Stoke 1 vs. 3 Newcastle

0-1: Krul thumped it upfield, Best flicked it into Obertan's path who blitzed down the flank to cross to Demba Ba , he then headed past Begovic. Stoke left back was positioned badly, neither challenged Best nor covered the run of Obertan. (12)

0-2: Best fluffed his shot from close range, it fell to Ba showing his poaching instinct. (40)

1-2: Crouch went down inside the box, Ba looked to have pushed him. It didn't seem as though Mike Dean would give a penalty, but you could just about make out the blow of the whistle as the Stoke fans bellowed. Walters converted (75)

1-3: You could see it as a very soft penalty decision. Although Huth did shove Best, he stayed on his feet and didn't appeal. Outside the box it's a freekick so why shouldn't it be a penalty? Good refeering! Ba scored to get his hatrick. (81)

Demba Ba will be getting the headlines tomorrow, deservedly so. He's very quick, strong and good in the air. He's also good with the ball at his feet, you often see quick players who aren't so great technically, he drifts across to the wings and comes deep, and can do so with effect.

Stoke were either playing it long to Crouch who didn't have players around him to flick it to, or going down the right with Pennant, so they should he is great at crossing. It's made difficult when The Magpies doubled up on him with R.Taylor at full back as well as Gutierrez blocking off the crossing option. If the Argentine wasn't there, Cabaye would go across to cover. Great work from The Geordies.

The first ten minutes were the least entertaining you'll see in the Premier League. Both teams playing direct to their target men with nothing coming of it, until the first goal that is.

Newcastle have are looking great, one of only two unbeaten sides in the league. They don't have fantastic players individually but as a team they work well. Solid defence, hard working and fast wingers, Cabaye and Guthrie both with their accurate passing and tracking back and Best and Ba forming a dangerous partnership up front.

Tiote was out injured but Cabaye and Guthrie were both very defensive and managed to keep Stoke out. You would think that with Newcastle's good passers, Pulis would have played someone who can shut down players quickly as they have been doing, Palacios is a hard working midfielder who doesn't give opponents time on the ball. Stoke normally play high pressure but lacked that tonight.

Alan Pardew isn't a manager who has the most boisterous personality like other Premier League managers we've become accustomed to, but he's getting results and have gone up to third above Chelsea. Can they keep it up? Yes, if they stay injury free and if Ba can keep scoring, looks on course to bag 20+ for certain.

Newcastle 2 vs. 2 Tottenham

 

0-1: Livermore won the ball deep in Newcastle's half snatching it off Cabaye, this set up a chance for Adebayor who was brought down by S.Taylor inside the box. Newcastle players protested but if you hadn't made your mind up, looking at Taylors body language it's obvious he felt he'd made a mistake.  Van der Vaart put the penalty away. (40)

1-1: Superb, old-fashioned wing play by Gutierrez who got past both Modric and Walker in quick succession. He then floated it in, it was too high for Cabaye at the near post but fell perfectly for Ba to equalize. (48)

1-2: Redknapp brought Defoe on at the right time, Spurs were putting pressure on the Magpies and the Englishman got the ball on the edge of the box, turned and hit it with his right foot, the ball curling into the bottom corner. R.Taylor who was marking him seemed to stick to his right in an attempt to force Defoe onto his weaker, left foot. But this is the Premier League and you would hope top strikers would be competent on either foot.

2-2: Lethal finishing might not be a word most would associate with Ameobi, but his goal to equalize was that of a striker with something to prove. He got the ball and ran into the space vacated by the wondering Walker, he then drilled his shot across Friedel and into the bottom right.

Defoe could've helped Spurs to a winner if he had either finished his chance or squared it to either Livermore or Adebayor who were positioned better, although S.Taylor blocked his initial strike well. Coloccini could've won it for the Geordies late on but he had to stretch on the volley inside the six yard box and hooked it away from goal as opposed to giving it the delicate flick towards goal. He then fired wide from the rebound as he spun - Would've called it great defending had he been at the other end!

Tiote got Man of the Match, he was all over the pitch. Shielding his back four best he could as well as getting forward in support. He plays in a position where most people may not appreciate his input for the team, but those around will give him the recognition. He intercepted many passes and stopped potential counter attacks well.

Other stand out performers were Livermore who played alongside Parker and manged to cut out attacks and tackled well. Bale was also good, retaining the ball giving Spurs a chance to get players up into the opposing half. 

 All in all a fair result. Spurs keep the ball well and look to have more about them with Bale having great ball retention and Modric and Van der Vaart's ability to pick out a pass. You don't feel Newcastle quite have the same as they relied on getting it to Ba and Best as quickly as they could, although Gutierrez was up and down the wing tirelessly.