Newcastle United 1-2 Stoke City
Nolan 43 (pen) Jones 67
Perch 85 (OG)
St James Park
Att: 41,915
Magpies Knocked Off Their Perch
The Potters fought their way back again from one nil down to secure their first away win of the campaign, with a little help from Toon defender James Perch. The full back headed into his own net from an Etherington corner with only 5 minutes of normal time to go. Jones had earlier headed the Potters level after Nolan scored from the spot in first half to give Newcastle a well deserved half time lead.
Stoke started the game with three defensive midfielders Whitehead, Diao and Whelan which pretty much set the tone for the first half as they did all the pressing and most of the attacking in a first half to forget for Stoke. City were under pressure nearly from the word go as a clearance from Sorensen from a Huth back pass. The two former Sunderland men Jones and Sorensen were met with a chorus of boo's every time they touched the ball, it seemed to be having an affect on Sorensen as his bad start to the game continued. Newcastle’s best early chance came after 19 minutes when Ben Arfa's free kick just went wide of the angle on the near post. It was Arfa and Jose Enrique who were linking up well down the left hand side that looked likely to provide a breakthrough for the Magpies as seconds later after Arfa's free kick Enrique drilled a low cross across the Stoke goal.
Stoke continued to play long balls to Jones & Walters but it was proving very ineffective as the Newcastle defence just swallowed up each ball pumped long. But it was a long ball which saw Stoke get their first good chance of the game after Jones had latched on to a long ball upfront but his tame shot went wide. City kept on giving away free kicks in dangerous areas but thankfully Barton & Arfa were off target with their efforts. Newcastle’s efforts finally paid off in the 43rd minute when Huth stupidly barged into Carroll in clear view of the ref who had no hesitation in pointing straight to the spot, Nolan stepped up to take the penalty and sent Sorensen the wrong way. Stoke should have had a penalty themselves just a minute later after Barton had shoved Etherington in the back but the Stoke man stayed on his feet to his credit.
Newcastle went into half-time with a deserved lead, much the better side in the first half maybe could have a couple more if they were a bit better equipped in the final third.
The second half began with a similar pattern to the first half until Diao was forced off with injury in the 50th minute Fuller comes onto replace him, Whitehead was pushed back into the centre of midfield with Walters being put on the right and Fuller upfront with Jones. Stoke forced two quick corners through Etherington and Walters, Shawcross came close on the second corner but his header went just wide. Ex-Sunderland man Delap came onto an unwanted reception from the Geordie faithful in the 57th minute to replace Whelan.
In the 59th minute Walters headed back across to Jones but his effort hit the post and the ball fell for Fuller but he was rushed into a shot and was only able to stab it wide. Stoke started to build some momentum and just four minutes later good work by Jones down the right won Stoke a free kick and Whitehead's delivery was met by the head of Jones but he rattled the woodwork for the second time with a powerful header.
Fuller had to go off in the 66th minute with a dislocated shoulder when, after he did well down the right, he was fouled by Enrique and fell awkwardly on his shoulder forcing him to be replaced by Gudjohnsen. The resulting free kick saw Jones bag his fourth goal of the season, Etherington’s free kick was met by Huth at the far post who headed back across to Jones to head home from a couple of yards.
Newcastle came back at Stoke with a great chance through Carroll who’s volley was straight at Sorensen from Gutierrez’s cross, a freak goal nearly occurred in the 75th minute when Huth’s clearance deflected up off Perch’s foot but Sorensen gathered the ball under the bar.
Stoke’s winner came in the 85th minute when Etherington’s corner was met by the head of fullback Perch to plant the ball past his own keeper for an own goal but he had Huth right behind him so if he had missed the header the big German defender was ready to pounce and score. There was six minutes injury time in which Newcastle nearly broke the hearts of the following Stoke faithful with Gutierrez twisted Wilkinson inside out inside the area and his low cross was met by Nolan who put it wide from just eight yard out. Stoke held out for vital victory which saw them climb out of the bottom three and pick up their first way win of the season.
Ref: Michael Jones
Stoke: Sorensen, Wilkinson, Huth, Shawcross, Collins, Whitehead, Whelan (Delap 57), Diao (Fuller 50) (Gudjohnsen 67), Walters, Jones
Subs: Begovic, Higginbotham, Wilson, Faye
Newcastle: Krul, Perch, Coloccini, Williamson, Enrique, Arfa (Gutierrez 62), Barton, Tiote (Ameobi 74), Routledge, Noaln, Carroll
Subs: Soderberg, Lovenkrands, Taylor, Smith, Ranger