Newcastle clinch promotion, Peterborough relegated

Kevin Nolan got Newcastle’s Premier League promotion party started as his superb strike clinched a 2-1 win over Sheffield United on Monday.

Chris Hughton’s side were preparing for the United match when news filtered through from the City Ground that third-placed Nottingham Forest had been held to a 0-0 draw by Cardiff.

That sparked jubilant scenes among the 48,270 crowd at St James’ Park, although it looked as though the Magpies’ celebration was going to be a damp squib when Richard Cresswell headed United in front in the 22nd minute.

But Peter Lovenkrands equalised for the hosts with a penalty on the stroke of half-time after Chris Morgan fouled Andy Carroll.

Fittingly it was midfielder Nolan, the team’s most impressive performer this season, who got the festivities going again when his spectacular volley sealed the points in the 73rd minute.

Elsewhere, Peterborough were relegated from the Championship after drawing 2-2 at Barnsley, while second-placed West Bromwich Albion closed on promotion with a 1-1 draw at Watford.

Jim Gannon’s Peterborough only won promotion to English football’s second tier last season – under the stewardship of current Preston North End boss Darren Ferguson – and they will return to League One after a dismal campaign.

Peterborough needed a win to have any hope of staying up and took the lead through Ryan Bennett in the fifth minute, but Barnsley hit back when Iain Hume equalised two minutes later.

The visitors regained the lead through Tommy Rowe’s low drive in the 77th minute but Barnsley confirmed Peterborough’s relegation six minutes from time when Hume jinked past goalkeeper James McKeown and shot into an empty net.

Gannon is Peterborough’s second manager of the campaign after he replaced Ferguson, but his three-month reign will end on Tuesday, with former Bristol City boss Gary Johnson taking over at London Road.

West Brom could have been promoted with a win at Watford and helpful results elsewhere, but they were fortunate to escape Vicarage Road with a draw.

Struggling Watford lost three players to injury, including Tom Cleverley with what looked a serious knee problem, before they were reduced to 10 men when Jon Harley was sent off 11 minutes from time for a second bookable offence.

Danny Graham put the hosts on course for an unlikely victory with a goal five minutes from time, only for Chris Brunt to reply in the fifth minute of stoppage time to move Albion within touching distance of promotion.

Watford are now above the relegation zone only on goal difference after Crystal Palace climbed out of the bottom three with a 3-1 win over Preston at Selhurst Park.

Keith Treacy netted for Preston after only eight minutes but Neil Danns drew Palace level five minutes before half-time and they took the lead through Darren Ambrose in the 50th minute before Calvin Andrew made the points safe six minutes from time.

Sheffield Wednesday dropped into the bottom three following a 1-0 defeat by Bristol City at Hillsborough, Nicky Maynard bagging the only goal nine minutes from time.

Second-bottom Plymouth are four points from safety after a 2-0 home loss to Middlesbrough, while Leicester got their promotion challenge back on track with a thumping 4-0 win over QPR.

The Foxes had lost their last four games but returned to form in some style at the Walkers Stadium.

Martyn Waghorn scored twice in between goals from Andy King and Steve Howard.

Swansea bounced back from their derby defeat by Cardiff with a 3-0 victory over Scunthorpe, who are now only two points above the relegation zone.

Blackpool kept their play-off bid on track with a 2-0 win over Doncaster, Ipswich won 3-1 at Derby and Reading beat Coventry 3-0.