Coventry City 0, Newcastle United 2

Dec 10 2009 by Mark Douglas, The Journal

THE Ricoh Arena echoed to the sound of classic Christmas numbers ones in the run-up to kick-off, but it was another festive favourite who sprang to mind as Newcastle United stretched their lead at the summit of the Championship to a daunting seven points.

The ghosts of striking past and future stole the headlines but, securing their twelfth clean sheet of the season, it is unmistakably United's Scrooge-esque back four which is strangling the life of the club's promotion rivals.

The plaudits will go to goalscorers Shola Ameobi, who marked his first appearance since August 27 with a performance of poise and maturity and a wonderfully clinical opening strike, and the precocious Nile Ranger – but it is those manning United's barracks who are the real unsung heroes.

Chris Hughton had been asked about Steve Harper's international chances in the run-up to United's date in the West Midlands, and if the Easington-born stopper continues to look as unflappable as this the whispers may grow into a crescendo before the end of the campaign.

Another unblemished performance was notable for two pedigree saves as Coventry rallied impressively in the second half – a low stop from Freddy Eastwood's fierce drive and a fine parry from Aron Gunnarsson's deceptively sweetly-hit effort on 69 minutes.

Nicky Butt swept in to hook that clearance away and he deserves plaudits too, stepping into a midfield which had been the cornerstone of United's awayday success with the minimum of fuss and plenty of industry.

The defensive success story does not stop there. Steven Taylor and Fabricio Coloccini continue to look like the best centre-half pairing ever to play in the second tier, while Jose Enrique won man of the match honours by a nose, sweeping an excellent cross into the penalty area for Ranger's first senior goal in the dying minutes.