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London - Jamal Lascelles was the hero for Newcastle for the second week in a row as he grabbed the winner in a 2-1 win over Stoke City at St. James' Park on Saturday.
The Magpies got off to a good start when Christian Atsu opened the scoring on 19 minutes as he met a Matt Ritchie cross to put the hosts 1-0 ahead.
Xherdan Shaqiri equalised 57 minutes into the second half as he received the ball from Joe Allen and drove at the defence, curling home a goal from outside the box.
The home side grabbed the winner though when Ritchie put a good ball into the box from a corner which was met and turned home by Lascelles, with 68 minutes played.
The hosts created the first chance of the match when Shaqiri lost the ball and Ritchie had an attempt from range but his shot was blocked by Ayoze Perez, his own player.
In the eighth minute, Stoke created their first real chance when Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting shot from range but the ball was deflected behind for a corner.
The hosts opened the scoring when Atsu snuck around the far post to turn in a Ritchie cross and score his first Premier League goal.
Lascelles came close to making to 2-0 after he met a Ritchie corner but his header drifted narrowly wide of the far post.
Rob Elliot then had to be alert as Shaqiri created a chance from nothing as he cut back on his left foot and unleashed a shot from range which was heading for the top corner. However, Elliot managed to get a hand to the ball to prevent the equaliser.
In the 28th minute Joselu came close to scoring against his former side when he was found unopposed by Chancel Mbemba. However the striker put his first-time shot just wide of the far post.
The Spanish striker went close again after DeAndre Yedlin’s shot was deflected into his path but Stoke goalkeeper Jack Butland made a wonderful save to prevent a sure goal.
The second-half started as the first half ended as Joselu was found in space from Atsu but the striker again missed the target, this time flashing his shot over the bar.
In the 52nd minute, Shaqiri came close again but his shot was well parried away by Elliot.
However, Shaqiri got his goal after he cut back on his left foot and drove at the defence before shooting from outside the box, and finding the bottom left corner of the goal.
Elliot had to be sharp in the 64th minute when Shaqiri managed to find Mame Diouf who headed into the ground, but the Newcastle stopper tipped the ball away.
Atsu then had a penalty appeal turned down after he was brought down in the box by Kurt Zouma, with replays showing the defender getting the slightest of touches to the ball.
The hosts, however, put themselves back ahead in the 68th minute when Ritchie swung in a corner which was turned in by Lascelles.
In the 88th minute Long played the ball into substitute Peter Crouch who headed into the path of Choupo-Moting but he fired over from close range.
The Potters had a last minute chance to steal the draw in added time when Bruno Martins Indi’s cross was met by Diouf who managed to send his effort wide.
