Stoke City 4-0 Newcastle United | Premier League match report

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<div class="track"><img alt="" src="http://hits.guardian.co.uk/b/ss/guardiangu-feeds/1/H.22.2/78877?ns=guardian&pageName=Stoke+City+4-0+Newcastle+United+%7C+Premier+League+match+report%3AArticle%3A1534461&ch=Football&c3=Obs&c4=Premier+League+%28Football%29%2CStoke+City+%28Football%29%2CNewcastle+United+%28Football%29%2CFootball%2CSport&c5=Premier+League&c6=Paul+Doyle&c7=11-Mar-19&c8=1534461&c9=Article&c10=Match+report&c11=Football&c13=&c25=&c30=content&h2=GU%2FFootball%2FPremier+League" width="1" height="1" /></div><p>With Stoke travelling about as successfully as naked hitch-hikers, Tony Pulis has been insisting that it is at home that his team will secure their top-flight status. His players, who have lost their past six on the road but are unbeaten this year at the Britannia, gave powerful backing to that argument by registering their biggest ever Premier League win to climb above Newcastle and remind Alan Pardew that his side are still at risk of relegation too.</p><p>Newcastle began brightly but were ultimately brushed aside. Pardew had tinkered with his team's shape, entrusting José Enrique with the task of patrolling the entire left flank, both to support the forwards and protect a back three.</p><p>The ploy worked well enough early on as Stoke's Jermaine Pennant was mostly kept on the back foot, but once the Spaniard was forced off in the 23rd minute with a recurrence of the hamstring problem that had curtailed his last appearance, against Everton two weeks ago, Stoke exploited that setback expertly.</p><p>Five minutes later, Rory Delap clipped a dainty ball into the box and Ryan Shawcross, who is not usually acclaimed for his finesse, controlled it delicately on his chest before slipping it wide to Pennant. The winger's cross was met at the near post by Jon Walters, who had reacted more sharply than Sol Campbell and sent a glancing header into the roof of the net.</p><p>Presumably, the 36-year-old Campbell had been given a start – for the second time in Pardew's reign – because it was thought that, against these opponents, his strength would be more of an asset than his declining mobility a burden.</p><p>That was dicey logic and further doubt was cast on it early in the second half when goalkeeper Steve Harper put his own defence in jeopardy with a sloppy pass. Kenwyne Jones seized on it and off-loaded to Matt Etherington, whose cross was deflected towards the near post. Campbell jumped to clear, but, under pressure, could only send a weak header rolling across the six-yard box, inviting Pennant to tap into the net from close range.</p><p>In the 49th minute Danny Higginbotham, the full-back who, last Sunday, fired Stoke into the FA Cup semi-final, stepped up to thunder a 20-yard free-kick into the net. "The first five minutes of the second half cost us the game," said Pardew.</p><p>Newcastle memorably recovered from four goals down against Arsenal last month, but here they never looked like coming back even though, in desperation, Pardew soon replaced Campbell with a forward, Jonás Gutiérrez. They remained toothless in attack and sloppy at the back.</p><p>Fabricio Coloccini gifted Stoke a chance to extend their lead, but was fortunate that Jones shot straight at Harper. At the other end, Begovic was required only to intercept a couple of crosses and palm away a well struck Joey Barton free-kick.</p><p>In stoppage time, substitute Ricardo Fuller raced on to a flick by Walters and thrashed the ball past Harper from 18 yards, elevating Stoke's victory from convincing to crushing.</p><p>"The scoreline puts some pressure on us in terms of the next home game [against Wolverhampton Wanderers]," said Pardew, before adding hopefully: "I think we have enough quality to win that and give ourselves some breathing space."</p><h2>THE FANS' PLAYER RATINGS AND VERDICT</h2><p><strong>ROBERT HOLLOWAY, <em>Observer</em> reader</strong>It's been a good week. It doesn't get much better than qualifying for your first FA Cup semi-final in 40 years and following up with a four-goal league win. Everybody played their part, and everybody had an above-par game. Everyone knows our style is direct but we played some good, flowing football today and Higginbotham's goal was a remarkable strike. Yes, they gifted us some chances but we had to finish them. Walters worked his socks off and deserved his goal. I'd still take another four or five points, but we're in a much stronger position than before kick-off. It's looking much more healthy.</p><p><strong>The fan's player ratings</strong> Begovic <strong>8</strong>; Wilson <strong>7</strong>, Shawcross <strong>7</strong>, Huth&nbsp;<strong>8</strong>, Higginbotham <strong>7</strong>; Pennant <strong>8</strong> (Whitehead 80 <strong>6</strong>), Whelan&nbsp;<strong>7</strong>,&nbsp;Delap <strong>7</strong>, Etherington <strong>7</strong> (Pugh 60 <strong>6</strong>); Walters&nbsp;<strong>9</strong>, Jones&nbsp;<strong>8</strong> (Fuller 88 <strong>7</strong>)<strong> </strong></p><p><strong>PETER HARDY, <em>Observer</em> reader</strong>We created six chances in the game – all of them for Stoke. It was a classic example of how not to defend. None of the team can go away with their head held high after that, except maybe the young lad Ferguson. We actually handled Delap's long throw-ins well, but then gifted them the game in other areas. I thought we would be a lot more lively than this after two weeks off – maybe we will be after another two weeks off. What this does do is confirm that we're in a relegation battle. We've got Wolves at home next, which is an absolute six-pointer, and then it's Villa away, which will be very similar.</p><p><strong>The fan's player ratings</strong> Harper <strong>6</strong>; Coloccini <strong>7</strong>, Williamson <strong>7</strong>, Campbell&nbsp;<strong>6</strong>&nbsp;(Gutiérrez 65 <strong>5</strong>); Simpson <strong>7</strong>, Barton <strong>6</strong>, Tioté <strong>7</strong>, Nolan <strong>6</strong>, José Enrique <strong>7</strong> (Ferguson&nbsp;25 <strong>8</strong>); Lovenkrands&nbsp;<strong>6&nbsp;</strong>(Ranger 61 <strong>6</strong>), Ameobi <strong>5</strong></p><p><strong><em>To take part in the Fans' Verdict, email sport@observer.co.uk</em></strong></p><div class="related" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><ul><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/premierleague">Premier League</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/stokecity">Stoke City</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/newcastleunited">Newcastle United</a></li></ul></div><div class="author"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/pauldoyle">Paul Doyle</a></div><br/><div class="terms"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk">guardian.co.uk</a> &copy; Guardian News & Media Limited 2011 | Use of this content is subject to our <a href="http://users.guardian.co.uk/help/article/0,,933909,00.html">Terms & Conditions</a> | <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/feeds">More Feeds</a></div><p style="clear:both" />
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