Newcastle came from behind to see off 10-man Coventry
Newcastle came from behind to see off 10-man Coventry and move three points clear at the top of the Championship. Clinton Morrison fired in for the visitors, but Wayne Routledge volleyed in the equaliser two minutes later.
Andy Carroll's header gave Newcastle a second-half lead and Peter Lovenkrands added a third from the spot after Routledge was fouled by Leon Barnett.
Barnett received a second yellow as a result to leave substitute Ryan Taylor to tap in the fourth in injury time.
The league leaders began in lively fashion with headers by Fabricio Coloccini and Lovenkrands both going close.
But just after the half-hour Coventry broke the deadlock against the run of play when Michael McIndoe crossed from the left for Morrison to bundle the ball home.
Their lead did not last long and a weak header by Coventry skipper Stephen Wright allowed Routledge to power in from outside the box just before the break.
The hosts kept pressing and were rewarded on 53 minutes when Carroll finished off a fine move by nodding in his eighth goal of the season.
The three points were soon made safe when Barnett was given his marching orders after clumsily hauling down Routledge.
Lovenkrands blasted in from the spot before Taylor grabbed his late strike.
Newcastle boss Chris Hughton on Wayne Routledge: "What Wayne has got is old-fashioned wing play.
"You look at him to provide crosses into the box but it is a real added bonus when he comes up with a goal, and it was an excellent one at that. "
Coventry boss Chris Coleman: "We got a good goal, we had one cleared off the line and we got in some good positions.
"We're a bit disappointed to concede the equaliser so quickly after scoring but for an hour we were in the game.
"We knocked off for the second goal and when you are up against that type of quality you will be punished. "
Source: BBC