Table-topping Newcastle dedicate win to Robson

Newcastle caretaker boss Chris Hughton saw his team go to the top of the Championship on Saturday and dedicated the 4-0 win over Ipswich to the late Sir Bobby Robson, who managed both teams in his lenghty and distinguished career.

Hughton and his players all attended a memorial service for Robson, who died of cancer in July, last Monday at Durham cathedral and ensured that they marked the day when Ipswich renamed a stand in honour of their former manager in style.

“This group of lads were all at the memorial for Sir Bobby on Monday and that was an emotional occasion,” said Hughton after seeing Kevin Nolan score a hat-trick at Portman Road.

“The players were delighted to attend and we all tried to put on a performance for Sir Bobby. It was a special result and a special performance.”

Ipswich are second from bottom having now registered their worst ever start to a season, a landmark which has piled more pressure on boss Roy Keane.

“We conceded some unbelievably bad goals and we just have to defend better,” said the Irishman.

“I don’t know if Nolan has scored a hat-trick before but he won’t get an easier chance to get one. He must have thought it was Christmas.”

West Bromwich manager Roberto Di Matteo urged his team to bounce back after suffering their first Championship defeat of the season against Crystal Palace.

Despite Saturday’s 1-0 loss, the Baggies are still in the automatic promotion places, but Di Matteo warned his players they would need to be more inventive in the future to overcome the defensive tactics of teams visiting the Hawthorns.

“You will not get too many chances when teams defend with all their men and it becomes difficult,” he said. “I think every team who comes here does that and we need to cope with that.

“Now we have to make sure that we are back to our normal selves at Barnsley on Tuesday.”

Palace manager Neil Warnock denied his team had set out to frustrate Albion.

“We had read that this was going to be Albion’s ninth game without defeat and I think things like that help you,” Warnock said.

“We didn’t come to defend, we came to have a go at Albion. We pushed right up on them and I think we deserved the win. This is what we are in the game for.”

Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate admitted the confidence of his players could be affected after his team threw away a two goal lead against Coventry, a last minute equaliser snatching a 2-2 draw for the Sky Blues.

The result comes on the back of last week’s 5-0 hammering against West Brom.

“The feeling in the dressing room is similar to last weekend,” Southgate admitted. “In fact, it might be a little bit worse because we had three points in our grasp and we threw them away – that is difficult to take.”

Leicester manager Nigel Pearson could barely hide his disappointment after his team surrendered their record of 24 games without a home defeat, going down 2-1 to Preston.

“We had a very good run at home but it doesn’t make it any easier to take,” Pearson said. “But we will take it on the chin and dust ourselves down and get ready for the next game.

“I’ve got no complaints. It’s disappointing but they were very disciplined and scored a very good second goal on the counter attack, which we obviously aren’t happy about. But that’s life.”

Preston manager Alan Irvine heaped praise on his team as they attempt to channel the confidence gained from breaking City’s long-standing record into a push for a place in the Premier League.

“It was an incredible record, absolutely amazing. One of the big things I was stressing to the lads at half-time was that you don’t get that kind of record without coming back,” he said.

“We put ourselves under a bit of pressure through not defending properly in the 90th minute, but apart from that I thought it was an excellent performance.”