Yohan Cabaye and Papiss Cisse gave Newcastle and early foothold in a game the hosts never really looked like losing, before Cabaye scored his second of the game to seal all three points for the home side.
Barring Steven Taylor, Newcastle named what is effectively their strongest team with the only change from the 2-0 victory over Bolton being Cheik Tiote returning to the starting line up. Meanwhile Stoke made three changes from the side that drew 1-1 at Aston Villa with Dean Whitehead, Rory Delap and Kenwyne Jones being replaced by Andy Wilkinson, Glenn Whelan and Peter Crouch.
Newcastle started off brightly without really threatening and you got the sense that the longer the away side could stay level the more they fancied their chances. That theory proved short lived though when Hatem Ben Arfa received the ball on the left wing 14 minutes in and jinked his way past Ryan Shotton before sending over an inch perfect cross for Papiss Cisse who saw his looping header rebound off the crossbar into the path of Yohan Cabaye who headed the rebound powerfully past Asmir Begovic.
Just four minutes later it was 2-0, and two players who conspired to score the opener again combined to put some distance between the two sides, with Yohan Cabaye threading an excellent pass through the Stoke defence for Papiss Cisse who calmly slotted the ball into the corner of the Leazes End net.
Newcastle were playing some excellent stuff and really had Stoke chasing shadows at time, which was perhaps highlighted best when Hatem Ben Arfa bamboozled Wilson Palacios leaving the Honduran with no other option than to pull the enigmatic Frenchman down and earn a yellow card for his troubles.
It could have been 3-0 ten minutes before half-time after Yohan Cabaye threaded yet another ball through the heart of the Stoke defence, this time for Demba Ba who was just pipped to the ball by Ryan Shawcross. Davide Santon also went close after being played in, again by Cabaye, and advancing on the Stoke goal only to shoot tamely at goal.
The second half started off in much the same way as the first, with the home side on the front foot and controlling things. Indeed Demba Ba could have put the hosts out of sight within a minute of the restart had he not looked to take an extra touch in front of goal following a fine Hatem Ben Arfa cross.
Papiss Cisse had the ball in the back of the net following a fine effort from Demba Ba although the smiles were short-lived as the linesman adjudged Cisse to be offside when the ball was struck. TV replays disagree however and show that the Senegal hitman was level at worst. Never mind though as a third legitimate goal soon followed from Yohan Cabaye who curled the ball expertly into the far corner from 25 yards out.
It was exhibition stuff from Newcastle who dominated a poor Stoke outfit. It could have been 4-0 although Fabricio Coloccini managed to waste a free header just six yards from goal, all brought about by a corner earned by Demba Ba who had his shot deflected wide.
With the game won and Stoke not presenting any real threat, Newcastle took their foot off the pedal for the last 20 minutes or so. However they were still easily the better of the two teams and cruised to a comfortable win in a game they never looked like losing from the word go. It didn’t stop them trying to extend the lead either, with Asmir Begovic being forced into two fine saves from long rage Cheik Tiote shots.
In summary, another win for Newcastle, another clean sheet, another goal for Papiss Cisse, and another indication that the Magpies are fighting to the last. As things stand we sit in the final Champions League place, and anything other than a win for Tottenham at Loftus Road this evening will ensure that is where we’ll end the weekend.
Howay the lads!
Newcastle: Tim, Krul, Danny Simpson, Mike Williamson, Fabricio Coloccini, Davide Santon, Yohan Cabaye, Cheik Tiote, Jonas Gutierrez, Hatem Ben Arfa, Papiss Cisse, Demba Ba
Subs: Rob Elliot, Shane Ferguson, James Perch, Dan Gosling, Ryan Taylor, Leon Best, Shola Ameobi
Stoke: Asmir Begovic, Andy Wilkinson, Robert Huth, Ryan Shawcross, Marc Wilson, Ryan Shotton, Wilson Palacios, Glenn Whelan, Matthew Etherington, Peter Crouch, Jonathan Walters
Subs: Thomas Sorenson, Matthew Upson, Dean Whitehead, Jermaine Penant, Cameron Jerome, Kenwyne Jones, Ricardo Fuller
NUFC Blog Man of the Match: Yohan Cabaye – Two goals and one assist from the former Lille Captain who put in a performance of the highest calibre.
Attendance: 52,162
Tottenham 8-0 loss would be a nice finish for the day 😉
Newkie(Quote)
@NewKIE: If that happens i will run naked out in public. 😳
Anyway,just a draw will also help.
AngelOfDeath(Quote)
Unreal .. check the table .. unreal .. this is class .. cabaye is CLASS .. we have genuine class
TOONPIPES(Quote)
Nice one Toonsy ,I hope you had young Billy propped up on your lap watching the link :lol gotta start em young you know.
We were breathtakeing at times today and I think Chelsea and even free scoreing Citeh will be a wee bit scared at the prospect of playing us.
