defending their lead – a scenario likely to be repeated on many occasions at this venue this season. City, however, were left to regret wasting possession and chances – a scenario with which we are already becoming familiar.
With a return of just four goals in five league games to date, the failings of recent Championship campaigns are returning to haunt us. Whether Pearson can find a solution will define the outcome of our season.
Newcastle: Harper; R. Taylor, Simpson, S. Taylor, Jose Enrique; Barton (Kadar 89), Smith, Nolan, Geremi, Guthrie (Donaldson 85); Ranger (Vuckic 85)
Booked: Guthrie
City: Weale; Neilson, Hobbs, Brown, Berner: N'Guessan (Adams 90), Wellens, Oakley, Gallagher (Dyer 60); Howard, Fryatt (Waghorn 69)
Booked: Berner
The views expressed in this report are the opinions of the Trust member nominated to file the report only and do not represent the views of the Foxes Trust organisation