Stephen Kelly forces Gutierrez to concede a corner for Lawrence to take but Carroll makes a crucial clearing header for his side.

Throw in for Stoke - This will come in like a corner from Delap - The ball is headed out as far as Whelan who tries to strike it on the bounce but can't keep the shot down.

As Lawrence's corner comes in Chris Foy spots an infringement from Faye and awards Newcastle a free-kick. Five minutes of stoppage time to be played!

Clever footwork from Fuller to win a late corner for Stoke.

Taylor can deliver the set-piece and Newcastle will be looking to snatch another goal here. All the big men are forward but Taylor's delivery is too firm and Sorensen steps forward to catch the ball.

A goo pass from Whelan into the path of Pugh rushing in support of the attack but the wide-man's shot is dragged wide of Harper's left hand post.

Edgar is forced to concede a throw-in deep inside his own half. We all know what's coming! Harper punches the throw away as far as Whelan who smashes a volley back at goal but Nolan blocks well.

All of a sudden the game is balanced on a kinfe-edge! Both sides have time to win this game in the final stages and both would love the win and the three points tha come with it!

Gutierrez does well to win a free-kick on the right touchline that Ryan Taylor can deliver.

Ryan Taylor crosses deep from the right hand side to Andy Carroll who has peeled away from his marker at the back post but his header goes wide of the post to the relief of Tony Pulis.

Duff threads the ball into the path of Owen with his back to goal but as the striker looked to turn and shoot Faye muscled him off the ball and mopped up the danger.

Delap has another opportunity for a long-throw from the right hand side - In it comes - It's not dealt with and Fuller helps it back towards goal but Harper gathers in the end.

Newcastle work a good crossing opporunity for Taylor but the delivery is poor. Stoke clear and break with pace and Etherington is played into space but as he shoots Beye puts him under enough pressure and he misses the target.

Gutierrez crosses from the right and forces a corner - Duff delivers to the back post but once gain the Stoke defenders deal with the danger comfortably.

Jonas looks to get in behind the Stoke defence but Higginbotham does well to make the challenge but concedes a throw. Newcastle keep possession and Duff crosses deep towards Ameobi but his header doesn't threaten the goal.

Delap's long-throw earns Stoke another corner - Lawrence's corner is eventually dealt with by Newcastle but they concede a throw-in which Delap will take. It falls for Etherington but Nolan blocks the cross.

The resulting corner falls to Edgar at the back post but his shot is blocked and goes for another corner but Sorensen punches Duff's corner clear.

Wilkinson is penalised for a push on Duff - Taylor will deliver the free-kick from wide - The ball ricochets off Lawrence and Sorensen has to tip it over the top.

Duff's cross is headed clear by Beattie but only as far as Butt. The midfielder strikes is first time but he can't keep the effort down and it sails well over.

Whelan finds space again on the egde of the box after another header down but his well struck shot flashes just wide of the post.

Controversy here as Stoke counter attack with Guthrie down hurt. In the defence of the Stoke players Newcastle had played on with the advantage before losing the ball.

A long-throw from Delap breaks for Whelan who has time and space on the edge of the box. He steps inside the challenge and shoots but Harper saves.

A header down from Beattie is cleverly turned into the path of Delap by Fuller. Delap tries his luck from long range but fires the shot high into the stands behind the goal.

Free-kick from wide for Lawrence to deliver. The cross is flicked on to the back post and Faye launches himself at it at the back post but his effort is blocked on the line by Taylor.

Excellent start to the second half for Stoke. A swift attack sees Fuller twist and turn away from Edgar but Harper blocked his cross. Fuller then looked to cross with Harper out of position and Whelan headed goalbound but Beye cleared off the line.

Etherington delivers a corner and Fuller peals away from the back post and heads against the bar. The ball falls back into the danger zone and Fuller heads again against the arm of Bassong and goes for a corner. Chris Foy says no penalty.

James Beattie comes back onto the field looking rather like Terry Butcher with the bandage across his forehead.

Etherington will deliver from the free-kick but Bassong rises well to head the ball clear at the front-post. Delap will deliver a long-throw but this time Edgar heads clear.

Beattie has taken a huge blow to his eye from the arm of Bassong as he challenges for a header. The striker is bleeding heavily and will need to get that seen to before he can return to the action.

Since the goal Stoke certainly look the more composed side in possession. The home side are starting to keep possession in midfield while Newcastle seem desperate to give it away.

A mix up between Duff and Bassong and the ball breaks for Fuller as Stoke counter. Fuller looks to switch the play to Etherington who is free on the left but Edgar makes an important block.

Ryan Taylor makes an excellent run in behind the Stoke back-four and Butt almost picks him out but the pass just evades the wing-back who would have been in on goal.

A disappointing moment here at the Brittania Stadium as a missile of some description comes from the crowd aimed at Ryan Taylor after that incident.

Nicky Butt lifts the ball in to the Stoke box from the left and picks out Guthrie but his header is a tame one and Sorensen gathers comfortably.

The ball breaks for Taylor in Stoke's half and the full-back takes the shot on. It's blocked but ricochets for Owen at a tight angle, he delays the cross to allow Taylor to arrive in support but the header under pressure from Faye goes wide.

Matthew Etherington is starting to look dangerous down Stoke's left as Newcastle's wing-back Taylor looks to go forward leaving the 3-man defence somewhat exposed.

Ryan Taylor plays an excellent long ball into Ameobi who had pealed away from his marker in the Stoke box. The striker brought it down and turned to shoot but was penalised for hand ball by referee Chris Foy.

A brief moment of panic for Alan Shearer as Taylor misplaces a pass intended for Edgar and Fuller almost steals in for a chance at goal but the centre-half comes across to clear in the nick of time.

A Delap long-throw forces Ameobi to concede a corner - Lawrence delivers and it falls for Beattie at the back post but he can't get enough power on the effort. Whelan delivers from deep but Fuller heads well over.

The game has slipped into a fairly slow tempo in the early exchanges. You certainly get the feeling both sides know how important it is not to lose at this stage of the season.

Both sides looking to send the ball towards the strikers early but both defences seem comfortable as of yet. Etherington makes a good break and wins a free-kick just inside the Newcastle half.

A free-kick for Newcastle on the left-flank after Beattie was penalised for a high foot. Ryan Taylor whips the ball in with pace and Owen makes a good leap but he can't control the header and it goes wide.

Liam Lawrence delivers this time to the near post and Ryan Shawcross makes an excellent break to meet the ball but he guides the header wide of the far post.

Rory Delap has a chance to launch in a throw in but he works it short and forces a corner on the Stoke right. Etherington delivers deep and Guthrie is forced to concede another corner.