Magpies hope to seal Premiership return

Newcastle manager Chris Hughton is desperate to seal their return to the English Premier League with a gala performance at their St James' Park home today.

The Magpies need just one point to be certain of re-joining the top flight at the first time of asking and can win promotion when they host mid-table Sheffield United.

"We are so very close and hopefully we can finish the job off in front of our own fans at St James' Park on Easter Monday," Hughton said. "That would be an excellent reward for the supporters. You always want to wrap up promotion at the first available opportunity and we know we are nearly there. We have shown all season that we have the character." They won 3-2 at rock-bottom Peterborough on Saturday to set up today's denouement.

Meanwhile, former European champions Nottingham Forest all but waved away their slim hopes of an automatic return to the top tier. Third-placed Forest could only manage a 1-1 draw at mid-table Bristol City to leave them 11 points behind second-placed West Bromwich Albion with five games to go.

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