Number 1 - Comments

Latest journo to be banned?: http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/vivek-chaudhary-how-i-bumped-into-mike-ashley-outside-a-soho-pub-9759064.html

Still, be interesting to see if a defeat at Stoke does equal such a move.

Since I took charge, we've had a recovery on Wearside, hit five past them, won at their place, been beaten at ours, and then had Donaldson's fairytale debut at theirs. So a 0-0 where fuck all happened was really boring. Its from this point that NUFC's derby results took a nosedive, so here's hoping I don't fall into that.

James would be £10M to keep permanent so I'm sounding out buys for next year - perhaps even a big name target if we make the Champions League - but he's doing very nicely.

Well, it could be worse - we could be losing every week. But its worrying we seem to be stalling at the moment. Hope it doesn't lead to a late fall away like last season (both in game 2010/11 and real-life 2013/14)

Luis Suarez scored the equaliser as Newcastle came from two goals down to draw at relegation strugglers Middlesbrough.

The relegation battling Teesiders looked on for a third win in four after Didier Digard's first-half effort and a second half goal from Sean St. Ledger.

But Mikkel Thygesen pulled Newcastle a goal into the contest, before Suarez completed a turnaround late on in the contest.

Newcastle's discipline problems reared their head yet again when Danny Simpson was sent off in second-half stoppage time, but they avoided what would have been an unwelcome defeat against their hosts.

The two sides both have legitimate reasons for wanting to take the three points beyond the local pride that comes with the Tyne-Tees Derby. Middlesbrough's recent wins over dropzone rivals Leeds and Blackburn have helped keep their heads above water but they remain vulnerable, while Newcastle needed three points to help their Champions League challenge after registering three draws in a row.

It was the home side that had the first opportunity of the contest, with David Wheater rising to meet Shaun Maloney's free-kick only for the header to drift away from the goal.

The Teesiders were putting the visitors under early pressure, and came close again when Federico Macheda made a diving header only to be unable to direct the ball in a direction Tim Krul would find troubling.

St. Ledger then missed as the hosts continued early pressure, before Newcastle's first chance fell to William Kvist, only for the Dane to hit wildly awry on his first start of the league campaign.

With the half-hour looming, the goal fell to the side who had dominated proceedings.

A lax ball from Moussa Dembele was intercepted by Digard, who laid it on for Macheda to burst forward. The Italian's pass picked out Robert Lewandowski, who played a superb through-ball into the path of Digard, and the Frenchman burst through to finish.

A fine strike from the Frenchman, who both begun and closed off the move to give his team the lead, and send the home fans into a sense of elation against their rivals.

It almost got even better for Middlesbrough, with Tim Krul making a flying stop to deny Robert Lewandowski and a very nice catch to deny Macheda as the hosts looked for a second goal.

Newcastle were lucky not to be reduced to ten men when Dembele caught Maloney with an elbow, but the referee only yellow carded the Belgian and after a terrible half, Dembele was substituted at half-time, as was the similarly anonymous Andy Carroll.

The re-shuffled Magpies squad almost restored parity with an attack in the first moments of the second half, only for Jamie Ashdown to comfortably deny Luis Suarez.

Next in a visiting shirt to try and get a goal was Jan Vertonghen, but the centre half could only head over when well placed to meet James Rodriguez's corner.

But it was the home side's fans cheering the game's second goal. Maloney's fizzing corner picked out St. Ledger, who was unmarked and alone in the six yard area, and he smoothly picked out the bottom corner with a low angled drive.

A first Premier League goal for the Irish centre-back, and suddenly it looked as though the Teesiders would be picking up three points.

Newcastle came very close to an immediate goal back when substitute Ryan Donaldson saw a powerful drive beaten away by Ashdown. But it wasn't long before his team were back to being only a goal behind.

Jose Enrique's throw-in was collected in the middle of the turf by Alan Smith, who in turn passed the ball sideways to Kvist. The midfielder found his compatriot Thygesen, who advanced on the blind side of Emmanuel Pogatez and crisply drove the ball home.

Pogatez complained that the Newcastle substitute had strayed offside, but it was in vain and the Newcastle players celebrated with the bare minimum as they knew they had a lifeline in the contest.

That lifeline duly yielded an equaliser 13 minutes later. It came when Pogatez pulled Thygesen's shirt, thus handing a free-kick to the visitors. Vertonghen's delivery was an accurate one for Suarez, who evaded St. Ledger to bury the ball beyond Ashdown and into the bottom corner.

A second goal against the Teesiders in a frustrating first campaign in England for the Uruguayan international striker, who was clearly delighted to be the man that bought his team level in the contest.

Newcastle fans were suddenly urging their heroes forward to try and find the game's fifth goal, but they found the Middlesbrough defence a hard nut to crack. The same could also be said for the home team, who begun to lose their attacking inspiration as the fixture progressed into its latter stages.

Newcastle's chances of a comeback win were damaged in injury time thanks to yet another red card. The latest was shown to Simpson - his third of the season already - who had already been booked for a foul on Maloney when he tripped Roman Bednar and was duly dismissed.

The hosts nearly won it from the resulting free-kick for the second offence, only for Gary O'Neil to go wide when picked out.

A draw was perhaps unfortunate on the home team, who had seemingly put the game out of sight and created the majority of chances, but ultimately, they were punished for their profligacy.

By contrast, Newcastle seemed to take far too long to get going and were lucky to return from Teeside with a share of the points after a largely unimpressive display.

