A super strike by substitute Shola Ameobi gave Newcastle a much needed victory on Saturday with a 1-0 win over fellow Premier League strugglers QPR.
Ameobi, sent on by manager Alan Pardew during the second-half to replace Papiss Cisse who left the pitch refusing to shake the manager's hand, scored nine minutes from time to give the Magpies only their second win in their last eight league games.
It was also QPR's first defeat in five games since Harry Redknapp became manager and leaves them five points short of safety.
Both sides initially opted for the aerial route because parts of the pitch were flooded, with Senegalese striker Cisse getting in the first chance heading just wide from Jonas Guttierez's cross.
Cisse was at the centre of the only other piece of noteworthy action of the first-half when he tumbled to the ground under a challenge by Fabio but his appeals for a penalty went unheeded.
QPR had a bit more of the ball in the second-half and Moroccan star Adel Taarabt produced one moment of quality as he beat three challenges before passing to Djibril Cisse, but the former France striker put the ball wide.
Pardew decided to ring the changes midway through the second-half but his decision to take off Cisse may have ramifications as the striker refused to shake hands with him and then sat sulking on the bench.
Pardew suffered a blow a few minutes after that when his Ivorian international midfielder Cheick Tiote was booked resulting in him being suspended for the trip to leaders Manchester United on Wednesday.
However, despair turned to joy as Ameobi put the hosts 1-0 up shooting home with a fine finish after being set up by Sylvain Marveaux.
Source: AFP
