Saivet puts in a shift.. and a claim for first-team spot

NEWCASTLE United Under-23s earned their first Premier League 2 victory since August with a solid performance against Reading.

The young Magpies had only won once in their previous 11 games, but Peter Beardsley’s side turned on the style at Whitley Park and the goals flowed in a 4-1 victory.

The game resulted in Henri Saivet getting 90 minutes under his belt and staking a claim for a place in the squad for the first-team encounter against Watford on Saturday.

But some of the club’s youngsters shone too, with Geordie Academy products Luke Charman and Cal Roberts getting on the scoresheet.

Newcastle made a decent start to the game and were rewarded on 20 minutes.

A cross from Victor Fernandez from the left-hand side was bundled into his own net by Gabriel Osho, with Jack Colback breathing down his neck in the six-yard box.

Saivet - who recovered from a knock picked up in the early stages - then fired over after finding space on the edge of the box.

But Newcastle undid their hard work 15 minutes after going in front.

As Freddie Woodman went to collect the ball near the edge of the box he was dispossessed by his own player in Josef Yarney. And this allowed Josh Barrett to nick the ball and roam into six-yard box before stroking into the empty net.

But Newcastle were handed the chance to take the lead on 55 minutes when Heardman was taken out by Osho and the ref pointed to the spot.

Osho’s bad night got even worse when he was shown a red card for a professional foul.

Heardman stepped up but Legg guessed the right way and pushed the ball away for a corner.

Five minutes later Dan Barlaser sent a shot wide of the target as United tried to end their poor run of results.

Heardman’s miserable night came to an end on the 71-minute mark when he was taken off and replaced by Charman, who made an instant impact when he headed home Jamie Sterry’s right-wing cross to put United back in front. And Newcastle put the lid on the game when Roberts got the ball 25-yards out before curling wickedly past the goalkeeper.

Charman tapped home from closerange after a goalmouth scramble to add some gloss to the scoreline in stoppage time.