Ameobi: On target for Newcastle

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Magpies sink hapless Blues

Shola Ameobi and Steven Taylor gave Newcastle to a 2-1 victory against struggling Birmingham as Liam Ridgewell saw red.

The game sprang into life in the 35th minute when Newcastle were awarded a disputed corner.

From the corner a scramble in the Birmingham area saw Fabricio Coloccini head goalwards.

Liam Ridgewell stuck out an arm on the line to prevent the ball going into the net and Newcastle were awarded a penalty.

Referee Chris Foy had no hesitation in brandishing the red card in Ridgewell’s direction and Ameobi shot home from the spot into the bottom corner.

The goal spurred the home side into action and just minutes later they nearly made it 2-0 as Peter Lovenkrands brought a smart save out of Ben Foster in the Birmingham goal.

Jonas Gutierrez went close as his curling shot went just wide of the post for Newcastle, while Kevin Nolan’s stinging effort was tipped over by Foster.

Two minutes before the interval Birmingham’s defence was breached again.

Steven Taylor got up well from a corner to head home despite Sebastian Larsson’s efforts to clear.

It was a hammer blow for the visitors and all of a sudden it looked a tough ask for them to get anything from the game.

However, just on the stroke of half-time former Newcastle man Lee Bowyer reduced the deficit when Cameron Jerome beat Tim Krul to the ball.

His shot was cleared by Coloccini, but Bowyer followed up to score.

Newcastle came out strongly in the second half as they tried to put the game beyond the Blues, but in truth they never really looked likely to extend their advantage and it was Birmingham who occasionally threatened to draw the game level.

Krul was guilty of dropping a cross from Jean Beausejour and Larsson nearly pounced for an equaliser, scooping over from close range.

The hosts could have made it three in the final minutes when Ameobi’s chip beat Foster but was cleared off the line by Roger Johnson.

The result guarantees Premier League football at St James Park next season, but leaves Birmingham still stuck in trouble going into the final matches.