I’m so lovin this season ,really don’t want it to end , a good cup run would of been the icing on the cake, still can’t be too greedy like 😉 😛
kimtoon(Quote)
According to Pardew and Soccer Saturday, Williamson was excellent as he big manned Stoke into being totally ineffective.
I hope people see Williamson brings defensive aspects to the club no one else does – Taylor included.
funkyjesus(Quote)
Funkyjesus-Agreed, he’s been written off for far too long.
Newkie(Quote)
haha… 1-0 QPR!!!!!!
M(Quote)
What a free kick goal.
QPR 1-0. 😯
AngelOfDeath(Quote)
Spurs are rattled 😆
mark(Quote)
great game and result,did anyone take note before game well lunchtime pardew said some players he would like have agreed to come sjp in summer 😯
icedog(Quote)
@icedog
😯 who?
mark(Quote)
IF ANDY CARROLL = 35 MILLION
YOHAN CABAYE = GOD KNOWS HOW MUCH
CHIEK TIOTE DAVIDE SANTON CISSE HOW MUCH
KRUL BEN ARFA TODAY MY DAD WOULD HAVE BEEN SO PROUD OF OUR PERFORMANCE
STEVEN OLSEN JNR(Quote)
Time to do an article of this.
Newcastle under-18s side move to within one point of winning the Premier Academy League Group D title
————————————————————————————————
Dave Watson saw his Newcastle under-18s side move to within one point of winning the Premier Academy League Group D title with a 3-2 win over Liverpool – then challenged his young team to finish the season on a high.
Brandon Miele’s 89th minute goal on Saturday means United need only draw one of their two remaining games to be crowned champions after second-placed Leeds were held by Everton.
AngelOfDeath(Quote)
Must say Santon had a good game….. Even perch played well when he came on… 4th this weekend …… 3rd next weekend !!!!!
southafricantoon(Quote)
And the United manager has also stated he already “knows” which players from his transfer shortlist want to come to Newcastle next term.
pieters and that Vertonghen I reckon.
mark(Quote)
HOW COULD I PRAISE NUFC WITHOUT A MENTION FOR CAPTAIN COLO HE HAS BEEN OUTSTANDING
STEVEN OLSEN JNR(Quote)
The lads were brilliant today but i have to mention the away fans.. Apologies for my language to everyone but i have no other word than the one i’m about to lose:
What a bunch of cunts! 👿
There club should be ashamed of them carrying on like a bunch of kids. Their team was doing nothing on the pitch so their fans had nothing better to do than play silly-beggars. immature.
Cabaye’s 2nd goal was mint… brilliant game at times.
QPR currently winning – we’re currently 4th… hope we stay their by 7 tonight! 😉
Nobby(Quote)
Told ya we’d smash their back doors in, Dave!
Stuart79(Quote)
MARK it will be one of those two not both imo,i think the other is a striker and maybe a r/b if simpson goes
icedog(Quote)
Ice/Mark – Any links to what he said like?
toonsy(Quote)
toonsy
http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/newcastle-united/nufc-news/2012/04/21/alan-pardew-stars-will-stay-if-nufc-get-to-europe-72703-30806437/
mark(Quote)
Howay QPR
Newkie(Quote)
Just got back, what a game, what a player Cabyee is. Hope you enjoyed that Batty
Simon(Quote)
Mark and Icedog:
“And the United manager has also stated he already “knows” which players from his transfer shortlist want to come to Newcastle next term.”
But if the manager did state that, why would Lee Ryder feel the need to write the word “knows” in inverted commas?
http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/newcastle-united/nufc-news/2012/04/21/alan-pardew-stars-will-stay-if-nufc-get-to-europe-72703-30806437/
Chris G(Quote)
**** missed the game today 😥 Gonna try to download and watch it tomorrow!
Just wondering did Cabaye get injured?
Jon R(Quote)
Chris G
I think Ice said he “heard” Pards saying it tho;)
could be wrong tho
mark(Quote)
CABAYE IS THE BEST PLAYER IN THE PREMIERSHIP
STEVEN OLSEN JNR(Quote)
JON R kna hes fine says pardew just gave him a rest 😀
icedog(Quote)
Mark- I think Arsenal will get Vertonghen as it’s his prefered choice to go to them apparently. 🙁 .His cb partner Toby Alderweireld at 23 is younger and supposed to be a hot prospect and cheaper too, just a thought. 😉 I reckon Pieters is in the bag as he’s always on twitter biggin us and Krul up 😆
kimtoon(Quote)
Icedog – phew, thanks 😀
Right then, come on QPR!!!!!!!!!! ❗
Jon R(Quote)
Jon r – pards said it wasnt serious.
Chris G – maybe justtrying to stop pardew getting in trouble for tapping up 😉 realistically i’d say it’s more that all these things change from day to day, never mind over the course of a few months. Players might change their minds for any number of reasons. Maybe the inverted commas were sincere quotation marks?
