Brilliant Dwight Gayle photo encapsulates Newcastle United promotion night
Newcastle United finally got their in the end but Dwight Gayle was forced to watch from the stands.
Despite optimistic noises from Rafa Benitez in the past week or so, he didn’t risk the number nine as he recovers from his latest hamstring injury.
Without his injury problems, Dwight Gayle would surely have finished as Championship top scorer but that honour now looks destined for Chris Wood.
However, with Leeds United now struggling to even make the play-offs, safe to say that winning automatic promotion will more than make up for Gayle missing out on that particular accolade.
He may not have been able to be on the pitch but the former Palace striker was supporting his teammates from the Leazes/Milburn corner.
This image below encapsulating a great night for Newcastle players and fans.
Dwight Gayle and his daughter Indie, born just under 10 weeks ago watching hopefully their first and last NUFC promotion!
Stats from BBC Sport:
Newcastle 4 Preston 1
Goals:
Newcastle: Perez 7, 67 Atsu 45, Ritchie 65
Preston: Hugill 14 (Gallagher red card 64)
Possession was Preston 32% Newcastle 68%
Total shots were Preston 6 Newcastle 22
Shots on target were Preston 2 Newcastle 7
Corners were Preston 1 Newcastle 16
Referee: Anthony Madley
Newcastle United:
Elliot, Anita, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Ritchie, Shelvey (Colback 76), Hayden, Atsu (Gouffran 68), Perez (Murphy 83), Mitrovic
Unused Subs:
Darlow, Yedlin, Mbemba, Diame
Crowd: 50,212 (Preston 500)
(Read what Alan Shearer had to say after the final whistle HERE)
(To read instant NUFC fan/writer reaction to win over Preston and promotion go HERE)
(To view our interactive Newcastle v Preston player ratings and to add your own go HERE)
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