Newcastle sealed a return to the Premier League on Monday after
promotion rival Nottingham Forest failed to beat Cardiff,
guaranteeing the Magpies a top two finish in the second tier League
Championship.
Third place Forest was held 0-0 at home by Cardiff and, 14
points behind with only four games left, cannot catch leader
Newcastle in the standings.
It meant that Newcastle's game at home to Sheffield United
later Monday would be no more than a celebration for Newcastle fans
who were in dismay after last season's relegation from the top
flight.
"This is a wonderful achievement and we are absolutely
delighted," Newcastle manager Chris Hughton said. "That we have
secured promotion with six games to spare is testament to this set
of players and how good a season they've had.
"This is what we've been building towards all season and I'm
delighted for everyone associated with the club."
Forest has little chance of catching second place West
Bromwich Albion either. West Brom is 11 points ahead after Monday's
1-1 draw at Watford.
Until last season's relegation, Newcastle had been in the top
flight since 1993, twice finishing runner up and challenging for a
league title it has not won since 1927.
But the club ran into financial woes, had to sell top players
and, despite consistent home crowds of more than 50,000, dropped
out of the Premier League with under-fire owner Mike Ashley trying
to sell the club.
Ashley has since taken Newcastle off the market and promotion
at the first attempt is a major achievement for Hughton.
Assistant to four different managers last season, Hughton was
given the top job on a temporary basis. With the team making a
strong move for promotion early in the season, he was given a
contract which means he will be in charge in the Premier League
next term.
Although high earning players such as Michael Owen, Mark
Viduka, Obafemi Martins, Geremi and Damien Duff left the club,
Newcastle still had talented and experienced stars such as Alan
Smith, Nicky Butt, Kevin Nolan, Argentina's Fabricio Coloccini and
Jonas Gutierrez and Peter Lovenkrands of Denmark.
Lanky striker Andy Carroll has also contributed 14 league
goals and the defense had a club record 20 games in which they
didn't concede a goal.
