John Carver finally enjoyed his first win as Newcastle manager as the Magpies cruised to a 3-0 win at struggling Hull on Saturday.
Carver had gone four matches without a victory since taking over from Alan Pardew at St. James’ Park on a caretaker basis, but in the week the Newcastle-born 50-year-old was confirmed as head coach until the end of the season, he was able to celebrate three points at last.
After three successive defeats, Newcastle was lifted by Remy Cabella’s strike just before half-time, and second half goals from Sammy Ameobi and Yoan Gouffran ensured Newcastle would clinch its first win since December 28.
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Newcastle is now 10th, while Steve Bruce’s Hull remains in the relegation zone after a fourth consecutive defeat.
Vibrant Hull had looked more vibrant in the early stages and almost grabbed the lead in the eighth minute when Michael Dawson headed just over. Somehow, the visitor stayed on level terms 10 minutes later after a mighty goalmouth scramble sparked by an Ahmed Elmohamady cross.
Tigers captain Curtis Davies headed the ball goalwards, but a combination of Tim Krul’s hand and the chest of Fabricio Coloccini managed to bundle the ball off the line.
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But, Newcastle made the most of its escapes and took the lead in the 40th minute when Hull’s Andrew Robertson gifted Cabella possession 20 yards out and the French midfielder fired low past Allan McGregor for his first Newcastle goal.
Hull thought it had equalised in stoppage-time at the end of the first half when Elmohamady bundled a Gaston Ramirez free-kick into the net and wheeled away in triumph, only to be booked after the assistant referee noticed the Egyptian had punched the ball into the net.
Carver’s team doubled its lead in the 50th minute when Ramirez gave the ball away to Jack Colback. Colback fed Ameobi and the striker advanced unchecked before lashing a 25-yard effort past McGregor and into the bottom corner.
Newcastle was in total control and the third goal arrived in the 78th minute when Gouffran ran unchallenged at the home defence and fired in a shot which was deflected into his own net by Elmohamady.
The results:
EPL: Hull 0 lost to Newcastle 3 (Cabella 40, Ameobi 50, Gouffran 78).
Bundesliga: Bayern Munich 1 (Bernat 55) lost to Wolfsburg 4 (Dost 4, 45, de Bruyne 53, 73).
La Liga: Rayo Vallecano 1 (Bueno 22) lost to Deportivo La Coruna 2 (Borges 10, 72-pen).