Middlesbrough: Ashdown - Hoyte, Wheater (Grounds 73), St. Ledger, Pogatez- O'Neil, Digard, Kilbane, Maloney - Lewandowski (Bednar 89), Macheda (Emnes 89)
Subs not used: Jones, McMahon, Taylor, Arca
Booked: Hoyte, Pogatez, O'Neil, Maloney

Scorer: Digard (28), St. Ledger (58)

Newcastle: Krul - Simpson, Vertonghen, Bassong, Jose Enrique - Kvist, Smith - Dembele (Thygesen 45), Suarez, Rodriguez (Elm 84) - Carroll (Donaldson 45)
Subs not used: Begovic, Kadar, Kvist, Duff
Booked: Simpson, Vertonghen, Bassong, Dembele, Rodriguez
Sent Off: Simpson (90+3)

Scorer: Thygesen (60), Suarez (72)

Referee: Lee Shakespeare
Attendance: 35,000

I don't know what's worse - winning and then getting walloped by City in Round Four, or losing in extra-time/on penalties tonight after 'looking comfortable', as Neil Mellor described most of our game.

Newcastle and Aston Villa failed to provide a convincing blow as they shared the points in a dour goalless draw.

Less than a month after they were mauled 5-0 by the Magpies on their own turf, Aston Villa's defence provided a much sturdier showing in the North East to silence the Newcastle strikeforce.

But like they had done a month earlier, their attack proved to be inert, and they provided very little indication that they might take three points from the fixture.

It was retribution of sorts for Villa, who came looking to make up for an unbelievably poor performance at Villa Park against the North East side in their clash in Birmingham the previous week.

Newcastle had the game's first opportunities, with Moussa Dembele seeing a cross deflected narrowly wide and Ryan Donaldson blasting a wild drive away from the goal.

The two Magpies midfielders were then next to try their luck in a largely sedate game, with Alan Smith seeing a daisy cutter zip wide and Rasmus Elm seeing a different drive denied by Ben Foster.

Villa's first chance took 34 minutes in creation and was not a very good one, with Roque Santa Cruz's long-ranger fizzing high over the bar.

Smith was closer as Newcastle looked likelier to find a way through, with Smith seeing an effort deflected away from harm.

But despite the hosts enjoying the bulk of what pressure there was in the opening half, it was Villa with the single best opportunity of the first half, with Fabian Delph seeing a firm effort pushed clear by Tim Krul.

Newcastle were still given time to have a chance of their own, only for Dembele to lash one into the crowd.

The second half's re-start saw Newcastle begin to construct more opportunities, with Foster making a firm stop to deny Luis Suarez and then another one to stop James Rodriguez.

But even after Newcastle had more chances, Villa created a better one, with only a superb stop by Krul denying Santa Cruz when the Paraguayan broke free.

Newcastle were having the better of the play, but their defence had to be alert, with Tamas Kadar among those required to make decisive interventions to deny a rare Villa break forward.

A wayward Elm drive was never going to worry Foster, but he was called upon moments later, with the England international pulling off a flying stop to deny substitute Mikkel Thygesen.

The end of the game duly arrived and was probably wanted earlier than it came by a lot of the fans in St. James' Park after a thoroughly uninspiring encounter between the two teams. It's a result that does very little in furthering either side's European credentials, and evidence both sides could use the newly opened transfer window to strengthen their squads and with it, their cases for European challenges from both teams.

Newcastle: Krul - Simpson, Vertonghen, Bassong, Kadar - Elm (Kvist 85), Smith - Dembele (Thygesen 56), Donaldson (Carroll 75), Rodriguez - Suarez
Subs not used: Begovic, Jones, Jose Enrique, Barton
Booked: Bassong

Aston Villa: Foster - Cuellar, Dunne, Davies, Warnock - Milner (Luke Young 84), Delph (Reo-Coker 56), Petrov, Ashley Young - Santa Cruz, Agbonlahor (Delfouneso 79)
Subs not used: Loach, Beye, Collins, Bouma
Booked: Cuellar, Warnock

Referee: Keith Stroud
Attendance: 56,387

A thunderbolt from Billy Jones helped Newcastle ease past Torquay United at St. James' Park.

The utility player's crisp drive from distance crashed into the bottom corner, before Moussa Dembele ensured Newcastle's progression into the draw for the Fourt Round.

The Magpies did make hard work of dispatching of a Gulls side currently sat 20th in League Two, but ultimately they deserved the victory and were clinical enough to avoid a cup upset.

It was a much changed Newcastle side from the one that started their Premier League derby game with Sunderland just three days earlier. These changes included recalls for Adel Taarabt, Shola Ameobi, Asmir Begovic and David Edgar, as well as a first team debut for academy prospect Josh Morris at left-back.

The Magpies had a very early opportunity, with William Kvist releasing Dembele, only for goalkeeper Martin Allen to deny the Belgian.

Adel Taarabt was making his first appearance since the opening day and was presented with two opportunities. The first saw him blaze wildly over, before the second was at least on target, but straight at Allen.

A third chance then fell to the Moroccan, who was denied shooting space by Nicky Wroe, before Torquay then foraged forward for the first time, only for Ashley Yeoman to blaze over when one-on-one with Begovic.

Newcastle were still having the majority of the play, with Allen making a flying stop to deny Taarabt and a more routine one to deny Shola Ameobi. But he was to be beaten moments later.

A free-kick was given to the Magpies for a foul by Mark Ellis on Ameobi. William Kvist laid the free-kick off for Jones, who leathered the ball into the bottom corner.

A first goal for the player just shy of a year since his move from Championship side Preston North End, and it presumably added a bit extra to his transfer fee in the wake of interest from other clubs.

Not content with one, the Magpies were back on the run in the hunt for more. Ameobi saw a low shot deflected wide, David Edgar head over the bar, and Ameobi saw a low crisp effort denied by the goalkeeper.

