Stoke City vs. Newcastle United: Score, Grades and Post-Match Reaction
Stoke City heaped more pressure on Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew with a 1-0 defeat of Pardew's side at a rainy Britannia Stadium on Monday night in the Premier League.
Peter Crouch scored the game's only goal, a header in the 15th minute, to give Stoke the win and inflict a 10th defeat in Newcastle's last 14 Premier League matches dating to last season.
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Newcastle, who remain winless on the season, were the better side in the first half but failed to break down Stoke's defence. Jack Colback rattled the woodwork in the second half, but ultimately Pardew's side were once again unable to win—or score—on their travels.
Through six games, winless Newcastle have collected only three points and are second-bottom in the early table. Stoke, on the other hand, won for the second time this season and moved on to eight points, four clear of the relegation places.
Pardew's status dominated the run-up to Monday night's match. Vivek Chaudhary of The Independent recently quoted Newcastle owner Mike Ashley as saying Pardew would be "finished" at Newcastle if the Magpies lost to Stoke on Monday night.
Ashley's lawyers later called the comment a joke.
Whether the joke is on Pardew remains to be seen, but the embattled manager's problems deepened in the 15th minute as Stoke scored the game's opening goal.
Victor Moses served as the architect, trading passes with Charlie Adam before swinging in a cross from the left. Moses' cross found Crouch, who towered over Fabricio Coloccini to power in his header for a 1-0 Stoke lead.
Newcastle pushed forward immediately in search of an equaliser. In the 17th minute, Remy Cabella picked out Coloccini with a corner, but Coloccini's volleyed shot from outside the box sailed over the bar.
Stoke had a penalty claim turned down in the 21st minute after Yoan Gouffran felled Moses in the Newcastle box. Replays suggested the home side had a strong claim, but referee Craig Pawson waved play on.
Two minutes later, Stoke were forced into a substitution after Mame Biram Diouf left the match with an apparent hamstring injury. Marko Arnautovic replaced him on the right side of Stoke's attacking midfield.
Newcastle continued to push forward in search of a goal but found Stoke's defence difficult to penetrate. Stoke, meanwhile, picked their spots to counter at pace.
In the 44th minute, Newcastle's Daryl Janmaat tested Stoke goalkeeper Asmir Begovic with a low shot from outside the box. At the other end, Paul Dummett blocked Arnautovic's well-struck shot from the right.
Pardew made a change at half-time, bringing on striker Papiss Demba Cisse, who had scored on four of his past five appearances against Stoke.
But the hosts created the first chance of the second half, Arnautovic smashing a shot off the base of the far post after Newcastle were unable to clear a Marc Muniesa cross.
Stoke continued to push forward, creating multiple chances over the next several minutes. In the 58th minute, Adam swung a free-kick on target but too close to Tim Krul, who saved easily.
Krul saved again four minutes later, this time stopping Moses from close range after an attempted clearance bounced into the Nigerian's path.
Time was running out on Newcastle—and perhaps Pardew—but a big chance arrived in the 84th minute.
Gabriel Obertan, a second-half substitute for Gouffran, crossed from the right for Jack Colback, who pulled down the high pass and suddenly found himself with time and space deep in Stoke's box. Colback made solid contact with his volleyed shot, but his shot cannoned off the crossbar and bounced away to safety.
With that, Newcastle's last big chance passed. As chants of "you're getting sacked in the morning" rang out at Britannia Stadium, one couldn't help but wonder if Pardew had managed his last match for the visitors.
Grades
| Asmir Begovic | 7.2 |
| Phil Bardsley | 7.8 |
| Ryan Shawcross | 7.6 |
| Marc Wilson | 7.3 |
| Marc Muniesa | 7.6 |
| Glenn Whelan | 7.1 |
| Steven N'Zonzi | 6.4 |
| Mame Diouf | 6.1 |
| Charlie Adam | 6.9 |
| Victor Moses | 8.0 |
| Peter Crouch | 7.4 |
| Marko Arnautovic (for Diouf, 23') | 7.2 |
| Stephen Ireland (for Adam, 61') | 6.4 |
| Oussama Assaidi (for Moses, 82') | 6.0 |
| Tim Krul | 6.4 |
| Daryl Janmaat | 6.5 |
| Mike Williamson | 6.6 |
| Fabricio Coloccini | 7.0 |
| Paul Dummett | 6.5 |
| Cheick Tiote | 7.4 |
| Jack Colback | 6.6 |
| Moussa Sissoko | 7.3 |
| Remy Cabella | 7.0 |
| Yoan Gouffran | 6.3 |
| Emmanuel Riviere | 5.9 |
| Papiss Demba Cisse (for Riviere, 45') | 5.9 |
| Gabriel Obertan (for Gouffran, 68') | 6.7 |
| Sammy Ameobi (for Cabella, 74') | 6.3 |
Post-Match Reaction
Newcastle manager Alan Pardew (via PremierLeague.com):
"It leaves us in the bottom three and we've got to fight. I have to fight and the team has to fight.
I think we'll (Pardew and Mike Ashley) have some serious conversations before Saturday because he doesn't want to lose and nor do I. I think it's important I show the team I'm here to lead them, and that's what I'll do.
I've never really been in this situtation before, it's a bit unique, but I'm a professional football manager; that's what I do and that's what I'll continue to do.
"
Stoke manager Mark Hughes (via PremierLeague.com):
"It was important to get the win, obviously. The importance of the first goal is always paramount in the Premier League and it was a great cross from Victor (Moses). That's the service we want for Crouchy.
Pace is something we lacked last year. We've got that in different forms now—Victor has come in and set the place alight.
It sets up our season. We can build on that.
"
