Stoke 1 Newcastle 3:Striker Demba Ba continued his fine run of form in front of goal with a hat-trick to give Newcastle a 3-1 victory over Stoke and take the high-flying Magpies a point behind second-placed Manchester United.
The Senegal international, who would have joined the Potters in January had he not failed a medical, took his tally to eight league goals in the last five matches with a double strike in the first half and a late penalty.
Jonathan Walters’s spot-kick had briefly reduced the deficit to 2-1 but it could not prevent Newcastle’s first league win at Stoke since 1985 as they maintained their unbeaten start to the season.
Newcastle may have not won a league match at Stoke since 1985 but their start to the campaign meant they were confident to take the game to their hosts, an approach that paid off as they scored with their first genuine chance in the 12th minute.
Goalkeeper Tim Krul’s kick was headed on by Republic of Ireland striker Leon Best to Gabriel Obertan, who found himself in plenty of space behind left back Marc Wilson.
The Frenchman’s inviting cross into the six-yard area picked out Ba who would have joined the Potters in January had he not failed a medical and the Senegal international nodded home his sixth league goal in five matches.
Stoke suffered another blow moments later when Ryan Shawcross, whose injury had almost allowed Ba to sneak in for a second on the edge of the penalty area, was replaced by Matthew Upson.
The home defence were still sorting themselves out when Ba threatened to break through on to Yohan Cabaye’s pass and goalkeeper Asmir Begovic’s feet-first challenge just cleared the ball before the striker reached it.
Stoke were almost gifted an equaliser when Krul, under no pressure, dropped Andy Wilkinson’s high cross and was relieved to see the ball roll behind and not across his goalline.
The Newcastle goalkeeper showed safer hands in the 35th minute when he held on to Matt Etherington’s left-footed long-range volley after Rory Delap’s throw was only half-cleared.
And that allowed the Magpies to double their lead five minutes before the interval when Upson could only help Fabricio Coloccini’s lofted pass on to Best on the right of the penalty area and he crossed low for Ba to tap in his second.
An injury to Wilson then forced a second defensive reshuffle as Robert Huth came on at right back with Wilkinson switching to the opposite side.
Stoke had no option but to come out battling hard and Huth was first to threaten when he headed over Etherington’s corner.
When Walters stepped over Delap’s throw from the left there was a moment of panic in the Newcastle six-yard area before Coloccini hacked clear.
The first time Etherington got a clear run at the Newcastle defence he wasted the opportunity as his low cross was placed behind both Peter Crouch and Walters.
With still no sign of a breakthrough Pulis’s final option was to send on Kenwyne Jones for Etherington for the last 20 minutes.
Within five minutes Stoke pulled a goal back when, after Upson’s effort had been headed away by Coloccini, Ba fouled Crouch in the ensuing scramble and Walters fired home the penalty. But barely had the recovery begun then it was ended as referee Mike Dean penalised Huth for a push on Best and Ba drilled home from the spot.
