Newcastle promoted to Premier League

Newcastle were promoted to the Premier League on Monday after Nottingham Forest’s 0-0 draw with Cardiff confirmed the Magpies will finish in the Championship’s top two positions.

Chris Hughton’s side knew they would be guaranteed to go up if third-placed Forest failed to beat Cardiff and the celebrations began on Tyneside as soon as the full-time whistle blew at the City Ground.

The result left Forest unable to catch Newcastle as they are now 14 points behind the Championship leaders, with only 12 points available over their last four matches.

Newcastle, who are playing outside English football’s top-flight for the first time since 1993, can now enjoy a promotion party when they host Sheffield United in Monday’s late match.

Hughton’s team have cantered to promotion after spending most of the season in the top two.

After losing 3-0 at Derby on February 9, Newcastle embarked on an 11-match unbeaten run, a sequence including eight victories, which was enough to end their brief exile from the Premier League.

Even a reported training ground fight between striker Andy Carroll and long-serving defender Steven Taylor, which left Taylor nursing a broken jaw and Carroll a damaged hand, wasn’t enough to derail Newcastle’s promotion push.

Locally-born Carroll was key to Newcastle’s success as the England Under-21 forward scored 16 goals, including the winner at Doncaster just days after the bust-up with Taylor.