Source: Telegraph
Newcastle United v Stoke City: match report
There was something inevitable about this game as Kenwyne Jones played the role of pantomime villain to perfection today to bring Newcastle back down to earth with a bump following their Carling Cup exploits.[LNB]The former Sunderland striker helped ensured that the feel-good factor created by the stirring 4-3 win over Chelsea evaporated as he played a key role in denying Newcastle United a win that would have propelled the Tyneside club into fifth position in the Premier League table before a James Perch own goal gave Stoke their first win at St James' Park since the mid-70s.[LNB] Related ArticlesWolves 1 Aston Villa 2Telegraph player raterPremier League tablePremier League actionPremier League fixturesSport on televisionStoke City's £8-million striker was initially booed by the home fans due to his connections with Newcastle's arch-rivals and they had further cause to curse him as he cancelled out Kevin Nolan's penalty with a second-half equaliser before Perch nodded in a corner late on.[LNB]Midfielder Cheik Tiote, starting his first game at St James' Park, ensured Newcastle enjoyed the upper hand throughout the first half with a tidy display as he forged a promising partnership with Joey Barton.[LNB]However, despite seizing the initiative during the opening exchanges, Newcastle were unable to fashion any decent chances and despite looking shaky with his kicking Stoke goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen did not have to make a save for most of an attritional first half.[LNB]Even Newcastle's set-pieces left a lot to be desired with Hatem Ben Arfa, whose spectacular goal earned his side a 1-0 at Everton, twice wasting the free-kicks that represented the biggest threat to Stoke and their hopes of winning on Tyneside for the first time since the 1975-76 season.[LNB]Otherwise, it was frustrating for Newcastle as striker Andy Carroll struggled to impose himself against centre-halves Ryan Shawcross and Robert Huth until the German pressed the self-destruct button just before the interval.[LNB]There seemed no obvious danger when Jose Enrique crossed but then Huth needlessly blocked Carroll's run and referee Mike Jones pointed to the spot as Sorensen safely gathered a cross that was destined to elude the England Under-21 forward.[LNB]It looked a fair decision and there were certainly no complaints from the Stoke camp and skipper Nolan stepped forward to calmly send Sorsensen one way and the ball the other to give Newcastle a deserved lead in the 43rd minute with his third goal this season.[LNB]Within two minutes Stoke were claiming a penalty of their own when Barton appeared to barge into Matthew Etherington but Newcastle received the benefit of the doubt.[LNB]Stoke raised their ambitions after the break and almost equalised on the hour when Jonathan Walters nodded the ball into the direction of former Sunderland striker Kenwyne Jones who headed against Tim Krul's left-hand post before substitute Ricardo Fuller scuffed the loose ball wide from close range.[LNB]Jones, who failed to score in a Tyne-Wear derby, then headed Dean Whitehead's free-kick against the crossbar as he spearheaded Stoke's quest for an equaliser as Newcastle were pushed on to the back foot.[LNB]It eventually arrived in the 68th minute and it was a case of third time lucky for Jones as he nodded in from close range after Huth atoned for his earlier mistake by headed Etherington's free-kick back into the goalmouth.[LNB]The Stoke players were celebrating as Fuller was being ushered away by medical staff - presumably to hospital - with a shoulder injury picked up moments before the equaliser as his side climbed above Liverpool to sixth-bottom of the Premier League table when Perch nodded in Etherington's 85th minute corner with a flying header. [LNB]
