Newcastle United have a one-goal lead over Leeds United as the teams head into half time at St James' Park.
The visitors came close to opening the scoring in the fifth minute, when Ross McCormack tried to chip Tim Krul but saw his effort come back off the bar.
That close escape roused the Magpies, who then carved out a few opportunities of their own.
Papiss Cisse was guilty of squandering two chances before Alex Pearce cleared Fabrizio Coloccini's 14th-minute header.
The Senegalese striker finally found the net with a 31st-minute header moments after Krul had turned McCormack's deflected effort around the post.
The Yorkshire outfit nearly responded immediately when Matt Smith knocked the ball down for Stephen Warnock, but the defender's drive at goal whistled just past the upright.
