Championship
HuddersfieldHuddersfield Town1NewcastleNewcastle United3

Huddersfield Town 1-3 Newcastle United

Newcastle celebrate
Daryl Murphy's goal was his fourth in 10 appearances for Newcastle

Newcastle moved five points clear at the top of the Championship with victory at third-placed Huddersfield.

With second-placed Brighton losing at Nottingham Forest, Newcastle knew a win would extend their lead and give them an 11-point cushion over the Terriers.

Matt Ritchie put the Magpies in front from the penalty spot and Daryl Murphy made it two with an angled finish.

Aaron Mooy pulled one back from the spot but Dwight Gayle tapped in after substitute keeper Joel Coleman's slip.

Newcastle had to work hard for their victory, which was watched by a record league crowd at the John Smith's Stadium of 23,213.

And they had to withstand tremendous pressure from David Wagner's side to follow up Tuesday's win at fellow promotion challengers Brighton with another three points.

Huddersfield, who dominated possession, started brightly but fell behind when Ritchie was tripped by Nakhi Wells in the box and picked himself up to send keeper Danny Ward the wrong way from the spot.

Michael Hefele headed wide and Newcastle keeper Karl Darlow saved well from Philip Billing as the hosts went close to an equaliser.

But they instead fell further behind when Murphy beat the offside trap and nicked the ball away from Ward before slotting in through the keeper's legs from a tight angle.

The Terriers had to bring on Coleman for Ward, who picked up a thigh injury, at the break but they camped in the Magpies' half and deservedly pulled one back when Jonjo Shelvey brought down Elias Kachunga and Mooy coolly scored from the spot.

But substitute Gayle, fit again after a hamstring injury, settled it for Newcastle, who now travel to fifth-placed Reading on Tuesday, in stoppage time when he tapped into an open goal after Coleman slipped when trying to head a long punt clear as he retreated after going up for a Huddersfield corner.

Huddersfield head coach David Wagner: "I'm not sure about the first penalty. I think there was a handball before it and for the second goal Danny Ward touched the ball and had it under control and he got attacked.

"Ward then got a knock and we had to take him off at half-time. So many situations went against us. I told the players I have no complaints and I am very proud.

"We can leave this result behind us very quickly. There are some very smart and intelligent players in the dressing room and they know we were very unlucky."

Newcastle boss Rafael Benitez: "We now have to play Reading and there are still a lot of points to play for. We just get ready for the next game.

"I was really pleased with everyone. Huddersfield have some good players and we knew what to expect from this game.

"It does not matter whether you have a game plan if you don't have the players. The players gave everything."

Line-ups

Huddersfield

Formation 4-2-3-1

  • 1WardSubstituted forColemanat 45'minutes
  • 2Smith
  • 44Hefele
  • 26SchindlerBooked at 33mins
  • 15LöweSubstituted forQuanerat 86'minutes
  • 8BillingSubstituted forHoggat 66'minutes
  • 10Mooy
  • 9Kachunga
  • 37Brown
  • 17van La Parra
  • 21Wells

Substitutes

  • 5Hudson
  • 6Hogg
  • 13Coleman
  • 14Cranie
  • 16Payne
  • 18Lolley
  • 23Quaner

Newcastle

Formation 4-4-1-1

  • 26Darlow
  • 8AnitaBooked at 45mins
  • 6Lascelles
  • 2ClarkBooked at 46mins
  • 3Dummett
  • 30AtsuSubstituted forYedlinat 81'minutes
  • 12ShelveyBooked at 61mins
  • 4ColbackBooked at 35minsSubstituted forGouffranat 72'minutes
  • 11Ritchie
  • 15Diamé
  • 33MurphySubstituted forGayleat 66'minutes

Substitutes

  • 5Hanley
  • 9Gayle
  • 17Pérez
  • 20Gouffran
  • 21Elliot
  • 22Yedlin
  • 27Gámez
Referee:
Roger East
Attendance:
23,213

Match Stats

Home TeamHuddersfieldAway TeamNewcastle
Possession
Home76%
Away24%
Shots
Home16
Away6
Shots on Target
Home6
Away5
Corners
Home9
Away3
Fouls
Home8
Away17

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Huddersfield Town 1, Newcastle United 3.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Huddersfield Town 1, Newcastle United 3.

  3. Post update

    Foul by Isaiah Brown (Huddersfield Town).

  4. Post update

    Yoan Gouffran (Newcastle United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  5. Goal!

    Goal! Huddersfield Town 1, Newcastle United 3. Dwight Gayle (Newcastle United) header from outside the box to the centre of the goal.

  6. Post update

    Corner, Huddersfield Town. Conceded by Mohamed Diamé.

  7. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Aaron Mooy (Huddersfield Town) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Rajiv van La Parra.

  8. Post update

    Attempt saved. Rajiv van La Parra (Huddersfield Town) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Aaron Mooy.

  9. Post update

    Foul by Aaron Mooy (Huddersfield Town).

  10. Post update

    Dwight Gayle (Newcastle United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  11. Substitution

    Substitution, Huddersfield Town. Collin Quaner replaces Chris Löwe.

  12. Post update

    Corner, Huddersfield Town. Conceded by Karl Darlow.

  13. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Nahki Wells (Huddersfield Town) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Chris Löwe.

  14. Post update

    Jonathan Hogg (Huddersfield Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  15. Post update

    Foul by Dwight Gayle (Newcastle United).

  16. Post update

    Attempt missed. Elias Kachunga (Huddersfield Town) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Tommy Smith.

  17. Substitution

    Substitution, Newcastle United. DeAndre Yedlin replaces Christian Atsu.

  18. Post update

    Jonathan Hogg (Huddersfield Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  19. Post update

    Foul by Mohamed Diamé (Newcastle United).

  20. Post update

    Offside, Huddersfield Town. Aaron Mooy tries a through ball, but Tommy Smith is caught offside.

As It Stood

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Newcastle35244769294076
2Brighton35218658312771
3Huddersfield3420594539665
4Leeds352041149351464
5Reading35196104946363
6Sheff Wed351871047341361
7Fulham341511859401956
8Norwich35157136053752
9Preston351410114744352
10Derby35149123832651
11Barnsley35148135350350
12Cardiff35137154851-346
13Aston Villa351112123538-345
14Brentford34128145149244
15Ipswich351013123643-743
16QPR35127163949-1043
17Birmingham351110143752-1543
18Nottm Forest35117174958-940
19Burton35910163447-1337
20Blackburn3499163950-1136
21Wolves3398164046-635
22Bristol City3597194452-834
23Wigan35710183041-1131
24Rotherham3545263279-4717
View full Championship table

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