As the first half petered out, it was Newcastle who had the opportunities. However, they weren't adept at taking them, with Jones firing one long-ranger wide and Ameobi chipping the goal when he'd worked an opportunity.

Torquay were presented an opportunity in injury time at the end of the half to equalise, but Elliot Benyon was unable to make the most of the opportunity when it fell his way.

The Devon side's best chance came two minutes into the second half, when Craig Westcarr released Yeoman,, only for the attacking midfielder to be denied by Begovic.

After Edgar headed one over the bar, Torquay were then presented with another opportunity when Danny Stevens took advantage of an error by Tamas Kadar, but could only fire straight at Begovic.

Those fans that made the long trip north-east were further cursing their luck moments later when Newcastle added number two. A crisp ball forward by Morris was collected by Taarabt, who evaded Wroe before cueing up Dembele. The Belgian evaded his marker before slotting home to finish beyond Allen.

Dembele was then presented a pair of opportunities in quick succession to grab a second, with his first a header that landed narrowly wide and the second a strike that just eclipsed the top of the crossbar.

In truth, that was the end of the game as a contest and neither side looked doing anything remotely approaching a goal in the final 25 minutes. It at least allowed for the visiting fans to make some noise, but in truth, their players were not as impressive and their cup campaign is now over.

Newcastle will be pleased to have avoided what could have been a major embarrassment, and they will be looking to keep up their recent good form in the Premier League when they host Aston Villa on Tuesday night.

Newcastle: Begovic - Vanden Borre, Edgar, Kadar (Smith 68), Morris - Kvist, Jones - Dembele (Barton 68), Taarabt (Bassong 88), Duff - Ameobi
Subs not used: Krul, Vertonghen, Carroll, Suarez

Scorer: Jones (21), Dembele (53)

Torquay: Allen - Wragg, Ellis, Craig (Todd 45), Nicholson - Westcarr, Wroe (Mansell 72), Davis, Stevens - Yeoman - Benyon (Sills 45)
Subs not used: Mody, Tanner, Cain, Eccleston

Referee: Kevin Friend
Attendance: 39,847

He sure didn't.

Even better that he beat John Terry to the ball in reaching Milner's cross.

I miss Ba.

Only took wins for WBA and Palace for the optimism to immediately disappear

Man City-Chelsea's going to be an anti-climax isn't it.

Holy fuckballs

I'm impressed how terrible this was:

Missed the game but it did sound like there were isolated pockets rather than a full stadium. There seemed to be more vitriol fuelling the protests during the game against Cardiff City back in May than in today's one.

As much as I don't want to put too much emphasis on Cisse being back given he's largely been poor since his first half-season, he can't be any worse than Riviere.

I haven't bought FIFA since (idiotically) buying the PS2 version of FIFA 12, but I'm tempted to buy this year's. I'm just wondering if I should wait for any potential PS4 acquiring or just going in for PS3 here and now, given I didn't enjoy PS3 enough in in-shop demos to buy it.

There is the "fat Cockney bastard" stuff for Ashley but I've not seen hatred for Pardew based on geographic origin and more on his ability, or lack of it.

Seeing as Gale is evidently a fan of Pardew, he is clearly going to come up with some bollocks out of his arse to defend him. He was co-commentator on the international feed of the Southampton game and he was irritating to listen to.

I'm not sure about London hatred from other teams. Hatred for people from other nations (especially certain clubs owned by wealthy Russian, American and Arabian owners), maybe, but not as much on regional geography.

Tony Gale on Sky: "I understand whats going on up there,they don't like London people being in charge at the club at the top & the manager as well"

Fucking hell.

Newcastle and Sunderland shared the points after a curiously dour Tyne-Wear Derby.

Despite the Magpies chasing a European place and Sunderland fighting in a battle against relegation, neither side looked remotely like doing anything to justify their team getting a victory.

Most of the game's passion was on display amongst the fans in the stands, and even that was rendered a bit less noisy than usual by the uninvolving contest in front of them.

The game was fought in midfield in the opening stages of the contest, with the first real chance taking 12 minutes to be created.

That opportunity fell to the hosts, with Andy Carroll beating Younes Kaboul to a corner but heading wide.

Sunderland were almost close from the resulting goal-kick, with only a superb intervention from Sebastien Bassong denying Kenwyne Jones shooting room.

Moussa Dembele and Geovanni saw crosses deflected out of target's range at either end as the two sides tried to find a way through.

Rasmus Elm then had something approaching an opportunity, but the Swede's low fizzing drive skimmed the turf on its way wide of the mark.

Despite the two managers encouraging their teams to attack, they were still locked in stalemate in the middle of the park.

With time running out before the half-time interval, Carroll was presented a chance only for the Newcastle striker to head the ball over the top of the goal.

Guirane N'Daw was next to have a go, but the Sunderland left-back was wildly off target with his shooting.

But while the first half struggled for momentum, the second half was equally slow to start. Sunderland had the first of anything approaching an opportunity, but couldn't get through the black and white defensive structure.

The first real opportunity fell to Ryan Donaldson, but the man who scored the winner in the previous derby was denied by Craig Gordon.

Some free-kicks and corners were falling the way of the visitors, who won at St. James' Park in May in their last away game before the FA Cup Final, but in truth, they rarely looked like scoring and the home side looked even more flat in attack.

Nyron Nosworthy's deflected 25 yard drive was the first real opportunity a crowd falling to sleep had to gasp at for about 20 minutes, but a more concrete chance fell to Geovanni, with the Brazilian winger forcing the save out of Tim Krul.

With six minutes to go, Newcastle almost found a winner, with Donaldson's flying drive well denied by Gordon.

But the two sides never really looked like breaking the deadlock in the final minutes, with a half-chance from Geovanni that went wide the closest either side could manage.

