Source: PA
Four of the best for Potters
Stoke scored four goals for the first time in a Barclays Premier League game as they crushed hapless Newcastle 4-0.
Jon Walters opened the scoring after 28 minutes and the floodgates opened after the break with Jermaine Pennant, Danny Higginbotham and Ricardo Fuller completing the rout.
Stoke took the lead when Newcastle failed to deal with a cross from Pennant and Walters sent a header over Steve Harper for his eighth goal of the season. However, Newcastle made a spirited response and Joey Barton fired a free-kick narrowly over the bar.
The Potters extended their lead just a minute into the second half thanks to a string of defensive errors by Newcastle. Harper failed to clear properly and Matthew Etherington eventually swung a cross in from the left. The ball took a deflection and Sol Campbell back-headed it but only into the path of Pennant, who made no mistake.
Three minutes later Stoke made it 3-0 with Newcastle again all at sea at the back. Higginbotham drove a free-kick straight through the wall and past Harper who was rooted to the spot.
Stoke completed a convincing victory in stoppage time when substitute Fuller got on the end of a pass from Walters to thump a shot beyond Harper.
