Best impresses for Newcastle

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE: Birmingham City 0 Newcastle Utd 2:INJURY AND a subsequent loss of form have ensured Leon Best has not had the easiest of times since joining Newcastle United from Coventry City a year ago, but the Republic of Ireland international's fifth goal in his sixth Premier League start guaranteed that he left the field to a deserved ovation from the travelling supporters.

The goal, headed firmly home from inside the six-yard box at the start of the second half to put Newcastle two clear, was well-taken rather than spectacular, but reflected a performance of pleasing solidity from the visitors.

Newcastle struck early on when Jose Enrique’s low cross was half-cleared but only as far as Jonas Gutierrez, whose curling ball into the area picked out the run of Peter Lovenkrands. Having stolen a yard on his marker Roger Johnson, Lovenkrands’ low first-time shot skidded inside Ben Foster’s right-hand post before the Birmingham goalkeeper could get down to make the save.

An Enrique error almost resulted in the equaliser. Obafemi Martins robbed the former Villarreal defender close to the Newcastle penalty area and played the ball in for Nikola Zigic.

The Serbian striker’s confidence is growing by the game and it took a one-handed save by the Newcastle goalkeeper, Steve Harper, diving to his right to push Zigic’s firm shot past the post.

Birmingham continued to push forward but the return for their possession was slim. The one clear shooting opportunity, teed up by Sebastian Larsson for Craig Gardner on the edge of the Newcastle area, saw the ball hit wastefully over the bar.

The miss looked much worse within five minutes of the restart. Just as in the first period, Newcastle began as though determined to impose themselves, and once again, Birmingham buckled.

They gave away possession and stood back and gave Gutierrez ample time to measure a curling cross towards the far post, where Best timed his run nicely to get the jump on Roger Johnson to head unstoppably past Foster.

Thereafter Zigic, with a couple of headers wide, went close to starting a comeback but Newcastle were comfortably in control.

Guardian Service

BIRMINGHAM:Foster, Carr, Johnson, Jiranek (Murphy 73), Ridgewell, Larsson (Phillips 75), Ferguson, Gardner, Bentley, Martins (Jerome 58), Zigic. Subs not used: Doyle, Bowyer, Fahey, Beausejour. Booked: Murphy.

NEWCASTLE:Harper, Simpson, Williamson, Coloccini, Jose Enrique, Barton, Tiote, Nolan, Gutierrez (Campbell 87), Lovenkrands (Ranger 64), Best (Guthrie 75). Subs not used: Krul, Perch, Ferguson, Kuqi. Booked: Nolan, Barton, Ranger.

Referee:Lee Mason (Lancashire).

Att:28,270

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