It meant the league programmes for 2011 for both these times ended in uninspiring fashion. Newcastle's flat attack meant they were unable to move back into the Champions League places after their flat performance, while Sunderland are still in deep relegation trouble, although one suspects the Black Cats will be the slightly happier side with this stalemate..

Newcastle: Krul - Simpson, Vertonghen, Bassong, Kadar - Elm, Barton (Billy Jones 78) - Thygesen, Donaldson (Ameobi 90), Dembele - Carroll (Suarez 68)
Subs not used: Begovic, Vanden Borre, Guthrie, Kvist
Booked: Simpson, Elm, Barton

Sunderland: Gordon - Dallku (Nosworthy 45), Kaboul, Ferdinand (Turner 45), N'Daw - Malbranque, Cana, Tainio (Cattermole 56), Geovanni - Bent, Kenwyne Jones
Subs not used: Fulop, Sememberas, Situ, Campbell
Booked: Cana

Referee: Fred Graham
Attendance: 56,387

Seeing as Hull seem to always win at St. James' Park - and the only time since we've beaten them since their first promotion in 2008 saw Pardew headbutting an opponent - I really was hoping for someone else to try and get a win.

Andy Carroll scored a late equaliser as Newcastle grabbed a late point against Everton.

A Ryan Donaldson own goal just after the half-hour gave Everton the lead and it looked as thought the Toffees would pick up victory against their rivals for a European place.

But four minutes from time, Carroll scored an equaliser to give Newcastle a share of the points on Merseyside, although they drop out of the top four after they failed to win.

Newcastle had arrived on the blue corner of Stanley Park in high spirits, with the Magpies' last game seeing them put five past Aston Villa to take second for a day, although they started in third after victory for Manchester City the day afterward.

Despite the away team starting in the top four, victory for Everton would see the Toffees draw level on points with their opponents and they were presented the game's first chance, although Tim Cahill failed to make the most of it as he headed wildly off target.

Tim Howard was then given an early chance to dirty his gloves, with the American keeper making a smooth stop to deny Donaldson.

Everton's Italian winger Simone Pepe wasn't far off giving the Toffees the lead with a free-kick that was very nicely struck but aimed just a little too high.

Newcastle then began to orchestrate opportunities. Sebastien Bassong was direct to a corner but only headed over, before a superb stop by Howard denied Donaldson.

It was indeed Newcastle's top scorer Donaldson who would open the scoring, albeit for Everton rather than his hometown club.

With Jose Enrique off the field getting treatment, Everton took a corner which found Dinijar Bilyaletdinov. The Russian's header hit the crossbar with Tim Krul beaten, but while returning to the ground, Donaldson attempted to head it away but somehow succeeded in finding his own goal.

An unfortunate error of judgement from the Newcastle attacker, who will have been kicking himself at his starring role in the goal.

Newcastle almost got instant parity, and would've done but for a fine defensive intervention by Joseph Yobo to deny Carroll's run.

Much closer was Rasmus Elm, who reached Thygesen's cross but was denied by Howard, while Carroll was then presented with a chance but couldn't keep it on target.

Everton then inexplicably passed up three chances in 10 seconds. Pepe's swerving corner was almost headed into his own goal by Everton fan Joey Barton, who was bailed out by Krul, before Mikel Arteta had a shot blocked by Jan Vertonghen and Phil Neville somehow hit one wide with the goal at his mercy.

Newcastle nearly made them pay for that within a minute, only for Donaldson fire straight at Howard.

Much to the visible irritation of Thygesen, he was substituted at half-time, and his replacement Shola Ameobi almost got Newcastle level with the first chance of the second half, only for Howard to deny him.

Newcastle defenders were next to try their luck, with Danny Simpson seeing a swerving effort land wide of the mark before Bassong headed wide from a corner.

Everton were surprisingly underwhelming in an attacking context, with the team content to - successfully - soak up Newcastle pressure.

Bilyaletdinov should have scored but had the ball taken off him by Donaldson, while Javier Garrido had a free-kick deflected wide of the target.

It looked as though the Toffees were set to take the three points, but with time running out, Newcastle had chances, with Ameobi heading over from a corner.

Their next chance was a bit more accurate. A poor clearance from Johnny Heitinga picked out Jose Enrique, who played it forward for Moussa Dembele. The Belgian winger ran around Heitinga and played a very precise that was met by Carroll, who buried a header beyond Howard.

A finely worked goal for the Magpies to celebrate, even despite Everton protestations of offside.

Newcastle almost had a late winner, but not for the first time, Bassong hit a header wide and that was the last action.

Sven-Goran Eriksson will be pleased his team showed a never-say-die attitude to rescue a share of the points, but will equally be disappointed a preventable own goal gave the hosts a share of the point.

Everton will equally be disappointed at their failure to hold on, and the fact it took a Newcastle player to bail out their shot-shy attack with their goal.

Everton: Howard - Heitinga, Yobo, Spence, Garrido - Pepe (Gosling 75), Neville, Arteta (Osman 81), Bilyaletdinov (Main 87) - Cahill - Vaughan
Subs not used: Gulasci, Castro, Brunt, Eder
Booked: Yobo, Pepe

Scorer: Donaldson (og 33)

Newcastle: Krul - Simpson, Vertonghen, Bassong, Jose Enrique - Elm (Kvist 73), Barton - Thygesen (Ameobi 45), Donaldson (Suarez 83), Dembele - Carroll
Subs not used: Begovic, Kadar, Vanden Borre, Guthrie
Booked: Jose Enrique

Scorer: Carroll (86)

Referee: Andre Marriner
Attendance: 40,158

Newcastle United manager Sven-Goran Eriksson has said he anticipates many twists and turns in the Europe race.

