Stoke City Beat Newcastle United at St James Park

Newcastle United hosted Stoke City at St James Park, losing 1-2 1 after a big fight. There were not many scoring chances in a typical half when Stoke are involved. The only clear one that came was a penalty when Huth needlessly brought down a non-threatening Andy Carroll for a penalty. Kevin Nolan took it and scored in the 42nd minute. Stoke started playing more wing play threatening to pull one back before the break.

Newcastle did not wait for Stoke to come at them. They pushed forward reasonably well to bring more life into the match. Both teams resumed the second half with more purposeful and attacking football. Carroll was playing in a much better way than I expect. I always saw him as a slower and awkward player but he has proven to be sleek and polished when he needs it.

Kenwyne Jones had a 60th minute chance to level the score after he directed his trademark header against near post which rebounded out to Fuller, but he blasted the shot off the mark. The cross-bar came against Jones' header 5 minutes later to deny unlucky Stoke a deserved goal.

Cometh the moment, cometh the man! Jones, who is quickly becoming my favourite English Premier League player, headed in a headed Huth cross from a free-kick for the equalising goal in the 67th minute. That's the fourth straight game in which Jones has scored for Stoke. The Magpies' favourite son, Shola Ameobi replaced Tioti in a bid to turn the tables on the stubborn Stoke.

Delap was there with his trademark long throws for Stoke, with Huth and Shawcross doing their bit. With 5 minutes left, Stoke collected  maximum points with an own goal from Perch. They were tidier and cleaner in their tackles. Newcastle almost stole a point from Stoke in injury time, when a fast break on the left wing resulted in a cross that Nolan side footed off-target. The entertaining encounter came to a pulsating end with very valuable 3 points for the Potters.

Elsewhere, Wolverhampton lost 1-2 at home to Aston Villa in a match in which veteran Emile Heskey scored a late winner. Matt Jarvis had scored to cancel out an earlier strike by Stewart Downing .

Which one was the result of the weekend for you?