Peter Lovenkrands – who started in place of the unwell Andy Carroll – also found the net in a 3-0 win for Newcastle over Paulo Sousa's previously in-form Swansea City this afternoon.

The result means Chris Hughton's promotion-chasing side go into next Saturday's home game against Watford with an eight-point cushion over third-placed Leicester City.

Harewood opened the scoring in the eighth minute, heading home from close range after Fabricio Coloccini flicked on a ball from Alan Smith into his path.

Lovenkrands doubled United's advantage in the 21st minute when he turned a Jonas Gutierrez crossed past Dorus de Vries, and Harewood struck again seven minutes later.

Swansea fought back, but thanks to heroics in goal from Steve Harper, they took their advantage into the break.

Harper – who had suffered a back problem in the first half – was replaced after the break by Tim Krul, who pulled off two more stops to ensure Newcastle recorded their 10th clean sheet of the campaign.

New signing Fabrice Pancrate came off the bench to make his debut, and Nile Ranger and Alan Smith went close to opening their United accounts late in the game.

Newcastle lead second-placed West Bromwich Albion – who won 4-0 at Sheffield Wednesday – by two points.

NEWCASTLE UNITED: Harper (Krul, 46); Simpson, S Taylor, Coloccini, Enrique; Guthrie (Pancrate, 76), Smith, Nolan, Gutierrez; Harewood (Ranger, 68), Lovenkrands. Subs not used: Kadar, Khizanishvili, LuaLua, R Taylor.
SWANSEA CITY: De Vries; Rangel, Tate, Williams, Bessone; Dyer, Britton, Pratley (Allen, 74), Orlandi, van der Gun (Cotterill, 52); Beattie (Pintado, 52). Subs not used: Cornell, Butler, Serran, Richards.
Goals: Harewood 8, 28, Lovenkrands 21
Bookings: Tate
Sent off: None
Referee: Mark Haywood (West Yorkshire)
Attendance: 42,616

For reaction to this afternoon's game, see Monday's Gazette