The Magpies find themselves in the top four ahead of a busy Christmas and January for Premier League clubs, and fans will be hoping of a victory against Everton to cement their place in the Champions League places.

But Eriksson is not getting carried away, saying that while he would like to get Newcastle into Europe, he knows they still have to beat half the league to it.

He said, "European football is always a lure for fans and players, and as someone who has managed and watched games in European competition, there is always a lure to these games.

"Its fine that Newcastle fans are dreaming of finishing in the top four and with it the Champions League. It would be good for the club to get back into the top four - its been nine years since our last Champions League season and it will be good to be back. But we are not the only ones in the running.

"Clubs like Everton, West Ham and even despite the thrashing we gave them, Aston Villa - they've all had long times away from the European Cup and all fancy their chances with European football. Plus there's also the big guns. There's half the league that is in with a reasonable shot of a top six spot, so we have to make sure we can get in ahead of all of them, and to do that, we have to win as many games as possible."

Newcastle's Boxing Day game sees them travel to Everton. They also face Sunderland, Aston Villa, Middlesbrough and an FA Cup Third Round tie with League Two side Torquay United.

Thank you.

Here's hoping we're going to maintain it - if not top 2 then at least top 6. Or perhaps top 4 so we better the real life 2011-12 season and make the Champions League.

Luis Suarez scored twice as ten man Newcastle destroyed Aston Villa and moved to second in the table.

Despite stereotypical ill-discipline from the Magpies, Newcastle were in dominant mood, and netted early on through a Rasmus Elm penalty. Suarez then took advantage of a Ben Foster error to double the visitor's lead, before Moussa Dembele scored his first Premier League goal to put Newcastle even further ahead.

Villa were given hope when James Rodriguez was sent off, but failed to take advantage and duly conceded more late on, with Suarez and Mikkel Thygesen scoring brilliant goals to give Newcastle their biggest victory since beating Everton 6-2 in April 2002.

The two teams had begun the night in close proximity to one another in the densely packed squabble for the European spots, which sees half of the Premier League still harbouring aspirations of taking a slot come May.

Villa had made some early pressure, but Gabby Agbonlahor and James Milner were unable to even find the target with poor efforts.

Newcastle begun to ease into proceedings, and on the quarter of an hour, they were given their first penalty of the current campaign.

Referee Mike Dean blew without hesitation, with the referee penalising a challenge by Wilfred Bouma on Dembele in the penalty box and giving the visitors a penalty, despite howls of protest from home players and fans.

Up stepped Elm, and the Swede calmly but powerfully converted the spot-kick to give his team the advantage in the West Midlands.

It was 2-0 just four minutes later. Ryan Donaldson's effort was initially stopped by Foster after a slip by Curtis Davies let it through, but the England goalkeeper couldn't hold on and wound up parrying it to Suarez, who buried the ball into the bottom corner.

A quickfire second for the Magpies courtesy of their big money Uruguayan's first away goal for the club, although Foster will concede he could have been much better in keeping it out.

Newcastle were then a fraction from putting the game to bed minutes later, with Dembele evading Bouma and hitting a powerful drive that narrowly flew over the top of the goal.

Villa came close to getting back into proceedings when Davies rose to meet a corner and was expertly denied by Krul, before Suarez saw an effort just stroke the top of the bar. But a third goal would be in the back of the home team's net shortly after.

A throw-in was played to Rodriguez, who laid it back for Jose Enrique. The Spanish full back's inviting delivery picked out Dembele, whose volleyed touch was enough to beat Foster.

It was only Dembele's second Newcastle goal, and his first in the league, with his only other goal coming at Swindon in the Carling Cup back in August.

After a quiet start to the second half where very little of note happened, Aston Villa were given hope when Newcastle were reduced to ten men. Rodriguez was penalised for a forceful elbow on Carlos Cuellar, and the Colombian was sent from the field.

Another blemish on Newcastle's disciplinary record, which sees them top of the ill-discipline table once more.

Despite that, Newcastle came close to a fourth moments later, with Elm seeing a drive clip the bar on its way into touch.

Only a flying stop from Krul denied substitute Stiliyan Petrov the chance to bring Villa within two goals of their opponents.

Newcastle then had another blemish, with substitute Billy Jones taken off injured barely eight minutes after replacing Danny Simpson, although club doctors later confirmed he will not be out for long.

Agbonlahor and Roque Santa Cruz both missed the target with efforts either side of a Petrov drive that Krul denied, as Villa entered the closing stages looking for a starting point for an improbable comeback.

Instead, Newcastle nabbed number four. Moments after Elm hit one over, Jose Enrique's ball forward was only half-cleared to Thygesen, who laid it off for Suarez. The Uruguayan striker duly ran for it, evading the entire Villa defence and slotting home his second of the match.

There had been concern after he hurt his face in a collision with Richard Dunne, but the striker brushed off these concerns to nab an exemplary second of the match.

Newcastle were still not done. In injury time, Alan Smith played a crisp ball forward for Dembele, who advanced and teed up Thygesen. The Danish midfielder, on as a substitute, hit an unstoppable volley that cannoned home via the bar.

The Newcastle fans were in celebratory dreamland, and cheered their heroes from the field moments later after an outstanding performance against another side in the European chase.

Most Villa fans had already left the stadium, with those who hadn't booing the team off, as they suffered their worst home defeat in decades, and looked thoroughly inept throughout.

