Newcastle 3 Reading 0. Ameobi is the star of the show as his treble hands the Magpies a much-needed win. Will this result prove to the catalyst Newcastle were looking for? In regards to Reading, they must improve if they are to avoid a difficult campaign.
90+4 Brilliant run from Enrique to end the game. He is eventually stopped in his tracks by Rosenior, but the Spaniard has looked very good today.
90+3 More elaborate play from Gutierrez with no end product. He does like to beat everyone in sight before offloading to a team-mate.
90+2 For the record, there are just over 36,000 here tody. Well short of capacity, but more than the doom-mongers had predicted.
90+1 Long is forced wide by Coloccini and can't squeeze a shot on target. He fires into the side-netting and Reading appear to have blown any chance they had of grabbing a goal.
90 Geremi takes. He picks out Steven Taylor, but his knock down is hacked clear by Hunt. The ref would be best advised to end this game now as both teams are just going though the motions.
89 Xisco tries a one-two with Carroll and almost gets on the end of it. He is bundled over by Cisse, but only a corner is given.
88 LuaLua tries to play his way out of trouble and is almost caught on the ball. Steven Taylor comes to his aid and concedes a corner. The set-piece is cleared at the front post.
87 Newcastle have eased off the gas and Reading are now seeing more of the ball, It's not going to make any difference, though, because this game has been over for a long time.
86 Robson-Kanu goes for goal from a tight angle and works Harper. No chance of beating the Magpies keeper at his near post though.
85 The Toon Army are going home happy and are determined to enjoy the last five minutes. This is precisely what this club needed.
84 Davies tries again with a free-kick from the other side, but fails to pick out a man in orange. Meanwhile, the word is that Barton has suffered a foot injury.
83 Davies wastes the free-kick as his low shot cannons into the wall. Just about sums up Reading's day.
82 Barton is forced off after falling awkwardly. LuaLua enters the fray.
82 Rare opportunity for the Royals as Steven Taylor bundles over Long on the edge of the box. Can they find a consolation?
81 Reading seem wary of gettting a trounching and have virtually given up all hope of pushing forward.
80 Nolan has taken a knock to his elbow and looks to be in some pain. He should be okay to continue though.
79 Smith is the next to make way, with Geremi on in his place.
78 Thoughts turning to a midweek round of fixtures in the Championship as Hughton uses the opportunity to rest some of his key men.
77 He his now replaced as Xisco comes on in his place.
76 Ameobi was set to be hauled off before the awrding off the spot kick.
75 GOAL NEWCASTLE - AMEOBI. Hat-trick for Ameobi as he calmly converts from the spot. He sends Federici the wrong way and easily finds the corner.
75 Handball by Hunt and the referee points to the spot. Ameobi quickly picks up the ball.
73 Barton fails to find a team-mate on this occasion, but does much better when the ball is returned to him. He flashes a ball across the face of goal and Nolan and Carroll are unfortunate not to bundle in a third.
72 Gutierrez pops up on the right and teases Karacan into conceding a corner. He could have got a cross over, but wanted too long on the ball.
71 Long does not look happy, even with Hunt now alongside him. In truth he hasn't been given the best servcie today.
70 Good chance for Robson-Kanu as he bursts into the box. The opportunity then goes to his head and he lashes well wide. Reading can't afford to waste chances like that.
69 Another corner to Newcastle and Barton. Ameobi rises unmarked to power towards goal, He connects perfectly and is only denied a hat-trick by a good save from Federici.
68 The ref gets in the way as Reading try a clever free-kick. The ball does cannon around the penalty area, before being hacked behind. The corner comes to nothing.
67 Bertrand skips past Barton, who then drags his man to the ground. Yellow card is shown for a professional foul.
66 Harper and Hunt come on in place of Kebe and Tabb.
65 Reading look beaten. Heads have dropped and they appear to have accepted their fate. There are changes to be made though, Will they help?
64 Threat over as Harper comes and claims a high ball in confident fashion. He has had little to do this evening.
63 Good wrok by Steven Taylor as he gets across Long. He does then bundle the ball behind, though, for a corner.
61 GOAL NEWCASTLE - AMEOBI. Newcastle double their lead and should have wrapped up the points. Nolan chases a lost cause, Ryan Taylor then delivers to the back post and Ameobi is again on hand to nod home. Good goal and that should be that!
61 Great leap from Ameobi nods a high cross into the mixer. Newcastle players fall over themselves trying to reach the loose ball, but Karcacan is again on hand to resuce the Royals.
60 Difficult to see how Reading are going to get back into the game at the moment, barring a mistake from the Magpies' back four. The home side are brighter all over the pitch.
59 Hughton is prowling the touchline and gets a good reception from the crowd. Reports suggest Joe Kinnear could be appointed next week, but the current caretaker coach is proving he can do a job.
58 Nice footwork from Ameobi, but he is unable to swing over a cross. Karacan, who has been full of running, is in the way.
57 Carroll chases Barton's chip over the top. Pace isn't his strongest point , though, and he is beaten in a foot race by Rosenior.
