Newcastle moved two points clear at the top of the Championship table with a 1-0 victory over Cardiff.
Cardiff suffer first defeat at new stadium
Newcastle United moved two points clear at the top of the Championship table with a 1-0 victory over Cardiff City.
The Magpies made a bright start and took the lead after 18 minutes when Fabricio Coloccini headed home a Ryan Taylor cross.
Cardiff struggled to create too many opportunities to equalise, although Michael Chopra did feel he should have had a late penalty when his shot struck Steven Taylor's arm.
Alan Smith was sent off in stoppage time for a second bookable offence but Newcastle held on as the Bluebirds lost for the first time in their new stadium.
Dominated
The Magpies dominated the opening exchanges and took the lead from the first real chance of the game.
Ryan Taylor's corner was not dealt with by the City defence and the ball was prodded back to Taylor by Coloccini. Taylor took his time with his cross and picked out Coloccini, who headed powerfully past David Marshall.
The home side spurned a good chance to equalise after 27 minutes when former Magpies forward Chopra beat the offside trap and played the ball across to Gavin Rae, but the presence of centre-back Steven Taylor caused the Scot to balloon his shot over the crossbar from six yards.
The Bluebirds went on to boss the remainder of the half but could not create any clear-cut opportunities.
Cardiff started the second half in the same vein, Chopra racing away down the left and playing the ball across for Jay Bothroyd to run onto. Goalkeeper Steve Harper was alert, though, and smothered the ball at the striker's feet.
Vociferous support
Chris Burke tested Harper with a low drive in the 69th minute as Dave Jones' side stepped up the pressure backed by vociferous support at the Cardiff City Stadium.
Burke sent over a swirling free-kick, which Bothroyd nodded wide, shortly afterwards, while there were strong appeals for a penalty in the 82nd minute when Chopra sent a shot against the outstretched arm of Steven Taylor.
Chopra should have done better with a free header four minutes from time but his effort flew well wide.
Smith, who had earlier been booked, was shown a second yellow card in injury time when he brought down Bothroyd on the edge of the box, but it was too late for Cardiff to take advantage.