Aston Villa: Foster - Luke Young (Cuellar 51), Collins (Dunne 58), Davies, Bouma - Milner, Delph (Petrov 45), Reo-Coker, Ashley Young - Santa Cruz, Agbonlahor
Subs not used: Friedel, Bannan, Delfouneso, Farrell
Booked: Cuellar, Dunne

Newcastle: Krul - Simpson (Jones 64 (Vanden Borre 72)), Bassong, Kadar, Jose Enrique - Elm, Smith - Dembele, Donaldson (Thygesen 59), Rodriguez - Suarez
Subs not used: Begovic, Barton, Kvist Carroll
Booked: Simpson, Bassong, Jose Enrique, Elm, Smith
Sent Off: Rodriguez (59)

Scorer: Elm (pen 15), Suarez (19, 85), Dembele (38), Thygesen (90+2)

Referee: Mike Dean
Attendance: 40,091

Magath and Solskjaer both left tonight.

Surprised Magath lasted this long tbh.

A first Newcastle goal for James Rodriguez helped Newcastle see off Bolton and rise to third in the Premier League table.

The Colombian, on loan from AC Milan, was the only goalscorer of a tight clash at St. James' Park, although in truth, Newcastle were lucky Bolton failed to finish early opportunities, before their profligacy throughout did not cost them after they wasted many chances.

Nevertheless, Newcastle did need the tonic after a thrashing by Spurs in their previous match.

Bolton had come to the North East on the back of an impressive victory over Manchester United at the Reebok Stadium, but they had failed to win the five game before then as they begun to sink into the relegation battle at the bottom of the Premier League.

Newcastle were almost in front inside the opening minutes, with Jussi Jaaskelainen having to make an opening stages stop to deny Rasmus Elm.

Bolton began to get comfortable and then create opportunities. Gavin McCann may have blasted their first one rapidly off target, but they were closer with their next efforts, with Tim Krul making stops - albeit of a straight-forward nature - to deny first Ricardo Gardner and then former Magpie Sylvain Distin.

The closest came from a long ranger by Sam Ricketts, with the full-back seeing a swerving effort beat Krul but smacked the crossbar rather than the goal net.

Bolton had won three of their previous five visits to St. James' Park, but almost paid for their failure to convert opportunities when Luis Suarez broke free only for his drive to float wide.

Newcastle took the lead three minutes before half-time. The ball was passed out wide to Danny Simpson, who advanced down the right flank before playing it to Moussa Dembele. The Belgian delivered an inviting cross that picked out Rodriguez, who headed home.

A first goal in England for the midfielder, who had been on loan at Bristol City in the second half of last season, and he was very happy to find the net in England, as were the Newcastle supporters who cheered the ball landing in the back of the goal.

The Magpies were almost two up in the opening stages of the second half, and were very close to finding the net, with Suarez hitting a delightful drive that was superbly denied by Jaaskelainen.

A half-volley by Elm was then close to finding the back of the net, before Jaaskelainen was called upon again to deny Dembele.

Alan Smith then saw a half-volley of his own deflected wide of the mark, before Jaaskelainen denied an excellent Newcastle move from being a goal when he clawed away Rodriguez's searching drive.

Jaaskelainen then made a simple stop to deny Elm, before Bolton's chances of victory were hit when having used all 3 subs, Kevin Davies left the field injured and unable to continue.

The Trotters' misery was almost two-fold, with only a superb one handed stop by Jaaskelainen denying Dembele.

Despite their advantage, Newcastle opted to stand back and defend, and almost paid for it when Gardner should have done better from Matt Taylor's cross only to put it wide.

In the end, one goal proved to be enough, and although Newcastle could have added more, they will be happy to beat a team that had won both of their previous Eriksson-era visits to St James' Park, and maintain their European dreams.

Bolton will not be happy with the result, which could have gone differently had they not been so badly wayward with chances presented to them, and they will seek better from their upcoming outings.

Newcastle: Krul - Simpson, Vertonghen, Bassong, Kadar - Elm, Smith - Dembele (Thygesen 89), Suarez, Rodriguez - Carroll (Donaldson 89)
Subs not used: Begovic, Jones, Vanden Borre, Barton, Ameobi
Booked: Kadar, Vertonghen, Bassong, Smith

Scorer: Rodriguez (42)

Bolton: Jaaskelainen - Steinsson (Hunt 56), O'Brien, Distin, Samuel - Ricketts, McCann (Taylor 63), Basham, Davis, Gardner - Elmander (Davies 45)
Subs not used: Forster, Dervite, West, Woods
Booked: Davis

Referee: Lee Mason
Attendance: 55,171

Jermain Defoe scored twice late on as Spurs scored three late goals to beat Europe rivals Newcastle at White Hart Lane.

It looked as though the underperforming North Londoners and Magpies were about to share the points in an even encounter, until a special goal by Tom Huddlestone broke the deadlock.

Substitute Defoe then scored twice in the final ten minutes to rubber stamp victory and ease the pressure on Harry Redknapp.

Redknapp may have taken Spurs from bottom in September 2008 to a Premier League title victory in the 2009/10 season, but an underwhelming start had damaged his standing amongst the Spurs fans, with some more vocal supporters calling for his departure after a home defeat by Anderlecht in the Champions League.

Newcastle arrived hoping for a win to continue their surprise Champions League challenge, and they had four early chances, with Gomes denying a swerving Jose Enrique effort, a defensive block denying James Rodriguez, Gomes stopping another Rodriguez header and Mikkel Thygesen heading wildly wide.

Despite the club failing to win on both their visits to London earlier in the campaign, the Magpies made a lively start against their opponents, and were still making spirited attacks.

Spurs' first real chance was extremely wayward, with Luka Modric putting a strike wildly off target, before Michael Dawson tried and got closer, even if he still headed over.

Gomes was forced into a routine stop to deny Thygesen, while coming much closer at the other end of the pitch was the surprise source of Benoit Assou-Ekotto, who was denied his first Spurs goal by a flying stop from Tim Krul.