56 Head tennis in midfield as both sides struggle to keep the ball on the ground. There have been breaks in proceedings where the standard slips slightly.
55 We have seen little from Reading in the last 10 minutes. Long still looks isolated and Rodgers must be contemplating throwing on Noel Hunt.
54 Church makes way for Robson-Kanu.
54 Ameobi is proving to be a real handful this evening. Cisse knows he has been in a game.
53 Barton dlivers from the other side and finds Carroll. He is nudged off the ball, though, and fails to control his header. Meanwhile, Church has left the field for treatment.
52 Barton wins a corner and will take it himself. It drops into the six-yard box, where Cisse is forced to volley behind.
51 The fans have found their voice again. Their side deserve to be in front, but they will know that 1-0 is never enough.
50 Ameobi whistles a great effort inches past the post. He sprung the offside trap, cut inside and curled a thumping effort narrowly wide.
50 Rodgers looks slightly more concerned now. His side's inability to find the target will be bothering him.
49 Another corner to Reading, won by Long. What can they make of this opportunity? Taken quickly to Karacan, but his delivery is easily dealt with.
48 Church wins a corner, which was the best he could hope for with only Long in support. The set-piece comes to nothing as Nolan nods clear.
47 Newcastle look lively again and have got plenty of willing runners getting forward.
47 Carroll does well to bustle past Cisse, but then flies into a challenge and sees yellow. Frustration boiling over.
46 I am informed that Newcastle boast a 100 per cent record against Reading at St James' Park. That bodes well for the home support as we start the second 45.
Reading get the second half up and running.
The players are back out and we are ready for the off again.
Peter Collington is hoping Newcastle can build on their lead after the break and send out a message to the rest of the division. There is no doubting that victory today could be the boost they need to go on and dominate the Championship this season.
Newcastle are now 1/4 with skybet.com to take the spoils, with Reading at 10/1. A 1-1 draw is available at 9/2.
How do you see the second half going. Can the Magpies hang on or will Reading come back into the game?
Remember you can air your views throughout the game by contacting me direct at Chris.Burton@bskyb.com.
Newcastle 1 Reading 0. Ameobi's header seperates the sides at the interval. Newcastle just about deserve their lead, but Reading have had their moments. The other point of note from the opening 45 minutes regards whether or not Smith should have been dismissed.
45+1 Carroll tumbles in the box, but the ref is not interested. He did seem to go down a bit easily.
45 Bertrand makes progress down the left and scuffs over a cross. He fails to pick out a team-mate, though, and Harper is then bundled to the turf.
44 Smith, in his role as captain, calms things down and brings the game to walking pace. He is all too aware that conceding at this stage could be a hammer blow to the Magpies.
43 Barton is the furthest forward on this occasion and is prepared to chase a lost cause towards the corner flag. He is another who could set this division alight if his head is right.
42 Ameobi again. From 20-yards the Magpies frontman tries to pass the ball into the net. Needless to say he doesn't have much joy and Federici drops on his tame effort.
41 Nolan almost sends Carroll in on goal, but the final pass clips the striker's heels and prevents him from scampering past his man.
40 End-to-end stuff at the moment, with both teams going for it. This is what we wanted!
39 Almost an instant reply. Another great cross has Newcastle troubled. Long and Church bust a gut to get an all-important touch, but the ball evades them both.
38 GOAL NEWCASTLE - AMEOBI. At last we get a goal. Great cross from Enrique, who whips a ball across the six-yard box. Ameobi arrives at the back post and sends a diving header bouncing past Federici.
38 Barton delivers deep towards Ameobi, but he can't pick out a team-mate with a towering header.
37 Gutierrez gets a shot away on this occasion, after twisting and turning inside the box. He forces Federici into a smart save as he tips over the top.
36 Karacan does well to outmuscle Smith and free Long. He is penalised for knocking into Coloccini, but the decision seems half. Long is about half the size of the Magpies defender.
35 Lofted cross from Barton finds nobody. Federici comes off his line to comfortably claim. Mix of good and bad from the Magpies during the first half.
34 Carroll leaps highest to win a header six-yards out. His effort cannons into Rosenior, who smashes upfield.
33 Good one-touch football from Reading has them moving forward. They reach the edge of the area, then Long slips and the move breaks down.
32 Barton trots over to deliver again. Dreadful. His corner flies straight into the first man with no Newcastle player in sight.
31 Corner to the hosts as Cisse nods behind a Ryan Taylor delivery. Barton takes the set-piece and wins another one on the other side.
30 Newcastle are still prepared to throw men forward, but the Royals continue to frustrate them.
29 All getting a bit scrappy at the moment. A few nasty tackles are flying in and the ball is not spending much time on the deck.
28 Enrique is clear again down the left, but drags a disappointing cross behind those waiting in the middle.
27 Long drills a low cross into the middle one again. Coloccini hammers clear, but Reading feel a goal is coming. So do the crowd, with moans and groans starting to ring out.
26 Long sends a ball skidding across the face of the Newcastle goal. Kebe looks to get on the end of it, but Steven Taylor is on end to poke the ball clear. All that was needed was a touch and the Royals would have been ahead.
