Manager Chris Hughton praised the quality of goalkeeper Steve Harper after a 1-0 win at Sheffield United which restored Newcastle's position at the top of the Coca-Cola Championship.

The 34-year-old, for so long in the shadow of Republic of Ireland international Shay Given at St James' Park, produced several fine stops to help condemn the Blades to a fourth straight league defeat, but none better than the brilliant reaction save to keep out Darius Henderson's point-blank header in stoppage time.

Newcastle climbed back to the summit courtesy of a lucky own goal after Ryan Taylor's low 25-yard shot deflected off Blades captain Chris Morgan and into the bottom corner to heap more pressure on the hosts' manager Kevin Blackwell.

Asked whether his side were fortunate to leave with a win, Hughton said: "No. What we have had is Steve Harper who has made a couple of absolutely fabulous saves and that's the quality of the keeper he is."

Hughton added: "He's doing the business. There's different aspects to Steve Harper. He's a Newcastle lad and has been here for a long time, he's a very calming influence, a mature lad and a mature player and that has been invaluable for us.

"But over the 90 minutes we deserved what we got. It was vitally important we got something from the game."