Rasmus Elm and Rodriguez were wildly inaccurate with efforts in the dying stages of the half, and the half ended with some Spurs fans booing their team from the playing field.

Newcastle also had the first chance of the second half, with Ryan Donaldson seeing a swerving effort land wide of the mark.

Spurs begun to get some momentum, albeit hindered by poor off-target shooting from Huddlestone and Dawson when presented with high quality opportunities.

Robbie Keane produced the first effort on target from either side of the second half, but not a very good one, as Krul was able to make a simple stop.

Andy Carroll then tried for Newcastle, but he also got the geometry wrong with his header.

With both sides being inaccurate with their attempts, it looked as though the game would be goalless through to the end, but then Spurs found the breakthrough.

Jermaine Jenas' initial free-kick was blocked, but his second was played out wide to Jonathan Woodgate, who was able to run clear of Jose Enrique before laying the ball back to Huddlestone, who hammered a strike into the top corner.

A sumptuous strike from Huddlestone to put the home side in front and to break the tension amongst the home supporters, although Newcastle called in vain for offside against former Magpie Woodgate in the build-up.

Minutes later, Spurs had two. A free-kick was awarded for shirt-pulling on Huddlestone by Newcastle sub Luis Suarez, and a long ball forward by Gomes was received by Defoe. The striker's diving header flew past Krul and into the bottom corner to double the host's advantage.

The striker has been calling for a first team starting role after three seasons largely spent as a substitute, and that cameo certainly aided those aspirations.

Newcastle almost came immediately back into it, with Gareth Bale's decisive intervention helping to stop Thygesen from having a shooting opportunity, before Carroll could somehow only pass the ball to Gomes when seemingly well placed to score.

Spurs missed a chance early on in added time to add some gloss to the scoreline when Wilson Palacios put a curler wide, but their next chance duly did add to their margin of victory.

The ball was worked up for Peter Crouch, who laid it off for Woodgate to flick the ball forward up to Huddlestone. A volley from the central midfielder picked out Defoe, who raced free of Jan Vertonghen, advanced through the opening space, and slotted home a brilliant individual strike.

Two goals off the bench for the England international, whose contribution was decisive in Spurs' biggest win of the season so far.

Defeat by such a margin was harsh on Newcastle, who were on top for parts of the game and on another day could have left North London with three points. But Spurs will feel relieved to get the win, and hope such a decisive win against a team also vying for the European places can kick-start a revitalisation of their flagging campaign.

Spurs: Gomes - Boyce, Woodgate, Dawson, Assou-Ekotto (Bale 62) - Lennon (Defoe 45), Palacios, Huddlestone, Modric - Keane (Jenas 62), Crouch
Subs not used: Przyrowski, Hibbert, Kranjcar, Payvluchenko
Booked: Assou-Ekotto

Scorer: Huddlestone (76), Defoe (80, 90+4)

Newcastle: Krul - Simpson, Vertonghen, Bassong, Jose Enrique - Elm, Smith - Thygesen, Donaldson (Suarez 73), Rodriguez (Ameobi 81) - Carroll (Vanden Borre 89)
Subs not used: Begovic, Jones, Kvist, Barton
Booked: Simpson, Jose Enrique, Smith, Rodriguez

Referee: Mike Dean
Attendance: 43,471

I suppose at the time it might have made sense to loan him out for fitness - he wasn't in the first team plans at Newcastle in the first half of the 2013/14 season, so it would have made sense to loan him out to bulk up his fitness levels. Even though he then suffered another injury.

Meanwhile, I've noticed the Sack Pardew people have printed off something like 20,000 flyers in the style of SportsDirect logos. Has this much effort ever gone into trying to unseat a Newcastle manager before? I remember bedsheets during the last days of Souness and Allardyce but never anything this elaborate or protracted.

Andy Carroll and Ryan Donaldson scored as Newcastle eased past Fulham at St. James' Park.

The Geordie duo were the scorers against the Cottagers, with Carroll marking his return to the first team with a goal and Donaldson scored his second in as many games to continue his fine start to his position in the Newcastle first-team.

Fulham had chances but rarely looked like recovering after conceding in the fourth minute and prolong their winless run to five games.

Newcastle were in front inside the opening four minutes of the encounter with the game's first opportunity. They won a free-kick for a foul by John Pantsil on James Rodriguez, which led to Mikkel Thygesen's delivery picking out Carroll, who found the net.

A first goal since scoring in the Carling Cup against Chelsea five weeks earlier for the number nine, who was preferred to Luis Suarez and Shola Ameobi as the line leader for this encounter.

Fulham came within proximity of an instant leveller, only for nobody to reach Clint Dempsey's ball into the six yard box.

A similar lack of bodies befell Newcastle when nobody reached James Rodriguez's precise ball into the six yard box, before Jan Vertonghen then walloped a free-kick into the stands.

Two opportunities fell the way of Paul Konchesky in quick succession, with one denied by Tim Krul and another one wayward.

Carroll headed two efforts over the top as Newcastle looked the likelier to find a way through, but the Magpies were unable to make the most of their pressure.

Fulham spent the rest of the first half soaking Newcastle pressure, and when they made a break for it, they felt they should have been awarded a penalty kick. They figured a spot kick should have been granted when Sebastien Bassong challenged Diomansy Kamara, but the referee decided that a corner was suitable enough.

Former Magpie Aaron Hughes then headed one over the top as Fulham ended the half looking stronger, but they were unable to do anything with the presented opportunities.

It would prove crucial as Newcastle took the lead with the second half's first opportunity. A brisk free-kick from Vertonghen picked out Jose Enrique, whose pass was hit on by Alan Smith to Carroll. The giant striker's pass released Donaldson, who advanced and finished.