25 Keep-ball from Reading, who have come back into the game in the last few minutes.
24 Poor free-kick from Davies as he whips a ball into an area where no-one has moved into. Not the worst delivery, but the fact that he was on a different wavelength to everybody else made it look shabby.
23 Another wild challenge from Smith and he could be in trouble. Just a lecture for the former England international. Lucky boy.
22 Davies wins a corner as his cross is blocked. The midfielder takes the set-piece short and the Royals work the ball well. In the end, though, there are too many black and white shirts in the way.
22 Smith does see yellow for his ungamely lunge on Church.
21 Smith dives into a tackle and is fortunate not to be picked up for a foul. Reading break, but the move soon breaks down.
20 Coloccini has had a good game so far and cuts out two crosses from Reading on this occasion. The Argentine should be a class above at this level with his experience.
19 Solid from Cisse as he prevents Ameobi from bursting into the box. Newcastle are linking up well on the edge of the box, but can't unlock the door.
18 Barton tries to pick out Ameobi with a high cross to the back post. The languid frontman does all he can to reach the ball, but it is just too high.
17 Brendan Rodgers looks very relaxed on the Reading bence. His young side have started well and he will feel that they could snatch somehting on the break.
16 Gutierrez is seeing plenty of the ball and looks dangerous in possession. He has the beating of Rosenior, but needs greater support.
15 Davies tries to pick out runners in the middle, with three orange shirts bombing forward. Coloccini has the situation covered, though, and deals with the danger.
14 Ameobi sends Nolan into space, but the midfielder is flagged offside. Newcastle are playing some good football and there are positive signs for the Magpies followers.
13 Farce from Newcastle, Gutierrez is sent scampering clear, only to get the ball caught under his feet, before Carroll swings a dreadful effort across the face of goal. Should have been 1-0.
13 Rosenior forces Enrique into some smart defending, with the Spaniard doing brilliantly.
12 A few chants aimed in the direction of Mr Ashley by the home support. Suffice to say not all of them are complimentary.
11 Newcastle are looking to pick out Carroll whenever possible, with the bick frontman dominating in the air.
10 Carroll, sporting a long mop of hair, sees a low drive deflected narrowly past the post. Barton miskicks from the edge of the box after being picked out by a quick corner.
9 Kebe drifts into space on the right and pulls back to Long in space. He tries his luck from distance, but drags a tame effort well wide. Positive period of play for the Royals.
8 Corner to Reading as Enrique prevents Church from getting in a cross. Free header for Pearce, but he directs his effort straight at Harper. Early working for the Magpies.
7 There a few empty seats at St James' today, but the stadium still looks pretty full to me. One man who is here is owner Mike Ashley, with reports suggesting he could be set to take Newcastle off the market.
6 Bright start from both teams, with the hosts probably edging things. Ryan Taylor and Enrique look up for it, while Kebe has shown a few nice touches.
5 Moment of madness from Ryan Taylor as he looks set to handle a cross into the box. He pulls his arm away at the last minute, but the Toon Army were worried there for a moment.
5 Enrique is getting forward at every opportunity. He does need to be careful, though, of getting caught on the counter.
4 Worth a pop from Ryan Taylor as he latches onto a loose ball 25-yards from goal. His shot sails high and wide, but he can hit them from that distance.
3 Gutierrez sprints down the left and provides Enrique with an opportunity to cross. He finds the heart of the box, but also an orange shirt.
2 Shane Long is cutting a lone furrow up front for the Royals and is being outnumbered every time the ball comes near him. Reading need to offer him support.
1 Newcastle try to peg Reading back early on and have the Royals camped near their own corner flag.
Newcastle get us underway.
An emotional moment as St James' Park rises to remember the late, great Sir Bobby Robson. Applause rings out around the ground, with all in attendance showing their respect.
The teams are out and we are almost ready for the off. The home support are in good voice despite the turmoil which continues to grip their club.
You can also bet inplay on goings on at St James' at skybet.com. Newcastel start as 5/4 favourites, with Reading at 9/4 and the draw available at the same price. Andy Carroll is favourite to open the scoring at 6/1.
How do you see the game going? What do you make of the ongoing takeover saga on Tyneside? How will Reading cope without Stephen Hunt? Let me know your thoughts.
Remember you can air your opinions on this evening's game or any other topic which tickles your fancy by contacting me direct at Chris.Burton@bskyb.com.
Reading team: Federici, Rosenior, Cisse, Pearce, Bertrand, Tabb, Karacan, Davies, Kebe, Church, Long. Subs: Hamer, Mills, Gunnarsson, Hunt, Harper, Robson-Kanu, Sigurdsson.
Newcastle team: Harper, Ryan Taylor, Steven Taylor, Coloccini,Jose Enrique, Nolan, Barton, Smith, Gutierrez, Ameobi, Carroll. Subs: Krul, Xisco, Geremi, LuaLua, Kadar, Ranger, Donaldson.
Both sides were held on the opening weekend so will be looking to get a first win on the board this time around.
Welcome to St James' Park for our coverage of today's Championship clash between Newcastle and Reading.