Dubtoon(Quote)
Yanga-mbiwa sounds the most promising cb purchase to me but talk of him seems to have cooled lately. We’ll all be left guessing for a while yet 😐
Dubtoon(Quote)
Jon R-apparently there was suspicion of an ankle injury, just a niggle I think and he was taken off as a precaution.
Newkie(Quote)
Stu don’t forget I did say if we scored early we could give them a thumping, and but for the ref they would have had a thumping 😉
I was pleased with all the team today
Big Dave(Quote)
Dub @32 If you remember the same thing happend with Cisse al l the speculation then he never came as too expensive ,then bang here he is right out the blue.So you never know just when it’s all gone quiet Yanga-Mbiwa may just turn up . 😉
kimtoon(Quote)
KIMTOON he has said he wants to go to london,paper talk maybe 😕
icedog(Quote)
I agree DUB @32, I would have Yanga-mbiwa over any of the defenders we have been linked with, he is fantastic.
SK(Quote)
Parker the diving wee c@nt, come on qpr keep at them 🙄
Big Dave(Quote)
What the actual ****?!
Jon R(Quote)
the ref is trying to help spuds now the bastad
Big Dave(Quote)
What’s he sent him off for?! 😕
Jon R(Quote)
i see we didnt get one player booked today 😯 keep it up tiote
icedog(Quote)
Kicking the ball away 🙁 just took him 20 seconds to realise he’d already booked him once before 🙄 🙄 🙄
Dubtoon(Quote)
Ice – you’re not allowed make those observations til the stats article comes out 👿
😉
Dubtoon(Quote)
Howay QPR hold on just over 5 mins to go
geordie deb(Quote)
areet peeps 😛
Just want to start off with this :
Woooooooo Hoooooooo.
😆
wowzy what a great game that was. We look feckin class when we go on the attack. Seemed like we took our feet of the gas when the third goal went in. Shame as I was hoping for more.
Cabayes 2nd goal was unbelievable. How he got so much curl on it beggars belief. Cant wait to see it on MotD later.
Pardew and the Lads are just performing out of their skins.
Magic Magic Magic.
Toon Toon. Over the Moon. 😆
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
nee spuds bookings 😯 4 yellows and red for qpr 🙄
icedog(Quote)
Ice I told ye not to worry about Tiote, he is a changed man from last season with the anger managment classes.
I cant believe how much the ref is trying to help spuds here
Big Dave(Quote)
Jon R – Have a mooch here in a bit
http://www.fullmatches.net/newcastle-united-vs-stoke-city-21-apr-2012-full-match-dawnload/
Full match isn’t up yet, but it won’t take long so check it later on.
toonsy(Quote)
im taking a big disliking to bale
Big Dave(Quote)
Also we’re Game of the Day on Sky at 8:30pm if anyone is interested.
toonsy(Quote)
i wouldnt give sky 5 bob a wk,robbing gits 👿
icedog(Quote)
come on QPR. HOLD ON ffs
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
Spurs Lost.
AngelOfDeath(Quote)
GET IN!!! COOOOME ON
TOONPIPES(Quote)
stoke manager says we had three shots got three goals,they had more should have won WTF
icedog(Quote)
Fucking get in!! YES YES YES 😀
Jon R(Quote)
well done QPR
geordie deb(Quote)
4th is ours 😀
Big Dave(Quote)
Ice Dog – he’s off his head. 😆
geordie deb(Quote)
What a day, all results going our way. Fantastic ^^
GMac(Quote)
Ours to lose now .. unblvbl
TOONPIPES(Quote)
This club is going placees
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
Toonsy – can’t wait to hear what the Spurs lot think of Harry now. Wasn’t so long ago they all had their banners out singing their heads off pleading him to stay 😆
geordie deb(Quote)
GET IIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 😯
Nobby(Quote)
Deb – Read this
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/apr/21/qpr-tottenham-hotspur-mbm-report?newsfeed=true
Some live comments and e-mails from Spurts fans during the match. Some of them are brilliant 😆
toonsy(Quote)
Ha Ha spuds are finished now.
CL is ours to lose.
Watch out Wenger. The Geordies are on your tail.
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
supported the toon for 2 long to get carried away but if carlsberg made saturdays 😀
toonitis(Quote)
Who would of thought this 3 seasons ago after Villa park and that game , **** me . We are nearly in the CL and at least in the Europa league , this is beyond any toon fans wildest dreams .
Axel(Quote)
Lads….it’s on. For the first time i’m kind of scared by this. The possibility is to really to dismiss it as wishful thinking. I can’t believe what the boys have done this season.
Dubtoon(Quote)
So happy with ALL the results today it couldnt have gone any better, Howay the lads!!!
SK(Quote)
Long way to go yet and four very tricky matches but we now have as good a chance as anyone
Dubtoon(Quote)
oh forgot.is there any way i can thank you for a superb blog by buying billy a little present,nufc related of course
toonitis(Quote)
Toonitis – Nee thanks needed mate. Just the sentiment is enough. Cheers man 🙂
toonsy(Quote)
just have to buy the pints if we ever meet 👿 😛
toonitis(Quote)