Lower League Live: Newcastle v. Derby

Full-time: And Derby will be delighted with this result. A truly hard-working performance by Nigel Clough’s troops. Newcastle were the classier team, but Derby are only the fourth team to take points away from St. James Park. Newcastle still sit atop of the Championship table, but they would’ve liked to extend their lead over West Brom.

93º Last seconds of the game as Gutierrez drives forward. Coloccini crosses, and wins a corner. The corner leads to another corner for Newcastle. Savage clears this corner.

92º Derby are going to finish this game with 10 men as Jay McEverley took down Jonas Gutierrez once again. Jake Livermore is now coming on for Derby to replace Jay “DJ” Campbell.

90º Kevin Nolan is given a yellow card. Robbie Savage takes the subsequent short range kick, but it goes just over the top of the bar. Good effort.

87º Controversy at St. James! Closest chance for Newcastle, as Nolan’s cross meets Rangers, who tapped it against the crossbar. Newcastle players plead to the referee to give a goal, but the replay shows that the ref got it right.

86º Can Derby smash and grab at St. James? It has worked so far. Robbie Savage finally gets a booking.

85º Savage is tackled and seems to be a bit shaken but not stirred.

84º Newcastle’s fans urging them on desperately. Kris Commons counters for Derby, and his long range effort goes well wide of Harper’s net.

80º Ten minutes for someone to become a hero. Jose Enrique swings in a free kick. Taylor collects. Open play results. Newcastle on all-out offense at the moment.

78º 18-year-old Ranger is coming on for Lovenkrands. Lets see what this prodigy can produce.

74º Steven Taylor commits a foul on Robbie Savage resulting on a free kick for Derby County. The free-kick results in open play. 16 minutes to play now, pressure mounting on Newcastle as they are expected to win this.

73º Pancrate lays a cross for Lovenkrands, but Addison does well to clear.

70º Newcastle United makes a sub: Fabrice Pancrate enters for Ryan Taylor. Reason: Tactical

68º Derby County makes a sub: Kris Commons enters for Lee Hendrie. Reason: Tactical

65º Shola Ameobi comes on for Andy Carroll. Maybe he’ll be a spark in Newcastle’s attack.

61º Quite a scrappy spell at the moment. Gutierrez has been a class above his peers on the night.

59º Alan Smith has a long-range effort which is well-held by Bywater. Newcastle dominating but Derby are holding on somehow.

57º Steven Taylor with a golden chance! A free header from 6 yards goes straight into the arms of Stephen Bywater.

52º Ryan Taylor takes the corner kick from the left byline with his right foot and hits an inswinger to the centre, resulting in: save

49º Robbie Savage drills a right footed shot, but it is off target. Outcome: miss right

46º Are we’re off for the final 45 minutes.

Half-time: Newcastle have surely shown their superior class, but Nigel Clough’s men have survived with last ditch tackles and Stephen Bywater’s fine saves. Robbie Savage has a quick go at the referee before heading to the locker room, but he should feel lucky not to have been booked yet. An enticing 45 minutes to come. Stay with us.

45º 1 Minute of added time. Kevin Nolan drills a right-footed effort, but Buxton blocks. Newcastle corner. Open play results in yet another Newcastle free-kick. Derby are quite stuck in.

42º Gutierrez displays his skill with a few slick moves to beat a number of Derby defenders down the left wing. Derby striker Rob Hulse tracks back and hacks down Gutierrez and is rightfully shown the yellow card.

40º Savage takes a Derby corner from the right byline, and his outswinger met Buxton’s head. The referee awarded Newcastle a free-kick though.

38º Good sequence of passing from Newcastle, but McEverley does just enough to block Kevin Nolan’s effort. Coloccini has a shot at goal from the corner, but it is bravely blocked.

35º Heading towards the last 10 minutes of the first half, we’re still at 0-0. Newcastle certainly looks on top, but Derby have had a few golden opportunities.

32º McEverley is shown the night’s first yellow card for holding Ryan Taylor back.

31º Lee Hendrie fouls Danny Simpson, and Ryan Taylor’s free-kick meets Andy Carroll’s heads. The effort goes wide. Carroll needs to sort his aim out, although he has looked dangerous.

29º The referee from Cambridgeshire awards Newcastle with yet another free-kick. Ryan Taylor’s free-kick met Kevin Nolan’s left foot as the midfielder tried a spectacular over the shoulder volley.

25º DJ Campbell is denied with a wonderful save from Steve Harper. Campbell latched onto Pearson’s near post cross with a first-time effort. Harper was brave though. The crowd acknowledge their goalkeeper’s efforts.

23º Newcastle is mounting up the corners, as Taylor swings in yet another cross. The result again is open play.

22º Savage takes down Gutierrez from just outside the box. Newcastle free-kick.

20º Coloccini wins a free-kick for Newcastle, but the subsequent kick leads to a Derby counter-attack.

19º Ryan Taylor forces Stephen Bywater to make a very good save. Taylor then takes a corner, which results in open play.

16º Lovenkrands displays his skill as Gutierrez slipped him in. Lovenkrands hit the half-volley with his left foot that just went wide of Bywater’s goal.

14º - Carroll again with a good header. Jose Enrique swung in the cross right onto Carroll’s, but the powerful effort went wide.

10º - Lovenkrands is fouled 25 yards out. Ryan Taylor strikes the free-kick brilliantly but his curling effort his the crossbar.

2º - Robbie Savage, at 35 years old, still has the fire in his game as he goes in hard on a tackle. Free-kick to Newcastle.

1º - Carroll heads a cross that just goes wide of the Derby goal.

Kickoff! And we’re off.

Line-Ups:

Newcastle: Harper, Coloccini, Taylor, Jose Enrique, Simpson, Nolan, Gutierrez, Lovenkrands, Smith, Carroll

Subs: Krul, Kadar, Nicky Butt, Pancrate, Danny Guthrie, Ameobi, Ranger

Derby: Bywater, Connolly, Buxton, McEveley, Addison, Pearson, Savage, Hendrie, Green, Hulse, Campbell

Subs: Deeney, Commons, Teale, Croft, Livermore, Pringle, Dickov

Pregame Coverage: Top of the Championship table Newcastle (on 50 points) hosts 18th place Derby (on 25 points). Everyone expects Newcastle to continue on their good run of form, but the rivalry between these two sides always produces drama.