Ritchie strikes it lucky to return Magpies to top
NEWCASTLE returned to the top of the table as Matt Ritchie’s deflected first-half strike secured a narrow win over Derby.
Rams boss Steve McClaren endured a frustrating return to St James’ Park, having been dismissed as Newcastle head coach last March, with Ritchie’s fourth goal in the last three games proving decisive.
The win took Newcastle back above Brighton, who have a game in hand, and leaves Rafael Benitez’s side six points clear of the play-off places.
The Magpies merited their victory thanks to a dominant first-half display, although they were forced to survive some nervous moments in the closing stages, with DeAndre Yedlin heading Darren Bent’s goalbound header off the line in the fifth minute of stoppage time.
Newcastle had lacked tempo and impetus for much of Wednesday’s 2-2 draw with QPR, but with Mo Diame’s return in place of Ayoze Perez helping to add a physicality to their midfield, they were much sharper from the off.
Diame set up Isaac Hayden for an early side-footed effort that was saved by Scott Carson, and was also on target himself with a 20-yard strike as Newcastle dominated the first half.
The Senegal international was badly missed during his international hiatus at the Africa Cup of Nations, and he was involved as the hosts claimed the lead shortly before the half-hour mark.
Diame fed Aleksandar Mitrovic in the area, the striker rolled the ball back into the path of Ritchie, and the Scotland international beat Carson with a shot that took a hefty deflection off Bradley Johnson. The deflection meant Carson was not to blame, and the former England goalkeeper prevented Newcastle from moving further ahead when he saved Diame’s fierce first-time strike after Yedlin had torn down the right-hand side to deliver a dangerous cross.
Derby’s first-half threat was fairly minimal, although Karl Darlow had to be alert when Johnny Russell turned in the area to get a shot away midway through the opening period.
The visitors should have been two goals behind within the opening three minutes of the second half. Ritchie nodded Paul Dummett’s cross back across the area, but after turning neatly, Mitrovic dragged a 10-yard shot wide of the target.
The miss meant Newcastle were forced to endure a nervy second half, but while Derby enjoyed much more possession after the interval, they struggled to find a way through a well-drilled Magpies defence.
Grant Hanley impressed as he deputised for the injured Jamaal Lascelles, while Yedlin combined his attacking runs with stout defensive work at the opposite end of the field.
Derby were waiting for one golden chance, but when it came with nine minutes left, they were unable to convert it. Tom Ince was unmarked on the edge of the six-yard box as he met Abdoul Camara’s cross, but with the goal at his mercy, he somehow side-footed wide.
The Rams also went close deep into stoppage time, but Yedlin headed the ball to safety.