A ninth goal in his debut season for the academy graduate, who is really making his mark as a Magpies first teamer since his promotion to the first team this season.

Hassan Yebda fired one wildly over as Fulham half-heartedly attempted to get back into the match, and they were almost buried, with Thygesen only denied by a superb stop from Mark Schwarzer.

Demspey and Bobby Zamora were off target as Fulham tried to find a breakthrough, but the best chance saw Tim Krul deny Andy Johnson.

In the end, the game was long won, with the Magpies continuing their European challenge ahead of big clashes with Tottenham, Aston Villa and Everton in the busy Christmas period. It will certainly be to the delight of the Newcastle fans and the England manager Fabio Capello that two of the club's local heroes were those that have been helping their good form.

By contrast, it was another disappointing day for the West Londoners, who are at risk of being involved in the relegation battle if their form continues its recent deterioration.

Newcastle: Krul - Simpson, Vertonghen, Bassong, Jose Enrique - Elm, Smith (Barton 74) - Thygesen, Donaldson (Kvist 81), Rodriguez (Suarez 74) - Carroll
Subs not used: Begovic, Jones, Vanden Borre, Ameobi
Booked: Jose Enrique, Smith

Scorer: Carroll (4), Donaldson (59)

Fulham: Schwarzer - Pantsil, Hangeland, Dann (Briggs 66), Hughes - Dempsey, Sammarco (Greening 45), Yebda, Konchesky - Kamara (Zamora 66), Johnson
Subs not used: Alnwick, Stoor, Kelly, Mbiyavanga
Booked: Pantsil, Yebda

Referee: Dean Coventry
Attendance: 53,686

Ryan Donaldson scored an impressive free-kick as Newcastle eased past Burnley at Turf Moor.

Newcastle's top scorer added a well-taken strike to an earlier goal by Sebastien Bassong as the Magpies picked up a crisp three point haul in Lancashire.

The result continues Burnley's evaporation of form, with the Clarets having now failed to win in nine league games stretching back to December.

Manager Owen Coyle saw his team booed from the pitch at the end of the game, with Burnley failing to register a single shot on target in the entire game against a team they had beaten in consecutive home games since returning to the top flight in 2009.

The Clarets were almost behind inside the opening three minutes. Marian Kelemen was the man who kept the scores level, with the goalkeeper making a tremendous stop to deny James Rodriguez his first Newcastle goal.

Donaldson then fired one hideously wide, before Burnley's Jay Rodriguez carved out a similar chance and duly sent it in a similar inaccurate direction.

Two chances fell for Luis Suarez, who is yet to score an away goal for Newcastle, but after thrashing one off target, the Uruguayan then hit another into the side netting.

Alan Smith and Andre Bikey missed efforts at either end, before the Magpies took the lead and in fairly straight forward fashion.

A free-kick was deflected out of target range and a corner was duly awarded. Jan Vertonghen's corner duly picked out Bassong at the near post, and the French centre back headed home a surprisingly simple effort.

The defender, who has recently been attracting the attention of Marseille, Valencia and Fiorentina, could not have wished for an easier way to open his account for the season.

Newcastle were very close to a second moments later when Rodriguez hit a firm shot that Kelemen saved, but they were 2-0 up barely a minute after that attempt.

A free-kick was awarded to the Magpies on the edge of the home penalty area when Bikey fouled Donaldson, and the Newcastle attacking midfielder opted to have a crack. His effort smacked the underside of the crossbar and went in, as he continued his breakthrough season in the Magpies first team in superb fashion.

Burnley had two quickfire attempts to get themselves back into the encounter, but Steven Fletcher was off target with both his attempts.

Vertonghen was equally inaccurate with an effort of his own, while Fletcher did have an effort go closer to the goal, but like his earlier two strikes, the Scot was unable to work Tim Krul.

Chris Eagles was wildly inaccurate with Burnley's first opportunity of the second half, before Kelemen kept Burnley two in it with a decent stop to deny Donaldson. The Newcastle midfielder then put another one wide of the post.

The game begun to lessen in intensity, with Newcastle seeming to have a fine grasp of control over the encounter. Bassong almost wrapped it up with a second, but he couldn't keep his header down.

Eagles and Martin Paterson couldn't put efforts on target, and before long, Burnley fans began to lose hope and make their way to the exit door.

Substitute Andy Carroll had two opportunities to find a third, with one effort going wide and another blocked by full-back Tony.

Smith was then denied by Burnley sub Brian Jensen, and then sent another over the top.

When the full time whistle was blown, Newcastle had an additional three points towards a European chase that is gathering momentum, and they will be hoping to continue such momentum as the Christmas period progresses.

By contrast, Burnley will be very disappointed. Their performance was terrible and never once did they look like following up their two previous Premier League victories over Newcastle at Turf Moor with a third such attempt.

Burnley: Kelemen (Jensen 64) - Tony, Caldwell, Bikey, Rajkovic - Eagles (Tom 72), McDonald, Gudjonsson, Driver - Fletcher, Jay Rodriguez (Paterson 64)
Subs not used: Nestor, Carlisle, MacDonald, Robbie Carroll
Booked: Tony, Bikey, Gudjonsson

Newcastle: Krul - Simpson, Vertonghen (Kadar 84), Bassong, Jose Enrique - Elm (Barton 84), Smith - Thygesen, Donaldson, James Rodriguez - Suarez (Andy Carroll 61)
Subs not used: Begovic, Vanden Borre, Kvist, Ameobi
Booked: Simpson

Scorer: Bassong (23), Donaldson (33)

Referee: Lee Mason
Attendance: 21,963

Sky saying Solskjaer is going to leave Cardiff tonight.

I don't know/care if Mackay would have kept them up, but he's hardly been a brilliant replacement.