Magpies go back to the top despite Ritchie penalty controversy

NEWCASTLE overhauled Brighton at the top of the Championship with victory against Burton, which a controversial refereeing decision by referee Keith Stroud threatened to overshadow.

Matt Ritchie’s curling shot from 20 yards settled the game, but not before his first-half penalty was disallowed.

There seemed little wrong with the ruled out ‘goal’, which to Newcastle’s anger resulted in a Burton free-kick.

The frustration was eventually eased after halftime with Ritchie’s winner.

Newcastle are a point above Brighton with both sides on 40 games, and 10 clear of third-placed Huddersfield, who have a game in hand. ■■Away fans from all Premier League clubs are to see tickets capped at £20 for the first time over the coming weeks thanks to a pioneering move by Virgin Media and the Football Supporters’ Federation.

The national supporters’ organisation launched the ‘Twenty’s Plenty’ campaign in January 2013, calling on clubs at all levels to recognise travelling supporters by capping ticket prices.

Premier League clubs have capped away tickets at £30 since the start of the season as part of a threeyear agreement, but Virgin Media is now reimbursing the cost of tickets above £20 for a single away fixture at all top-tier clubs.

The majority of matches covered by the initiative, in partnership with the FSF, are being held between April 15 and 23, while Virgin Media, Southampton’s shirt sponsor, subsidises every visiting supporters’ ticket.