Newcastle 1-0 Derby: Matt Ritchie's deflected effort sends Toon top

Newcastle moved above Brighton to the top of the Sky Bet Championship after seeing off Derby 1-0 at St James' Park on Saturday.

Matt Ritchie was on the score sheet once again after his effort took a wicked deflection from Bradley Johnson, which took the ball over the head of Scott Carson.

Moments later, it could have been two, but for a superb reaction save from Carson, who pushed away a stinging shot from Mohamed Diame as Newcastle applied the pressure.

Tom Ince had the perfect chance to level for Derby deep into the second half, but somehow managed to screw his effort wide when he had only Karl Darlow to beat after a superb ball from Abdoul Camara.

Darren Bent thought he had equalised but his looping injury-time header was cleared off the line by DeAndre Yedlin, much to the relief of Newcastle.

The home fans showed they were fully behind manager Rafa Benitez, who has stressed he will remain at the club despite being concerned at a lack of January signings and this performance would have given the Spaniard reason to cheer.

Following a week which saw Newcastle humiliated in the FA Cup to Oxford United and squander a two-goal lead to QPR in midweek to draw 2-2, the hosts made sure they began with real intent.

There was an injury scare for Derby midfielder Johnny Russell who went down clutching his knee and replays showed Yedlin had unintentionally caught the player in the head with his trailing leg.

Carson was called into action shortly after, reacting quickest when he raced out of his area to slide in on Issac Hayden and moments later, comfortably collected a tame effort from the England U21 international.

It was the first time the two sides had met on this ground since 2009, when the result was 0-0, but Derby could have had a goal when Ritchie's careless pass found Bent, but Ciaran Clark came to the rescue with a strong last-ditch challenge.

Then, just as the visitors had begun to find some sort of rhythm, Newcastle made a fortuitous breakthrough thanks to the aid of a deflection, which sent Ritchie's strike over the head of the stranded Carson.

It was the winger's sixth goal in his last four appearances at St James' and was well deserved too, given that he had been the most dangerous player on the pitch.

Carson was then called into action minutes later, pulling off a superb save from point-blank range to deny Diame and then stopping Hayden from distance.

Derby came out after the break determined to right the wrongs of a poor first half, but nearly found themselves two goals down, but for the woeful finishing of Aleksandar Mitrovic.

The powerful Serbian has a paltry three goals to his name so far this season and despite plenty of running, looked unlikely to add to that tally.

Steve McClaren, returning to St James' since his sacking last season, introduced Camara and his pace and direct running had Newcastle on the back foot and he soon created Derby's best chance of the game.

A lovely weighted through ball found Tom Ince in the penalty box and, with only Darlow standing between him and the goal, he somehow steered his effort tamely wide.

Having looked comfortable for much of the game, Newcastle seemed nervous and were almost made to pay when Bent steered his header towards the goal and with Darlow beaten, Yedlin flung himself in to clear off the line and send Newcastle top.

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Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez:

"The fans have been amazing for me all year and I'm happy if they continue singing my name, but also supporting the players. If the players win I win, and if the players win the fans win.

"It was important they realised that they can make the difference in a game like this. From the start they were ready to back the team and cheer the players. The players responded to it. We started the game well and the fans were happy with that.

"You could feel the atmosphere when we scored the goal and the fans know the players will run a little bit more if they can feel this support and this atmosphere."

Derby boss Steve McClaren:

"It's a great club, with great supporters; the staff have always been good, and the same with the majority of the players. So it was always going to be a difficult afternoon. But I was just focused and concentrated on the game. We go away with nothing and move on.

"I'll have a glass of wine and a good conversation and it will be very interesting, but it's private - very private."