Summary

  • Newcastle promoted to Premier League

  • Perez (2), Atsu and Ritchie for Newcastle; Hugill for Preston

  • Preston's Gallagher sent off for handball on line

Live Reporting

Phil Shepka

  1. Newcastle 2-1 Preston

    ManagersGetty Images

    Newcastle get us back under way.

    The PA announcer has just said the crowd is 50,212. Not bad for a second-tier game, I guess...

  2. HT: Newcastle 2-1 Preston

    The players are back out. Will Newcastle be celebrating in about 45 minutes' time?

  3. Can Newcastle compete in the Premier League?

    HT: Newcastle 2-1 Preston

    Shay Given
    Ex-Newcastle goalkeeper on BBC Radio 5 live

    They'll have to invest heavily again in the summer. They did so last summer - Rafael Benitez bought players to get them out of this division.

    But I know wanted to strengthen again in January and there was talk that he wasn't happy then.

    If he doesn't get the right amount of money in the summer, there will be question marks over his job next season as well.

  4. Get Involved

    #bbcefl

    Jonathan Brown: Am I wrong or would a draw also effectively promote Newcastle?

    Almost, but not quite, Jonathan.

    Huddersfield still have a game in hand, which is tomorrow at Wolves - you can follow live text commentary of that with us tomorrow.

    A draw for Newcastle would stretch the gap between the teams to eight points, but if they don't take any further points, Huddersfield could still overtake them with three wins from their last three games.

  5. HT: Newcastle 2-1 Preston

    AtsuRex Features

    Christian Atsu had not scored for Newcastle since 14 December, but has the Chelsea loanee scored the one to take them to the Premier League?

  6. HT: Newcastle 2-1 Preston

    Shay Given
    Ex-Newcastle goalkeeper on BBC Radio 5 live

    I'm nervous watching it, so you can only imagine what it's like in the stadium. But that was a great time for Newcastle to score the second goal.

    Preston are sitting deep, but they're breaking very fast. Newcastle need to get a third goal to see the game out.

  7. HT: Newcastle 2-1 Preston

    It goes without saying but that Christian Atsu goal totally changes the complexion of this match. I know, that's what they call great analysis.

    Preston, you imagine, will continue to do what they have been doing all match in the second half, but will Newcastle change things up?

  8. Atsu restores Newcastle's lead

    Newcastle 2-1 Preston

    Steve Stone
    Former England midfielder on BBC Radio 5 live

    That was Preston shooting themselves in the foot. It didn't look like it was coming, but it's given Rafael Benitez a different teamtalk at half-time.

  9. HALF-TIME

    Newcastle 2-1 Preston

    Newcastle are on their way to the Premier League as things stand.

  10. goal

    Atsu slots home

    Newcastle 2-1 Preston

    AtsuRex Features

    Preston are the makers of their own downfall as a mix-up between Aiden McGeady and Daniel Johnson in the middle of the park allows Newcastle to break forward through Isaac Hayden.

    He feeds Aleksander Mitrovic on his right, who plays the ball across the box to a free Christian Atsu, who with composure tucks the ball home.

    Newcastle doing to Preston what Preston have been trying to do to Newcastle.

  11. goal

    GOAL - Newcastle 2-1 Preston

    Christian Atsu

    What was I saying about winding down?

    Christian AtsuRex Features

  12. Newcastle 1-1 Preston

    Everyone appears to be winding down for half-time now. The game has lost its edge.

  13. Newcastle 1-1 Preston

    Rafael BenitezPA

    Newcastle manager Rafael Benitez will have a lot of thinking to do to try to change the pattern of this match.

    Preston are sitting deep, sometimes having all 11 men back behind the ball, and then trying to counter.

    The tactic shows its effectiveness again as Matt Ritchie has no option but to play a ball into the area, which evades everyone and goes out for a goal kick.

  14. Newcastle 1-1 Preston

    Preston goalscorer Jordan Hugll is again on the end to take the ball away from the head of Jamaal Lascelles at the back post, before Newcastle forward Aleksandar Mitrovic is penalised for a foul from the cross back into the box.

    You could almost hear a pin drop in St James' Park right now, and Preston will be chuffed.

    Simon GraysonRex Features

  15. Newcastle 1-1 Preston

    Newcastle win a corner on the left, but that man Jordan Hugill is back to clear it away, before Christian Atsu earns another one.

    Matt Ritchie to take...

  16. Get Involved

    #bbcefl

    David Ljunggren: Chris Waddle is right. Newcastle have perhaps four players who could hack it in the Premier League. As we're seeing, the rest are not good enough.

    Matthew Noble: Come on Newcastle, finish this off. Don't think I can bear the stress of the last two games.

  17. Newcastle 1-1 Preston

    Preston knock the ball about at the back a bit before Aiden McGeady trudges forward, however, his ball through for Tom Barkhuizen is too long and cleared for a throw-in.

    Preston have a real foothold in this match and the Newcastle fans are clearly anxious, and making that known.

  18. Newcastle 1-1 Preston

    It's Groundhog Day.

    Matt Ritchie cross. Chris Maxwell catch. The game is settling into a familiar pattern. We need a spark from somewhere.

  19. Newcastle 1-1 Preston

    In a similar move to earlier, Preston keeper Chris Maxwell gathers a Jonjo Shelvey corner, before trying to set Tom Barkhuizen clear up top, only this time he is crowded out by defenders.

    That's a fairly clear tactic from the visitors.

  20. Newcastle 1-1 Preston

    This game is really splintering now as Preston again break quickly off the back of the free-kick, before Newcastle then counter the counter when they clear the initial cross into the box.

    The St James' Park crowd is making themselves heard. What an occasion this is.

    Christian AtsuGetty Images